45 votes

I hate phone updates

I don't think I've installed an update on my phone and felt like it was an improvement over the old version.

Samsung just pushed their new firmware onto my phone and added a whole bunch of annoying AI stuff that I don't want and additionally decided for me that I no longer want the bluetooth signal in the statusbar unless I open up the notification menu, with no way to reenable it. I turn off my headphones when I don't need them and it was really useful to see at a glance that if they were connected and I had forgotten to turn them off.

25 comments

  1. [2]
    Akir
    Link
    The software was always the main reason why I was never interested in buying Samsung's phones. It seems there's always some problem with them, especially on the software side. I owned the T-Mobile...

    The software was always the main reason why I was never interested in buying Samsung's phones. It seems there's always some problem with them, especially on the software side. I owned the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G, which was a Samsung phone, and it was quite literally the worst cell phone I have ever owned because it was constantly crashing. Though to be fair, this was also the early days of Android, but still, I wouldn't trust any software written by Samsung without some serious vetting and credible third-party recommendations.

    24 votes
    1. imperator
      Link Parent
      Yeah my partner has Samsung. She always had odd problems with it.. I love the hardware, but prefer stock so I've been using Google phones since the Nexus 5. Recently upgraded from the 6a to the 9 pro

      Yeah my partner has Samsung. She always had odd problems with it..

      I love the hardware, but prefer stock so I've been using Google phones since the Nexus 5.

      Recently upgraded from the 6a to the 9 pro

      2 votes
  2. [2]
    CedarMadness
    Link
    For Samsung specifically there's an app called Good Lock in the Samsung app store. It's made by Samsung themselves and gives you tons customization options that normally aren't available. Too much...

    For Samsung specifically there's an app called Good Lock in the Samsung app store. It's made by Samsung themselves and gives you tons customization options that normally aren't available. Too much to get into right now, but it can solve your problem (more than likely, my phone has not updated yet so I can't confirm).

    You'll want to open the Samsung apps store, helpfully called "store" and search for "good lock". Once that's installed, it will give you a menu of 20 or so more apps you can install as plug-ins. The one you want is called "quick star". There's an option in there called "visibility of indicator icons" which lets you turn on or off individual icons like wifi, nfc, Bluetooth, etc.

    Sometimes after an OS update the good lock plug-ins take a few days to get updated themselves, and I don't have the update yet but I think this should be what you want.

    17 votes
    1. selib
      Link Parent
      I tried doing the Good Lock thing but it still didn't reenable my bluetooth icon. Maybe after some updates..

      I tried doing the Good Lock thing but it still didn't reenable my bluetooth icon. Maybe after some updates..

      8 votes
  3. [5]
    RoyalHenOil
    Link
    I've never had a Samsung phone, but I helped my uncle set up his new Samsung Galaxy, and the process involved so much fluff and confusion-inducing design that I will never buy a Samsung phone...

    I've never had a Samsung phone, but I helped my uncle set up his new Samsung Galaxy, and the process involved so much fluff and confusion-inducing design that I will never buy a Samsung phone myself. It honestly got me thinking twice about buying any Samsung-branded product again.

    I probably have unusually low tolerance for that sort of thing, though. My uncle seemed perfectly happy with the phone even though the setup process was so fraught that he couldn't manage it himself (and he is a far more experienced computer user than I am).

    14 votes
    1. Pavouk106
      Link Parent
      Referencing to your uncle being more experienced: There is a point where you are far too experienced to do basic stuff that other people manage just fine. I'm the "tech nerd" in my circle and...

      Referencing to your uncle being more experienced: There is a point where you are far too experienced to do basic stuff that other people manage just fine. I'm the "tech nerd" in my circle and sometimes I'm looking for too complex of a solution for an easy problem. That said - sometimes the user experience is actually that bad and the "nerdiness" doesn't have to do anything with it - it is just straight bad.

      17 votes
    2. [3]
      fxgn
      Link Parent
      Yeah, same. I recently helped my grandmother set up a Samsung phone, and it was the worst thing in the world. Here's the Kagi Translated version of the angry rant I posted about the experience:...

      Yeah, same. I recently helped my grandmother set up a Samsung phone, and it was the worst thing in the world. Here's the Kagi Translated version of the angry rant I posted about the experience:

      Oh, by the way, I was recently helping someone transfer data from an old Samsung to a new one, and holy shit, it's such an embarrassment.

