Your next Android phone is about to have quite a bit less bloatware from Google

By Williams Pelegrin August 20, 2015

Android M Hands On — Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

Up until now, if phone manufacturers wanted to include one of Google’s applications, such as the Play Store, they would need to preinstall the majority of Google apps, such as Hangouts, Google Play Newsstand, Google+, Gmail, and more. However, it seems that Google looks to continue to move away from this policy, as the search giant will no longer make certain apps mandatory installs, reports Android Central.

According to the outlet, Google Play Books, Google+, Google Play Games, and Google Play Newsstand will join Google Earth and Google Keep as apps that are no longer part of the required app package that these manufacturers must install if they opt for one of Google’s apps. Users will still have access to these apps through the Play Store, so you can still download them, if you want.

It’s easy to see why people wouldn’t be fans of bloatware on their phones. Not only do these apps take up storage space and memory, but they also take away choice on the part of the consumer. China wanted to give that choice back to the consumer by filing a lawsuit against Samsung due to the whopping 44 preinstalled apps on the Galaxy Note 3. As a result of China’s win in the legal argument, Samsung had no choice but to release a software update that allows users to dismiss these apps.

In addition, it possibly made Samsung more conscious about the apps it installs on its phones, which could be why the large majority of apps in the company’s recent Galaxy smartphone offerings could be disabled.

Unfortunately for purists and bloatware haters alike, carriers can still preinstall their apps onto phones, a controversial practice that seems to be liked by a select few and disliked by the majority. Whether this practice will continue in the near future or whether Google will finally step in and put an end to the madness is still to be determined.

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Williams Pelegrin

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…

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