Introduction: How I Optimized My Phone!
Okay there are folks who love all the bells and whistles with their phones. Most won't even use all those bloatware features. If you are one of those people then skip this instructable.
I don't like unnecessary features and power hogging apps running in my Galaxy Note 4. I like its OS lean, fast and sipping power. Here is how tweaked my stock Android 4.4.4 phone and I have benefited from:
1. Longer battery run time.
2. Faster WiFi setup and speed.
3. Zero carrier adware.
4. A cooler (temperature wise) phone.
5. Reduced mobile data being leeched away in the background.
6. Faster Charging.
7. No spying inherent in the Android OS and stock bloatware.
All the steps taken are intended for advanced users. Do not blame me for any mishaps on your phone but in step 2 I will explain a nice get out of trouble card to play (i.e. recovering a bricked phone).
As always it is best to have a popular phone which is supported by modders and forums. Non-popular phone are a nightmare to customize if even possible.
Step 1: Root!
This allows access to the OS folders and files. You will need to search online to get the necessary software (eg. ODIN) and files to replace the stock kernel. It is a good idea to download a copy of your stock kernel prior to doing this in case you need to revert back.
Step 2: Recovery Capability.
If you cannot find the CWM or TWRP for your phone then STOP. It makes no point continuing. Why? With either of these wonderful kernel add-ons, you can in less than 2 minutes, restore your bricked (non-functioning) phone to its previous working glory. I mean phone book contacts, messages, browser history/bookmarks, calendar, etc.
Once you search online and get the compatible version for your phone, go ahead and flash it in! Make sure to test the key combinations during power up to get into the much desired menu. At this point, make a backup of your phone! The backup size for a stock phone can be up to 6Gb so be patient (plugging in your phone to charge is recommended).
Step 3: Accessing the Crap Files.
There are two folders that need pruning for the advanced user. They are located in the system folder and are called "app" and "priv-app"
You will need to install an app from google play store called root explorer, or a similar file browser to access the OS folders. The files removed include stuff for YouTube, Weather, stock widgets, Radio service, animated backgrounds, AllShare, Chrome, extra Clocks, cloud Storage, FaceBook, KNOX, Google Maps/Streets, Mobile print, Games, Video/Audio players and any other stuff if deemed irrelevant for my uses.
When removing files, cut and paste 3 at a time into a "holding" folder on the external micro SD card. Reboot after each such operation to ensure the phone starts and without errors.
Step 4: Removed Files: System APP
Here is a list of the files I cut and pasted out:
<em>AccuweatherPhone2014_T.apk<br>AccuweatherPhone2014_T.odex ActiveApplicationWidget-common-release.apk ActiveApplicationWidget-common-release.odex AdvSoundDetector.apk AdvSoundDetector.odex AirWakeUp.apk AirWakeUp.odex AllShareCastPlayer.apk AllShareCastPlayer.odex AllshareFileShare.apk AllshareFileShare.odex AllshareFileShareClient.apk AllshareFileShareClient.odex AllshareFileShareServer.apk AllshareFileShareServer.odex AllshareMediaServer.apk AllshareMediaServer.odex AllshareMediaShare.apk AllshareMediaShare.odex AntHalService.apk AntHalService.odex ANTPlusPlugins.apk ANTPlusPlugins.odex ANTRadioService.apk ANTRadioService.odex AssistantMenu2.apk AssistantMenu2.odex BasicDreams.apk BasicDreams.odex BeaconManager.apk BeaconManager.odex BeamService.apk BeamService.odex