2 questions about system software

[Bokka]

Hello!

I have 2 questions about the system software:

1) The annoyng ADS in the system apps was removed with the recent updates? For example, now when I'm using the weather app I still see the ads banner?
2) In particular on the Exynos version (european), when I start the phone for the first time, there are some Google apps? Or I have only the Samsung browser on default (without Chrome) and only the various Samsung Apps?
3) Or I have 2 browsers (Chrome and Samsung Internet), 2 assistants (Bixby and Google assistant), 2 Payment system (Samsung Pay and Google Pay) for default?

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Dannydet]

1 - Ads in apps are only removed if you buy the premium version of the app. An update will not make that go away.
2 - Some carriers will include Google apps on their phones, you can use both, or you can disable the apps you do not want to use.
3 - You have the choice to use as many browsers as you wish, there is no limit.

 

[ocnbrze]

Hello!

I have 2 questions about the system software:

1) The annoyng ADS in the system apps was removed with the recent updates? For example, now when I'm using the weather app I still see the ads banner?
2) In particular on the Exynos version (european), when I start the phone for the first time, there are some Google apps? Or I have only the Samsung browser on default (without Chrome) and only the various Samsung Apps?
3) Or I have 2 browsers (Chrome and Samsung Internet), 2 assistants (Bixby and Google assistant), 2 Payment system (Samsung Pay and Google Pay) for default?

Thanks a lot in advance!

1)updates do not remove ads. not sure where you got that idea from. in app ads are part of the norm, unless you get the paid versions.
2)unless you are in China, google apps should be included on your phone as well as samsung apps
3)all of those comes included...you should see these on your phone within in your app drawer.

 

[Milo Williamson]

Hello!

I have 2 questions about the system software:

1) The annoyng ADS in the system apps was removed with the recent updates? For example, now when I'm using the weather app I still see the ads banner?
2) In particular on the Exynos version (european), when I start the phone for the first time, there are some Google apps? Or I have only the Samsung browser on default (without Chrome) and only the various Samsung Apps?
3) Or I have 2 browsers (Chrome and Samsung Internet), 2 assistants (Bixby and Google assistant), 2 Payment system (Samsung Pay and Google Pay) for default?

Thanks a lot in advance!

1) Buy in an account to remove those ads, we all been there.
2) Well you can have as many browsers as you wante, preferablity I use Duckduckgo for my Samsung Tablet as well as my desktop too, and just downloaded it last night to my moto edge plus.
3) Like we all say you can have as much as you want, I am leaning towards more of G. Pay vs. Samsung..

 

[Hadron]

Hello!

I have 2 questions about the system software:

1) The annoyng ADS in the system apps was removed with the recent updates? For example, now when I'm using the weather app I still see the ads banner?
2) In particular on the Exynos version (european), when I start the phone for the first time, there are some Google apps? Or I have only the Samsung browser on default (without Chrome) and only the various Samsung Apps?
3) Or I have 2 browsers (Chrome and Samsung Internet), 2 assistants (Bixby and Google assistant), 2 Payment system (Samsung Pay and Google Pay) for default?

Thanks a lot in advance!

1) I think that people have missed that you were talking about ads in system apps, which has reportedly been a feature of recent Samsung software (I say "reportedly" because I don't have a recent Samsung device). I read recently that they had said they were going to remove those (as e.g. described here), but whether that has started yet I don't know. And yes, since these are system apps it may well be a system update that removes them (though they could presumably do it just via a simple app update).

2) As others have said, you will have Google apps present. Google mandate that if a manufacturer wishes to include the Play Store they must include a specified set of other Google apps (you can argue about whether that is anti-competitive, but as an end user all you can do is disable the apps you don't want - if the manufacturer lets you).

3) You'll almost certainly have duplicates, though in the case of browsers that's hardly unique to Samsung: historically most manufacturers used to bundle their own browser in addition to the Google-mandated Chrome. Personally as long as I can disable all of the pre-installed crap that I don't want I don't especially care (which in my case means all pre-installed browsers, all voice assistants and all payment apps - I'm damned if I'm letting either Google or Samsung have that much information on my shopping habits, even less so letting them take a cut while collecting the data ).

