Is hangout as bad as explorer ?

[you2]

In recent updates of android it is almost impossible to remove hangout (as well as google search bar). In my latest tablet running 5.x I can 'disable' hangout but then get a pop-up every 30 minutes (or so) telling me that hangout has stopped running.

Clearly google has gone to extreme to 'integrate' hangout into andriod for cross market (competition with facebook) reasons.

Is this not the same (or worse) than what microsoft attempted to do with explorer ?

My specific complaint is when I buy an android phone I want a phone not a 'hangout'.

 

[gorcorps]

It's an integral part of android now. You can message somebody else with android through hangout and it won't count as an SMS. The only way to ensure that functionality works is ensure everybody has it. It's an answer to Apple's iMessage (which you also can't uninstall).

They don't force you to use it, and it ensures messaging compatibility with all android phones, so I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[monkey333]

Root your tablet and install titanium backup and then you can uninstall it, if it's bothering you that much.

 

[sweenish]

They're also complaining about the inability to get rid of the search bar. This shows a basic lack of understanding about launchers and basic customizing.

They provide no information as to what phone/tablet they're actually talking about. Could be an OEM oddity.

Are they talking about a phone, or a tablet? They use the terms interchangeably.

Also, it's on "5.x," so it's not current, and they can't be bothered to get the actual version number.

Their "specific complaint," as they put is a bit rubbish, since no one at any point is forcing the user to use Hangouts. This also shows a basic lack of understanding in regards to why MS was busted for monopolistic practices.

If they just want to vent, that's one thing. But I don't think anyone should be trying to offer support, let alone telling them to root and uninstall. It's a bit obvious they aren't capable of that.

 

[Crono]

If you don't want Hangouts either buy a non-Android phone, an AOSP-based phone (i.e. a lower tier Chinese manufactured phone without it), or root/flash a custom ROM without the Google apps (or a slim GApps ROM without it). The reason it's there is because it's an all-or-nothing proposition when manufacturers want Google Play/Play services. The manufacturers aren't forced to put Android on their phones, but if they want the certification, marketing, and services benefits they have to take it.

If you really want to get rid of it on your current Android devices, root is the option.
Considering you can't remove the stock Apple apps from iOS without jailbreak, you're actually in a much better situation on Android.

It shouldn't surprise anyone that commercial software developers bundle their apps with their OS', whether it's Microsoft, Apple, or Google. AOSP may be open source and free, but Android is not.

 

[WelshBloke]

My specific complaint is when I buy an android phone I want a phone not a 'hangout'.

How does having hangouts installed stop your phone being a phone?

 

[you2]

How does having hangouts installed stop your phone being a phone?

The tablet is 5.1 and phone 5.2. These are latest provided by vendor. Neither have boot loader cracked(yet). Hangout does more than message and it should be optional. If I wanted crap like I message I would by an iPhone. The basic premise stand. BTw earlier version of Android lack this junk which provides no value.

 

[Graze]

When you start paying for android then maybe you get to complain to this extent about what you get on it.

 

[monkey333]

Nova launcher will let you hide it in the app drawer if that helps.

 

[WelshBloke]

The tablet is 5.1 and phone 5.2. These are latest provided by vendor. Neither have boot loader cracked(yet). Hangout does more than message and it should be optional. If I wanted crap like I message I would by an iPhone. The basic premise stand. BTw earlier version of Android lack this junk which provides no value.

Just don't use it then?

 

[you2]

You pay for it when you buy the device; at least to the extent that you pay for ios on an iphone/tablet or window on a window phone or tablet.
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I simply do not understand why folks make a big deal about (for example) MS but then totally ignore google behavior (which is less than consumer friendly).
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And yes the solution is for my next phone to be a model without a locked boot loader but no I'm not going to run out and buy a high end phone to replace the one i have over this crap; though I am tempted to get a window phone since it appears that MS is not as heavy handed as google.

When you start paying for android then maybe you get to complain to this extent about what you get on it.

 

[Graze]

You pay for it when you buy the device; at least to the extent that you pay for ios on an iphone/tablet or window on a window phone or tablet.

You really dont! If you want to include the Google play store you're required to have some Google apps included.
Whatever you pay goes directly to the manufacturer and not Google!
As I said maybe when you start paying Google for Android you get to bitch!

https://www.quora.com/Do-Android-OEMs-Samsung-LG-HTC-pay-Google-a-fee-per-phone-for-Android-OS


LOL get a Windows phone why not and enjoy your dead platform with an anemic app environment

 

[sweenish]

The tablet is 5.1 and phone 5.2. These are latest provided by vendor. Neither have boot loader cracked(yet). Hangout does more than message and it should be optional. If I wanted crap like I message I would by an iPhone. The basic premise stand. BTw earlier version of Android lack this junk which provides no value.

No one noticed that OP can't even give proper Android versions?

There is no Android 5.2, they still have managed to not bother listing the actual devices.

Just move on, they don't want help.

 

[you2]

You are correct; the phone has 5.1.1. It is on the list of phones to be updated to 6.x later this year.

As to precise models they are not relevant. The boot loaders are locked. I did in fact disable hangout on the tablet but i receive an error notification every 30 or 40 minutes indicating that hangout has stopped running. The phone has no option to disable hangout.
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The precise model is not relevant. It doesn't change the fact that google has taken this approach in an attempt to compete against apple and facebook. I'm just surprise folks don't see it an issue but when google does this sort of crap but then cry foul when other vendor do such.

No one noticed that OP can't even give proper Android versions?

There is no Android 5.2, they still have managed to not bother listing the actual devices.

Just move on, they don't want help.

 

[sweenish]

Most people would just not use the app, something you seem incapable of.

 

[WelshBloke]

Most people would just not use the app, something you seem incapable of.

This.

You can use any SMS client as default.

 

[you2]

I think the problem is that my devices are sensitive on the home key and occasionally it pops up when I don't want it hence the annoyance.

 

[sweenish]

What?

 

[WelshBloke]

I think the problem is that my devices are sensitive on the home key and occasionally it pops up when I don't want it hence the annoyance.

Whats your home key got to do with hangouts?

 

[iCyborg]

Most people would just not use the app, something you seem incapable of.

I use Hangouts, but I have a bunch of other Google apps disabled/uninstalled. I'd be annoyed if I couldn't, the reason being that Google apps tend to be updated often, and if you don't use them, it's just a waste of wifi/battery, and I like to wait until there's 5-10 apps waiting to be updated and just update all instead of cherry-picking. I don't know of a way to specify per-app update/don't update policies (on stock 6.0.1, I'm not willing to root the phone for that...).
I mean, it's not the end of the world, but it would be mildly annoying...

 

[sweenish]

I can almost say with a certainty that using a different default SMS app and disabling Hangouts will not give you a pop-up every 30 minutes.

If I remember, I would be more than glad to try it out after allo drops.