Bluetooth.apk Bluetooth.odex Blurb.apk Blurb.odex Books.apk Books.odex Bridge.apk Bridge.odex BrowserProviderProxy.apk BrowserProviderProxy.odex CapabilityManagerService.apk CapabilityManagerService.odex CertInstaller.apk CertInstaller.odex ChocoEUKor.apk ChocoEUKor.odex Chrome.apk Chrome.odex ChromecastFrameworkService.apk ChromecastFrameworkService.odex ChromeCustomizations.apk ChromeCustomizations.odex ColorBlind.apk ColorBlind.odex CoolEUKor.apk CoolEUKor.odex CoverService.apk CoverService.odex DigitalClock.apk DigitalClock.odex DigitalClockEasy.apk DigitalClockEasy.odex Drive.apk Drive.odex DriveLink.apk DriveLink.odex DriveLinkRemote.apk DriveLinkRemote.odex Dropbox.apk Dropbox.odex DualClockDigital.apk DualClockDigital.odex EasymodeContactsWidget.apk EasymodeContactsWidget.odex EasyOneHand2.apk EasyOneHand2.odex EasySettings.apk EasySettings.odex EasySidePanel.apk EasySidePanel.odex EdmSimPinService.apk EdmSimPinService.odex EdmVpnServices.apk EdmVpnServices.odex ELMAgent.apk ELMAgent.odex EmergencyLauncher.apk EmergencyLauncher.odex EmergencyModeService.apk EmergencyModeService.odex EmergencyProvider.apk EmergencyProvider.odex Evernote.apk Evernote.odex Facebook.apk Facebook.odex FactoryCamera_FB.apk FBAppManager.apk FBAppManager.odex FBInstagram_stub.apk FBInstagram_stub.odex FBMessenger_stub.apk FBMessenger_stub.odex FBPagesManager_stub.apk FBPagesManager_stub.odex FFFFFFFF000000000000000000000001.drbin FilterInstaller.apk FilterInstaller.odex FilterManager.apk FilterManager.odex FilterProvider.apk FilterProvider.odex FlashAnnotate.apk FlashAnnotate.odex FlashAnnotateSvc.apk FlashAnnotateSvc.odex Flipboard.apk Flipboard.odex FlipboardBriefing.apk FlipboardBriefing.odex FWUpgrade.apk FWUpgrade.odex GearManagerStub.apk GearManagerStub.odex GestureService.apk GestureService.odex Gmail2.apk Gmail2.odex GMS_Maps.apk GMS_Maps.odex GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.odex GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.odex Hangouts.apk Hangouts.odex InteractiveTutorial.apk InteractiveTutorial.odex KeyguardWallpaperUpdator.apk KeyguardWallpaperUpdator.odex KNOXAgent.apk KNOXAgent.odex KnoxAttestationAgent.apk KnoxAttestationAgent.odex KnoxSetupWizardClient.apk KnoxSetupWizardClient.odex LocalFOTA.apk LocalFOTA.odex Magazines.apk Magazines.odex MDMApp.apk MDMApp.odex MediaConverter_Trim.apk MediaConverter_Trim.odex MirrorLink.apk MirrorLink.odex MobilePrint4.apk MobilePrint4.odex MobilePrintSvc_CUPS.apk MobilePrintSvc_CUPS.odex MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend.apk MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend.odex MobilePrintSvc_Epson.apk MobilePrintSvc_Epson.odex MobilePrintSvc_HP.apk MobilePrintSvc_HP.odex MobilePrintSvc_Samsung.apk MobilePrintSvc_Samsung.odex MobileTrackerEngineTwo.apk MobileTrackerEngineTwo.odex MultiWindowTrayService.apk MultiWindowTrayService.odex Music2.apk Music2.odex NfcNci.apk NfcNci.odex OCRSeg.apk OCRSeg.odex OCRService.apk OCRService.odex PageBuddyNotiSvc2.apk PageBuddyNotiSvc2.odex Panorama360Viewer_T.apk Panorama360Viewer_T.odex PartnerBookmarksProvider.apk PartnerBookmarksProvider.odex PENUP.apk PENUP.odex PhotoTable.apk PhotoTable.odex PlayGames.apk PlayGames.odex PlusOne.apk PlusOne.odex Post_T_Promo.apk Post_T_Promo.odex PowerSharing.apk PowerSharing.odex Preconfig.apk Preconfig.odex PreloadInstaller.apk PreloadInstaller.odex QuickConnect.apk QuickConnect.odex QuickConnectInteraction.apk QuickConnectInteraction.odex RCPComponents.apk RCPComponents.odex RemotePlayer.apk RemotePlayer.odex RoseEUKor.apk RoseEUKor.odex sa.txt SafetyInformation.apk SafetyInformation.odex SamsungAppsWidget_BannerStyle_common.apk