Originally posted at personal blog from Thiago Perrotta.

I recently had contact with a Stock Android 4.4.x (Kitkat) and, whooooa, as I had forgotten how much a new Android was bloated, full of frills and unnecessary things, that only complicate the usability and user understanding.

I'm going to use a relatively more friendly vocabulary, Since this post aims to give some light to an experienced user (or experienced).

Motivation

Let's see, Firstly I will reinforce what I just said: What is the point of this, for what?? If the target audience for experienced users, they will be extremely unhappy and unsatisfied, because they will be exposed to figures which they don't want to. You could argue the following: “Oh, so they remove those things. Right?” No. Wrong. I mean, would be right, the problem is that I can't uninstall programs “of factory” by default — unless you gain access root on your Android. So, Why don't the) distribute Smartphones with root access out-of-the-box (= by default) or (b)) make applications that are already installed do not have status “of factory”, which means that they could be easily removed.

On the other hand, If the target audience is not experienced users (and is, This is the largest part of the market share the Android), so why stay including a lot of functions, applications and frills that those users never use? Even worse, many of them in English (We're talking about users not experienced, not everyone knows English). Naturally, You can't please everyone, always there will be some portion of users who have to upset a little bit, that in itself would be very natural. The problem is that the portion is huge, and the discontent is not just a little bit. That's good, You can say that most people couldn't care less / don't care for it (It's true). So, precisely by don't connect is that these “Extras” (from now on I refer to this as bloat/bloatware) could (should?) be reduced to the minimum possible. Then there's no way to talk about it, not to mention the KISS (~ Keep it Simple); probably this is the acronym that I use here, but it's because it's a concept that most people and manufacturers seem to completely ignore. As Albert Einstein once said, ~”keep things as simple as possible, but not simpering”. It's not about providing just the kernel to the user, is not, damn, but there is also no need to include a lot of functions only to complicate his life. Then you say: Oh, but most of the Androids have some application “helper”, that comes with a tutorial and instructions for use of the most important functions of the unit. But this is another mistake, seems to help, but in fact only complicates. According To Donald Norman, a product with a good design is a product that exemption tutorials, callouts and/or manuals. He is intuitive, so that the user can understand the purpose of their use and how to use it “automagically” (little analogy: Imagine an elevator, you step inside, push the button, and go to the floor as you want. This is an example of good design. Now, If in a given lift you need to stop to read the instructions on how to operate it, that's (in General) a design bad. Exceptions exist, be careful not to generalize this argument!).

I will stop by here, This subject is far from exaustado with only two paragraphs, but I think that summarizes my motivation behind this post.

Some guidelines

In this section: some things you can do (or at least try to do, or learn about) to reduce the bloat.

Note that I'm also going to include some features. Depending on your point of view, they can also be bloat (This is, you just be trading a bloat on the other). At the end, the perfect product is not generic, But yes tailored and adapted to the needs of each user (even if the user is not aware of what he really wants).

• First of all: REMOVE all applications default that you do not install If they do not come natively. For example: you low the game XXXX sag[?] or the application of the social network YYYY if he hadn't come along with your Android? No? Then remove it!
• Here comes the problem of the previous topic: you won't get (in General) remove these applications. So, what you can do? to) root (only if your appliance is sufficiently popular, and you are a more experienced user, willing to risk a little bit) or (b)) disable applications. It's not as good as remove, but at least they won't be running in the background, not appear on your app drawer.
• Install the Notification Toggle. Great design, It should be native on all Androids.
• Install a Launcher! The native Android Launcher is limited too much. Now, Watch here. Depending on the Launcher you install and settings that you are tweakar After, This can end up bringing more bloat for your smartphone. I like the Apex.
• Learn how to clear the cache of your device. You can do that through an application, or manually. You don't want to do that very often, but every once in a while is a good idea.
• Disable the location (GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks). Unless you use very often an application related to this. Serious, no sale’ your location data so easily.
• Install a browser decent! The Stock Android Browser is very bad. One of the recommendations, Chrome, Firefox or Dolphin (not necessarily in that order). Opera Mini is still useful to navigate on the 3 g and save more data.
• Disable the Bluetooth. Hardly anyone uses it these days. The only time I used it was to communicate with my notebook. Saves battery.
• Remove all widgets they came by default on your Home Screen. Unless you really need them… (It's so important to know the weather / the temperature all the time?)
• Disable the Google Now. Be interrupted all the time with notifications is counterproductive. Unless that's important to you…
• Note, These items are only recommendations, It may be that one aspect or another is important to you, I'm not going to keep repeating that, I think you've given to capture the message.
• Adblock! Works fine as hell, one of the applications that I cherish more. You need root!
• Disable transitions / animations / haptic feedback / audio feedback. Translating: Disable visual effects when you change screen, disable the vibration when you touch a button (virtual) or a key (the virtual keyboard), turn off the sound when you touch something. Look for it in the settings (settings). Is usually there to the end, the last options.
• Review the applications that came by default on your Home Screen. You do not need to use the ones that came (but, You probably will want some, as the contacts and the phone, as well as the web browser — otherwise, I wonder what is the purpose of your smartphone).
• Synchronization upstream with the manufacturer: you don't need this, disable this. Explaining better: usually manufacturers provide an application to synchronize or help you do something. This varies greatly from one person to another, and even the same manufacturer usually change the name like a version of Android applications to another. Note that I No refer to Google sync.
• Install a “store” alternative, with free softwares! F-Droid. If you, In addition, You can use some software from there (instead of a closed source), better yet.

I will stop by here. This post may well have a continuation in the future, still give to talk of other things. I'm sure you didn't know at least one item that was up there. As I haven't met others who are not up there. There's always something new to learn, or any tips to improve usability. Accepted suggestions!

If you want to list an item not present up there, post a comment or send me a message so I can include it in the original list. Thanks!