Samsung reportedly addressing its Achilles heel in the Galaxy S6 with help from Microsoft

Shawn Knight

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samsung teams microsoft boost galaxy s6 android samsung apps galaxy s6 samsung galaxy s6

Samsung is reportedly veering off the beaten path its next flagship smartphone. Specifically, the South Korean tech giant is addressing what’s often described as its Achilles heel: software.

According to a report from Sam Mobile, Samsung is hard at work on optimizing its software to operate at near-stock Android levels and heavily reducing the amount of bloatware that comes pre-installed. Many of Samsung’s homegrown apps will now be optional downloads.

Perhaps even more compelling is what Samsung plans to replace those apps with.

Sources told the publication that Sammy will install several Microsoft-branded apps on the Galaxy S6 including, but not limited to, OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile (with a free 365 subscription) and Skype.

samsung teams microsoft boost galaxy s6 android samsung apps galaxy s6 samsung galaxy s6

It’s unclear if this strategy on Microsoft’s part has more to do with the fact that Windows Phone has failed to make a noticeable impact in the industry of if it’s more about the company’s recent push to expand to virtually every ecosystem possible. If I had to venture a guess, I’d say it’s a little bit of both.

Other software changes on the Galaxy S6 are said to include a revised keyboard, more themes to choose from, more color in the Samsung apps that do stick around, the ability to adjust the app drawer icon layout and a revised UI for the dialer app that apparently looks as “green as grass.”

TouchWiz on the S6 is said to be amazingly fast compared to Lollipop on the Note 4, Samsung’s current flagship phablet.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy S6 at its Unpacked media event scheduled for March 1.

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"and heavily reducing the amount of bloatware that comes pre-installed. Many of Samsung’s homegrown apps will now be optional downloads."

one word: \o/
 
If they do a notable positive change on that department as advertised, I may be considering it again. Good to see they're learning from feedback and failure to offer something a lot better to the customer.
 
''what’s often described as its Achilles heel: software.''

Then they should have stopped ¢£¤¬£¢¬ around with the OS and all the boat. Problem solved.
 
What about the S5 though? We deserve that update, the Lollipop update has made it significantly less responsive...
 
I have no issues with my S5 from Sprint. Got my phone in Dec. '14. Updated to Lollipop 5.0 yesterday. I see no difference in performance. It's not better or worse for me. It was the same, which for me was great as I had no issues with KitKat 4.4.4.
Not sure why people have so many issues. I have heard if you have older apps, that is more than likely causing the issues. If a app doesn't get a update then it can cause issues with Lollipop. Sprint may have fixed some issues before releasing it to the S5 also. I don't use a lot of apps to begin with outside of what's preinstalled so that may be why I have so little issues. I'm not a big app person, just need a phone to call and text. Camera is nice to have also.
 
"and heavily reducing the amount of bloatware that comes pre-installed. Many of Samsung’s homegrown apps will now be optional downloads."

one word: \o/

"Sources told the publication that Sammy will install several Microsoft-branded apps on the Galaxy S6 including, but not limited to, OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile (with a free 365 subscription) and Skype."

=(
 
I haven't found that the Lollipop upgrade has slowed down the S5 at all. In fact, I'd say it is slightly (very slightly, but still there) better.
 
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