Galaxy S6 to have user un-installable bloatware, Material Design improvements, and more

Touchwiz’s biggest critics have been waiting years for Samsung to get with the program, in terms of better optimizing the UI and removing extra “junk”. In the past few years we’ve heard more than one rumor about how Samsung will slim down Touchwiz, only to walk away disappointed in the end. Could things be different this time around with the Galaxy S6? We hope so.

In addition to rumors suggesting that Samsung is going to be optimizing Touchwiz to give “Nexus-like” levels of performance, about two weeks ago now a report from SamMobile suggested that Samsung would also be removing much of the bloatware. Instead, those wanting the removed apps could simply install them from the Samsung store or even Google Play. Now SamMobile is back with even more details about what to expect from the Galaxy S6’s hardware, and it’s looking pretty impressive so far.

Beyond simply decoupling many apps from the Touchwiz experience, Samsung is reportedly making it so nearly all pre-installed Samsung apps can be uninstalled by a user

Beyond simply decoupling many apps from the Touchwiz experience, Samsung is reportedly making it so nearly all pre-installed Samsung apps can be uninstalled by a user without special permissions or access to root. For all that it’s removing, it also seems that Samsung is introducing quite a few new pre-installed apps to the picture including a number of Microsoft apps such as OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile and Skype. More than likely this could have to do with the recent agreement Samsung and Microsoft reached, relating to their previous patent dispute.

It’s not just the apps that are changing, SamMobile’s “insider source” also claims that the much faster TouchWiz/Lollipop experience will have numerous Lollipop animations and effects, more colorful designs for Samsung apps and several other changes as highlighted n the list from SamMobile below:

• Samsung’s default keyboard app supposedly looks more like a mix between the keyboard on the Galaxy Tab S and the iOS keyboard.
• More theming options are available
• You can select between 4×4, 4×5 and 5×5 icon layouts for the app drawer
• The app drawer no longer supports endless cycling through the list of apps (meaning you can’t go back from the last page to the first without going back through the previous pages).
• The music app still runs in full-screen mode at all times
• The dialer app looks “green as grass”, or that’s what we were told.

It’s important to remember that all of this comes from a source we can’t independently confirm, and so we’d take this news with a grain of salt. After seeing Samsung promise big and deliver much more modest changes with each new phone, it’s hard not to remain skeptical at this point — though perhaps slowing sales have finally given Samsung the push it has (arguably) been needing.

What do you think, excited by the Galaxy S6 and the rumored Touchwiz changes? How likely do you think these changes are, or will most of them prove to be nothing more than rumors or exaggerations?

Bloomberg confirms “all-metal” Galaxy S6 and Edge, as more renders and schematics surface

Render made by UnderKG based on available information

The Galaxy S6 and its double-edged sibling have starred in dozens of rumors and renders over the last couple of weeks, but most of them came from unverified or unreliable sources.

Now a highly respected news organization is weighing in on the matter, confirming key details about the upcoming Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge.

Citing “people with direct knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg confirmed today that both the Galaxy S6 and the S6 Edge will feature “all-metal” bodies and Samsung’s “most advanced processor chips.” Both devices will feature 5.1-inch screens and metal frames manufactured by Chinese supplier BYD Electronic, said the sources.

The report cites analyst Lee Seung Woo of Korean firm IBK Securities saying that Samsung is looking at curved screens that wrap around the edges as a differentiator against both Apple, which pummeled Samsung last quarter, and the wave of budget-focused competitors nipping at Samsung’s market share. “Samsung need a model with new technology to stop the iPhone juggernaut and to distinguish it from others,” said the analyst.

All in all, this Bloomberg report adds credence to the rather amorphous body of rumors and unverified stories that coalesced around Samsung’s Next Big Thing.

In more traditional leak territory, Korean website UnderKG (via GforGames) came up with a series of product schematics and renders that allegedly show the upcoming Galaxy S6. The images are consistent with the news and other renders we’ve seen this past week, as well as with the “all-metal” build mentioned by Bloomberg.

Note that these are not press renders or other official imagery. They are renders made by UnderKG based on info it secured.

The designs show rounded metallic edges and a port and speaker placement that somehow resemble the latest iPhones. If this ends up being the actual design, Samsung may be exposing itself to more copycatting allegations. Then again, Samsung could argue that designing an all-metal device imposes certain limitations, like the necessity for plastic cutouts for antennas.

The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge will be unveiled on March 1, ahead of MWC Barcelona. Stay tuned for more.

Latest leak suggests the Galaxy S6 will be just 6.91mm thin

These days it seems like every hour is met with another rumor, purported leak, or claim about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S6, or the still-don’t-know-if-it-exists Galaxy S Edge. If one were to be pinching all the salt sprinkled, they would have chronic hypertension already. All we actually do know is that Samsung will unveil the S6 on March 1st, Samsung has sent an MWC invitation with a clearly curved creation, and that Samsung has in fact, patented a dual Edge display.

The latest in the stream of might-be-possibly Galaxy S6 leaks are actual design sketches that offer the clearest look yet at what might possibly be the upcoming flagship.

As you can see, the device pictured is to be only 6.91mm thick, which would make it very trim and slim indeed. Other notables include the volume buttons which are now separated, and the rounded edges. There also appears to be what looks like a SIM tray along the right side of the device, which would substantiate the rumors that the S6 will not feature a removable battery (something further suggested by the extremely thin dimensions of this product). Finally, the placement of the flash/bio-metric sensor to the right of the rear camera matches up with the recent spade of case renders seen.

These design sketches were leaked a short while ago, and match up with the phone blueprint contained in this post. Could this be the actual design of the S6?

Some have already commented that the device pictured looks quite similar to the existing Galaxy S products which would directly contradict the stance that Samsung will build the S6 from the ground up, however it’s important to remember that internal components are just as important as external design elements, and thus it’s way too early to make a final judgement call either way, assuming this even is the final product.

If this case render is legitimate, the S6 would theoretically look quite similar to the Galaxy S5 when covered up. But what of the idea that Samsung is building the product from scratch?

The unknown source of the new leak doesn’t add to the credibility of the image, and when one considers that dozens upon dozens of designs may be considered for a product, we must advise readers to remain skeptical until further notice.