 

[mikedt]

1)updates do not remove ads. not sure where you got that idea from. in app ads are part of the norm, unless you get the paid versions.
2)unless you are in China, google apps should be included on your phone as well as samsung apps
3)all of those comes included...you should see these on your phone within in your app drawer.

FWIW my Note20 Ultra, which is similar to S21, only came with the Samsung apps, like Samsung Pay, Bixby, and the stock Samsung browser. However I've been able to sideload the Google apps I want and use, namely Play Store, YouTube, and Gmail.

As for any ads, I've never seen any in the stock Samsung system apps and services, like Weather. And this phone has been receiving periodic updates. There's ads in some third-party apps and services I use though.

 

[ocnbrze]

yep no ads with my z fold 3. but i rarely use anything samsung.

 

[Bokka]

Thanks a lot for the replies!!

I meant the ads in the SAMSUNG SYSTEM applications, I know well that in the applications I download from the store I have to buy the premium version to remove the advertising.

Ok for the fact of the pre-installed Google / Samsung applications, in the end just disable the one that doesn't interest me and I'm fine. I was wondering because finding "duplicate" applications on the phone by default bothers me enough, but in the end it's not that big of a problem.

 

[mikedt]

Thanks a lot for the replies!!

I meant the ads in the SAMSUNG SYSTEM applications, I know well that in the applications I download from the store I have to buy the premium version to remove the advertising.

Ok for the fact of the pre-installed Google / Samsung applications, in the end just disable the one that doesn't interest me and I'm fine. I was wondering because finding "duplicate" applications on the phone by default bothers me enough, but in the end it's not that big of a problem.

That's something I've never seen myself on any phones I've had, not just Samsung.

If you want a pure Google Android experience without any extras from manufacturers like Samsung, maybe look at Pixel series phones? Of course they're not available where I am.

 

[Bokka]

That's something I've never seen myself on any phones I've had, not just Samsung.

If you want a pure Google Android experience without any extras from manufacturers like Samsung, maybe look at Pixel series phones? Of course they're not available where I am.

By banner ads I mean stuff like this:





In fact, I currently have a Pixel 3a, but I would like to give it to my father, since he has recently discovered the technology at the age of 70 and his current phone (an old Alcatel with Android 7 or 8) is abandoning it.

I used Samsung S2 and S5, which I kept for about 4 or 5 years each, then I switched to Pixel 3a.

The Pixel 5a is not marketed in my country and the 6 who knows when it will be. But the basic Android interface, albeit fast and practical, I never liked and I have always considered Samsung to be halfway between an Android and an iPhone. But with the banners present in the applications (now fortunately removed), I felt like I was using a Chinese phone from the worst brands, I don't know if I made myself clear ....

 

[mikedt]

By banner ads I mean stuff like this:





In fact, I currently have a Pixel 3a, but I would like to give it to my father, since he has recently discovered the technology at the age of 70 and his current phone (an old Alcatel with Android 7 or 8) is abandoning it.

I used Samsung S2 and S5, which I kept for about 4 or 5 years each, then I switched to Pixel 3a.

The Pixel 5a is not marketed in my country and the 6 who knows when it will be. But the basic Android interface, albeit fast and practical, I never liked and I have always considered Samsung to be halfway between an Android and an iPhone. But with the banners present in the applications (now fortunately removed), I felt like I was using a Chinese phone from the worst brands, I don't know if I made myself clear ....

That looks like they're only in the Samsung Health app. Which on my Note20 Ultra can be completely uninstalled, and isn't baked into the actual phone's firmware. So I'd call that a bloat app rather than "system software". If you really object to those ads, I guess you could stop using Samsung Health, and just delete it. Also ads are specifically mentioned in the Samsung Health ToS, which you agreed to by clicking through and using their app.

From the Samsung Health app ToS.
"Advertising: We provide most functions of the service free of charge. In order to keep these functions free, we may show you advertising or promotional information provided by us or third parties when you use our services...."

Samsung Health doesn't actually show any ads on my phone though, that's why I've never seen any.

I believe the Pixel phones don't come with any pre-installed health and fitness tracker apps, unlike Samsung.

 

[Milo Williamson]

I believe my own Samsung tablet did not come from the health or fitness tracker apps at all, just the common bells and whistles, but nothing more else I can think of duration of that.