Samsung could be about to make some TouchWiz haters very happy, by offering the Galaxy S6 smartphone with a user interface much closer to stock Android.
According to SamMobile, (via Gizmodo) the Korean firm may be planning to scale back on in-house apps like S Voice, S Translator and Story Album.
The report builds on previous rumours claiming Samsung may offer these apps to customers who wish to enable them via the Galaxy S6’s settings menus or download them via a dedicated app store.
The rumoured solution would prove popular for Android users who enjoy Samsung’s hardware, but enjoy the Nexus-like version of Android. It would allow them, for example, to have Google Now rather than the S Voice solution front and centre on their smartphone
It would also be good news for Google which has railed against the overly customised versions of Android with the Google Play Edition program and the Nexus devices.
Google appears to have shut down the Google Play Edition program, with no devices currently available for sale on the store.
Perhaps assurances from Samsung over a toned-down TouchWiz has sated Google’s concerns third-party manufacturers would fork Android until it became unrecognisable?
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Note Edge review
Would a streamlined Galaxy S6 encourage you to jump on board with the Samsung bandwagon? Are you a TouchWiz fan disappointed by this potential development?
Let us know your thoughts below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
