this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2024
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I literally uninstalled and disabled every AI process and app in that latest galaxy AI update, which was the whole update btw. my reasons are:
1- privacy and data sharing.
2- the battery, cpu, ram of AI bloatware running in the background 247.
3- it was chaging and doing things which I didn't want especially in the galary photo albums and camera AI modes.
I was considering a new Samsung phone - is that baked into it? (Assuming you're talking Samsung anyway, based on the galaxy name)
Samsung is a nightmare, don't purchase their products.
For example: I used to have a Samsung phone. If I plugged it into the USB port on my computer Windows Explorer would not be able to see it to transfer files. My phone would tell me I need to download Samsung's drivers to transfer files. I could only get them by downloading Samsung's software. Once I installed the software Windows Explorer was able to see the device and transfer files. Once I uninstalled the software Windows Explorer couldn't see the device again.
Anything Samsung can do in your region to insert themselves between you and what you are trying to do they will do.
2nd this. Samsung is for people who hate themselves but can't commit to ending it all.
This is a great summary I'm going to make use of
What’s a good brand then?
I use Pixel for Android. IMHO it's the easiest to modify and if you want it stock, its vanilla Googled Android and it gets the updates 1st and most often.
The software bloat is not dissimilar to what I've heard in the past, but I'd forgotten since I haven't gone in depth researching yet. Which phones do we prefer today? Loosely off the top of my head, less bloat/intrusiveness, nice camera, battery life enough for a day, and maybe on the smaller size to fit one hand are probably what I'll be looking in to.
Apparently Pixel is the easiest to install an alternative OS on, going to start looking into that soon.
I've heard good things about Graphene OS, but also deviating from the "stock" experience might make it more difficult to do certain things... like biometrics for banking or something? Not sure myself. Will look into it too, good idea.
I've got a Ulefone, I'm quite fond of it.
Ooo I haven't heard of Ulefone before, I see some of their phones have a built in thermal camera? That sounds cool. How's the Android/software experience? I'm not familiar with the Chinese phone lines, do they have their own bloat like Samsung?
No bloatware, although mine has a "feature" called Duraspeed I need to uninstall that restricts background applications, including fitness tracking ones I actually want running, and notifies me multiple times per day about this.
Them and Doogee I really like, especially since the phones don't need to be in a case.
To give you a second opinion from the other guy, I've had quite a few Samsungs in a row at this point. From Galaxy S2 to S23Ultra skipping years between every purchase.
They are effectively the premium vendor of Android, at least for western audiences. The midrange has some good ones, but other companies do well there too. At the high end, Samsung might lose out a bit to google on images of people, but the phones Samsung sell are well built, have a long support life, have lots of features that usually end up being imported to AOSP and/or Google's own version of Android. The last few generations are the Apple of Android. The AI features they've added can be run on device if you want, and idk what the other guy is talking about, but the AI features aren't that obnoxiously pushed on my device, the S23 Ultra. I have some things on, most things off. Then again, I've used HTC for a few years and iPhone for two weeks, so except for helping my dad with his Pixel 6a while that device lasted, I've not really tried other brands. The added customization on Samsung is kind of a problem for me, because I don't feel like changing brands after being able to customize so much out of the box.
And I've never had issues connecting to a simple Windows computer, given that the phone has always been able to use the normal Plug-and-play driver that is there already. If you have a macbook like I do, it's a bit cringe, but that's a macbook issue moreso.
And here I thought I was being critical of them.
You are right of course, Samsung is very much like Apple. And if you don't care about a company trying to lock you into their software, inserting themselves in between everything you're trying to do, and denying you control over your own device, then I'm sure it works just fine.
You are framing the issue to read the way you want it to be read. The customization and software options I am currently using, I have been able to make 90% of it work with a rooted phone and a combination of many open source tools and more. Now I get 100 % without theming breaking randomly, bluetooth being stable, not having to reset the phone every time I update to a new version, and more random issues I had with banking apps and others. I have control over my device stop dooming lmaooo. People use devices that fit their needs.
When I was using Windows I was able to get it to work 90% the way I wanted it to with a combination of open source tools, and help online disabling the bullshit. The point is I shouldn't have to put that much effort fighting my OS to get it working the way I want it to.
With a Samsung phone maybe I can avoid their bullshit by rooting the phone and finding open source software, but I'd rather just go with a different company and not have the hassle.
"This company has shit business practices, you should use someone else" is not 'dooming'.
Yes, and I'm pointing out why Samsung might not fit their needs in case they are unaware.
I'll second this experience. Pricing aside (and even then, because of their new recycling policy, I was able to replace an old galaxy nearly the size of a tablet with a new flip-- that has VERY surprisingly become my favorite phone I've ever owned-- for like a hundred bucks), I've never had complaints about my Samsung phone and wearables that weren't general to all smartphones. And the easy integrations between my watch, phone, and earbuds, all Samsung, is really great.
Care to share how you disabled every bit of AI in the phone?
Yee. No root required, neither recommended for samsung devices. In short just enable developer mode from phone settings, then debug it with adb platform to uninstall and disable any system app, and can also change lines, colors, phone behaviors, properties and look, install and uninstall apps which you could not before...and so many things.
Do you have to do this every time you update your phone?
No off course. Once and all the OS and security and all updates all work fine
Did it help with battery life? My S24U has not been getting the greatest battery life lately and I wonder if this is why.
I don't know about the AI stuff specifically. Check your battery usage to see which process is doing that. but yes debloating in general makes your phone battery longer, and with the help of few more tricks also faster. There are thousands of no-root-required debloating tutorials online.