      For example, during the initial phone setup, it suggests transferring data from your old phone. To do this, you need to install Samsung Smart Switch on it and press a button. Okay, fine. You download it, launch it, and it tells you the Smart Switch version on the NEW smartphone is outdated. The PRE-INSTALLED VERSION, the one BUILT INTO THE PHONE'S SETUP, doesn't work because it's OUTDATED. And you CAN'T update it because the setup process isn't finished yet, so obviously, you can't open the Google Play Store. You have to FIRST finish the setup without transferring data, then go update Smart Switch, and ONLY THEN transfer the data. And of course, the whole time, Samsung will be spamming you with like 100 ad notifications an hour.

      That's just one of the problems; there were plenty more like it. Literally, within the fucking first minute of using the phone, right from the initial setup, it's already a complete shitshow. How the hell is transferring data using Samsung's official service between two Samsung phones with the same account more complicated and slower than using Syncthing?

      God, I fucking hate Samsungs. They're just the worst phones in the world. Literally, some cheap-ass Chinese Poco Xiaomi Ultra Hyper 20+ for like 10 bucks is better than this piece of shit. Who the fuck even buys these things?

      Also holy hell Kagi Translate is so good

      13 votes
      1. [2]
        granfdad
        Link Parent
        I had this exact reaction, that is basically perfect english. What was the original language?

        Also holy hell Kagi Translate is so good

        I had this exact reaction, that is basically perfect english. What was the original language?

        3 votes
        1. fxgn
          Link Parent
          The original was in Russian, and Google Translate did translate it, but it sounded pretty unnatural and lost all of the angry tone

          The original was in Russian, and Google Translate did translate it, but it sounded pretty unnatural and lost all of the angry tone

          2 votes
  4. [3]
    Weldawadyathink
    Link
    I think this is a Samsung specific problem, not a general industry problem. At least that has been my experience. Motorola, pretty decent updates, few regressions. Google, good updates, no...

    I think this is a Samsung specific problem, not a general industry problem. At least that has been my experience. Motorola, pretty decent updates, few regressions. Google, good updates, no regressions. Apple, good updates, no regressions. Samsung, bad updates, sometimes entire advertised features removed completely. The one that burned me was smartcast (I think that is what it was called). That was Samsung's built in way to send audio and video to screens using the chromecast protocol. It supported a special protocol for Samsung smart TVs, but I only used it for chromecasts. I also managed to teach my entire family how to use it without having to run to me every time they wanted to share their screen. Samsung released an update that rewrote the smartcast implementation. Not a problem, except that they decided it shouldn't support chromecast anymore, just their stupid proprietary protocol. The worst part is this wasn't documented anywhere. I spent weeks troubleshooting why our chrome cast suddenly stopped accepting smartcast streams. I finally found some Samsung user forum of people complaining about the same problem. I didn't leave Samsung because of that, but it was definitely one of the push factors that got me to try Apple.

    11 votes
    1. skybrian
      Link Parent
      Apple is better, but they are still pushy at times. After updating Mom's iPhone, it wants her to set a thumb print and passcode, and bypassing it is a little tricky, so I have to do it for her....

      Apple is better, but they are still pushy at times. After updating Mom's iPhone, it wants her to set a thumb print and passcode, and bypassing it is a little tricky, so I have to do it for her.

      (It probably makes sense for most people, but she is elderly and can barely use it as it is.)

      4 votes
    2. feigneddork
      Link Parent
      I agree with your post for the most part. I have a OnePlus phone, and generally speaking the amount of crap that gets shoved via OS updates are pretty minimal. I wouldn't say zero, but they are...

      I agree with your post for the most part. I have a OnePlus phone, and generally speaking the amount of crap that gets shoved via OS updates are pretty minimal. I wouldn't say zero, but they are mostly ignorable or you can turn them off.

      Back when I did Android development, a Samsung Android OS update would make the phone go from usable to a barely usable billboard ad disguised as a phone. It's a shame, because it's Samsung sticking a pipe in its own bike spoke and then when the phone eventually falls off, Samsung will shake its fists and blame their customers/Apple/competition.

      4 votes
  5. [3]
    kaffo
    Link
    I really like Samsung hardware but I agree the software has got completely out of hand. If I were you (I'm not, I am sadly stuck with a Pixel for another 2 years) I would install a custom OS and...

    I really like Samsung hardware but I agree the software has got completely out of hand.
    If I were you (I'm not, I am sadly stuck with a Pixel for another 2 years) I would install a custom OS and enjoy the best of both worlds.

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      mat
      Link Parent
      You can definitely get a selection of AOSP images for Pixel phones. Eg, Derpfest XDA Devs has many more options depending on the device but they seem to have significantly "upgraded" their site...

      You can definitely get a selection of AOSP images for Pixel phones. Eg, Derpfest

      XDA Devs has many more options depending on the device but they seem to have significantly "upgraded" their site layout since last time I was there (many years ago) so it's rather harder to navigate than it used to be.

