The Nexus line has always been synonymous with a “Pure Google” experience, meaning that the handset is void of carrier or manufacturer (with the exception of design) influence and that there will be no unnecessary applications pre-installed on the device when it ships. Well, it looks like Verizon isn’t too fond of that idea and there will indeed be a couple of bloatware applications installed on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Nexus at launch.
The pre-installed applications on the Galaxy Nexus are Verizon Backup Assistant and My Verizon Mobile. Both of these applications serve a purpose that some may like but we’re still not sure if you can delete these applications from the device itself if you don’t want them. Luckily, you can hide the apps from your application drawer if you so choose, and given that it’s only two applications, it hardly seems like something to be alarmed about.
When you think about it, does the fact that Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus has some bloatware apps on it surprise you? Big Red likes things done their way, and while we’re sure we’d see a handful of more bloatware apps on any other Android phone shipping today for the carrier, two simple apps that actually might come in handy at some point isn’t all that bad. Still, it’s a bit odd to see Google cave like this. (Maybe Verizon threatened to delay the Galaxy Nexus even further if it didn’t get some of its apps on the handset. That’s also to say it’s delayed at all.)
With the Galaxy Nexus’ release date destined to be announced literally any day now, we have our doubts that two measly Verizon applications would stop the majority of people from grabbing the phone. Hell, the last thing I want to do it leave my awesome T-Mobile plan for Verizon but unless we hear a Magenta-flavored Galaxy Nexus announced within a couple of weeks, I’ll be drinking the Big Red Kool-Aid very soon.
What’s your take? Do you care that there are two Verizon apps on the Galaxy Nexus?
[Via: Phandroid]