• PlutoParty@programming.dev
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    1 year ago

    The carrier does. Your phrasing suggests you think it is bullshit, but it isn’t. They’ve done this for a long time. If you throw in another carrier’s sim in your unlocked phone, you’ll notice it downloads a splash screen and other various software that they push. https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthickey/2014/12/01/carriers-can-now-install-apps-on-android-handsets-without-customers-permission/?sh=5266cd655dde

      • PlutoParty@programming.dev
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        1 year ago

        So you’d prefer a phone that is so locked down that anyone can only install what Samsung deems appropriate? I sure don’t. I know I’m sounding like a fanboy for Samsung, but your irritation is misplaced. Just about all phones allow software installed from the carrier. That’d be like downloading some garbage app from the play store and then crying about how Samsung sucks for allowing you to do that. They allow the loading of carrier software to enable carrier-specific features such as visual voicemail. There are plenty of valid qualms to be had with Samsung, but the carrier or vendor is where the blame should be placed for this kind of crap.

    • HughJanus@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      The carrier is not in charge of updates. Updates are pushed by the OEM. If there’s bloatware being loaded onto the phone, it’s because the OEM is allowing it to be.

      • PlutoParty@programming.dev
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        1 year ago

        I wouldn’t want Samsung (or any other manufacturer) to be the arbiter of what is and is not allowed to be installed on my phone. I’m not immune to being annoyed by bloatware I’ve seen in the past, but it isn’t Samsung I’ve been annoyed at. I prefer being allowed to install whatever I want on a device I own. The mechanisms for updates are indeed developed by the OEM, but they also provide the means for the installation and configuration of carrier-specific applications and features (splash screens and visual voicemail, for example) by the carrier. The features could not work without doing this. When the carrier exploits this by pushing the bloat, I place the blame on the carrier, not Samsung.