      4 votes
      1. kaffo
        Link Parent
        I think you misunderstood me. I was being intentionally obnoxious in my post. I don't like the Google hardware (the software isn't great either let's be honest). I'm gonna install something custom...

        I think you misunderstood me. I was being intentionally obnoxious in my post. I don't like the Google hardware (the software isn't great either let's be honest).
        I'm gonna install something custom probably next year, but ain't nothing gonna fix the hardware until I get a new phone.

        5 votes
  6. BlindCarpenter
    Link
    Have you ever dabbled with Lineage OS? I dont know if it is compatible with your Samsung phone, but might be a good alternative to avoid all that AI bloatware

    Have you ever dabbled with Lineage OS? I dont know if it is compatible with your Samsung phone, but might be a good alternative to avoid all that AI bloatware

    6 votes
  7. [4]
    rodrigo
    Link
    I’d love something like Debian but for phones: stable, well-maintained software that barely changes every two years — but you don’t need to bother for +5 years before security updates are dropped.

    I’d love something like Debian but for phones: stable, well-maintained software that barely changes every two years — but you don’t need to bother for +5 years before security updates are dropped.

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      Akir
      Link Parent
      There is plasma mobile, basically KDE for phones. But there’s practically zero support for it. Is sailfish still around? I wonder how support for it is.

      There is plasma mobile, basically KDE for phones. But there’s practically zero support for it.

      Is sailfish still around? I wonder how support for it is.

      2 votes
      1. rodrigo
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I'm aware of those attempts to bring Linux to phones. What I meant was a practical phone software that has the apps an average person needs and uses. Something like an Android or iOS, but LTS.

        Yeah, I'm aware of those attempts to bring Linux to phones. What I meant was a practical phone software that has the apps an average person needs and uses. Something like an Android or iOS, but LTS.

        2 votes
      2. arch
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Sailfish is still around, but support for it is terrible. I've literally never had a phone that can run it, despite wanting to try it. Every year or so I try to look into it again, but there's...

        Is sailfish still around? I wonder how support for it is.

        Sailfish is still around, but support for it is terrible. I've literally never had a phone that can run it, despite wanting to try it. Every year or so I try to look into it again, but there's never any development. Unless you have a select Sony Xperia device, or the Jolla device, you can't run it. Sony appears to have abandoned U.S. phone sales, too. I'll probably never try it out.

        [edit to add]
        I have tried Plasma Mobile, through postmarketOS. I experimented on a partially supported Pixel 3a XL. It was not usable; could not make phone calls for instance. The interface was terribly slow, but it is a pretty old phone.

        There's also Ubuntu Touch
        Mobian which only supports a few devices.
        Some people also seem to be using a UI called Phosh on top of postmarketOS

        While I want something better than Android, I don't think we're going to get it. Everything listed here is built on top of Linux, and I doubt anyone is going to get it better than Google has been able to with decades of investment. Maybe something like FreeBSD or FreeRTOS could offer stability, consistency and/or responsiveness over Linux, but frankly that's a pipedream. No one has the resources, experience and expertise to invest in something like that. I might as well wish for an AI developing a new mobile OS.

        And Google seems to have all but abandoned Fuchsia

        1 vote
  8. daychilde
    Link
    Most of what Google pushes to the Pixel I couldn't give a crap about, but most of it stays out of my hair just fine. I've seen updates that are improvements. For example, a while back, a feature...

    Most of what Google pushes to the Pixel I couldn't give a crap about, but most of it stays out of my hair just fine.

    I've seen updates that are improvements. For example, a while back, a feature was added to the camera to show if the camera is level or not. Simple, very handy.

    I like most of what they added that I notice, besides the stuff I ignore.

    2 votes
  9. SteeeveTheSteve
    Link
    My Samsung phone stopped updating the OS in January 2023. I still don't understand why, but I need to do a factory reset to fix it (installer gets to the same percent every time then has an issue...

    My Samsung phone stopped updating the OS in January 2023. I still don't understand why, but I need to do a factory reset to fix it (installer gets to the same percent every time then has an issue and reverses it).

    That said, it runs great despite being a few years old so I feel like you might be on to something.

    1 vote
  10. Sleeper
    Link
    Yeah, companies keep pushing updates for the sake of updates but they are mostly useful now for the security updates contained within.

    Yeah, companies keep pushing updates for the sake of updates but they are mostly useful now for the security updates contained within.

    1 vote
  11. Dangerous_Dan_McGrew
    Link
    I always disable updates for this reason.

    I always disable updates for this reason.

    1 vote
  12. PleasantlyAverage
    Link
    As a workaround, you could use something like Automate to display a notification if headphones are connected.

    As a workaround, you could use something like Automate to display a notification if headphones are connected.