The Galaxy Billboard: Samsung's Bloatware Obsession
AI-generated image · US National Wire
By forcing Amazon Music onto Galaxy devices, Samsung proves that 'choice' in the Android ecosystem is secondary to corporate partnerships.
OPINION: For years, the promise of the Android ecosystem has been choice. But for Samsung, that choice is increasingly an illusion. The hardware you pay for is being treated less like a personal tool and more like a digital billboard for the highest bidder.
As reported by Engadget, Samsung recently announced it is adding Amazon Music to the list of pre-installed apps on its phones and tablets. This move comes just ahead of the company's Galaxy Unpacked event. To soften the blow of this forced installation, Samsung and Amazon have partnered to offer a three-month free subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited for users who download the app via the Samsung Galaxy Store—another piece of pre-installed software that comes standard on these devices.
Let's be clear: this isn't a value-add; it's a land grab for your attention. While Samsung may frame this as a perk, the reality is that Amazon Music is simply joining a growing pile of third-party software that Samsung deems necessary for you to have. Engadget notes that the list of pre-installed apps already includes LinkedIn, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook, and OneDrive. Collectively, this bloatware can consume more than 1GB of wasted storage space on a device the consumer already paid for.
Comparing this to the competition reveals how poorly Samsung treats its users. Engadget points out that Apple's iPhones do not suffer from having unwanted third-party software installed by default right out of the box. Why is the 'open' ecosystem of Android resulting in a more cluttered user experience than the closed walls of iOS?
Even more frustrating is the illusion of removal. While many of these apps can be uninstalled, Engadget reports that some, such as Facebook, can only be disabled. This means that even when you attempt to purge the bloat, parts of the software remain on your phone, squatting on your hardware.
Then there is the predatory nature of the 'free' offer. To claim the three-month Amazon Music Unlimited trial, users must sign up or download the app from the Galaxy Store within the next 12 months. But there is a catch: if you forget to cancel, the subscription automatically renews at a cost of $13 per month.
Samsung is betting that consumers will tolerate this clutter in exchange for a few months of free music. In reality, they are signaling that your device's storage and your user experience are for sale.