SamsungAppsWidget_BannerStyle_common.odex SamsungCamera3.apk SamsungCamera3.odex SamsungCameraFilter.apk SamsungCameraFilter.odex SamsungContentsAgent.apk SamsungContentsAgent.odex SamsungDrmProvider.apk SamsungDrmProvider.odex SamsungIME.apk SamsungIME.odex SamsungMusicRemoteController.apk SamsungMusicRemoteController.odex SamsungSans.apk SamsungSans.odex SapaAudioConnectionService.apk SapaAudioConnectionService.odex SapaMonitor.apk SapaMonitor.odex SBrowser.apk SBrowser.odex SBrowserTry.apk SBrowserTry.odex SCONE_Android_ProxyService_NoPersistent.apk SCONE_Android_ProxyService_NoPersistent.odex SecCalculator2.apk SecCalculator2.odex SecDict.apk SecDict.odex SecEmail_K.apk SecEmail_K.odex SecExchange.apk SecExchange.odex SecFactoryPhoneTest.apk SecSetupWizard2013.apk SecSetupWizard2013.odex SecurityManagerService.apk SecurityManagerService.odex SecurityProviderSEC.apk SecurityProviderSEC.odex SecVideo.apk SecVideo.odex SecVideoPlayer.apk SecVideoPlayer.odex SettingSearchProvider.apk SettingSearchProvider.odex ShootingModeProvider.apk ShootingModeProvider.odex SLocation.apk SLocation.odex SmartcardManager.apk SmartcardManager.odex SmartcardService.apk SmartcardService.odex SmartClipService.apk SmartClipService.odex SmartRemote_T.apk SmartRemote_T.odex SnsImageCache.apk SnsImageCache.odex SPenKeeper.apk SPenKeeper.odex SPlannerWidget.apk SPlannerWidget.odex SPrintSpooler2.apk SPrintSpooler2.odex Stk.apk Stk.odex Street.apk Street.odex SysScope.apk SysScope.odex talkback.apk talkback.odex TapandpayWidget.apk TapandpayWidget.odex TetheringAutomation.apk TetheringAutomation.odex TravelService.apk TravelService.odex TuiService.apk TuiService.odex UniversalMDMClient.apk UniversalMDMClient.odex VideoEditor_Lite_T.apk VideoEditor_Lite_T.odex Videos.apk Videos.odex WeatherDaemon2014.apk WeatherDaemon2014.odex WebManual.apk WebManual.odex WfdBroker.apk WfdBroker.odex WhatsApp.apk WhatsApp.odex WritingBuddyService.apk WritingBuddyService.odex YahooLiveWeather.apk YahooLiveWeather.odex YouTube.apk YouTube.odex</em>
Step 5: Removed Files: System PRIV-APP
Here is a list of the files I cut and pasted out:
<em>3DTourViewer_WQHD_lightTheme.apk<br>3DTourViewer_WQHD_lightTheme.odex AutomationTest_FB.apk BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk BackupRestoreConfirmation.odex CloudAgent.apk CloudAgent.odex ConfigUpdater.apk ConfigUpdater.odex ContextProvider.apk ContextProvider.odex DCMProvider.apk DCMProvider.odex DiagMonAgent.apk DiagMonAgent.odex DirectShareManager.apk DirectShareManager.odex DSMLawmo.apk DSMLawmo.odex FBInstaller.apk FBInstaller.odex FotaClient.apk FotaClient.odex GalaxyApps_3xh.apk GalaxyApps_3xh.odex GmsCore.apk GoogleBackupTransport.apk GoogleBackupTransport.odex GoogleFeedback.apk GoogleFeedback.odex GoogleLoginService.apk GoogleLoginService.odex GoogleOneTimeInitializer.apk GoogleOneTimeInitializer.odex GooglePartnerSetup.apk GooglePartnerSetup.odex GoogleServicesFramework.apk GoogleServicesFramework.odex HancomOfficeViewer.apk HancomOfficeViewer.odex HealthService.apk HealthService.odex Hearingdro_KK_L.apk Hearingdro_KK_L.odex HwModuleTest.apk intelligenceservice_1.1.apk intelligenceservice_1.1.odex Kies.apk Kies.odex KLMSAgent.apk LocationWidget.apk LocationWidget.odex MagicShot_WQHD_T.apk MagicShot_WQHD_T.odex Msa.apk Msa.odex MSS.apk MSS.odex MusicCommonUtility.apk MusicCommonUtility.odex NoiseField.apk NoiseField.odex OmaCP.apk OmaCP.odex OutOfFocusViewer_WQHD_K.apk OutOfFocusViewer_WQHD_K.odex pa.txt PayWithPaypal.apk PayWithPaypal.odex PersonalPageService.apk PersonalPageService.odex PhaseBeam.apk PhaseBeam.odex Phonesky.apk Phonesky.odex PhotoStudio_WQHD_K.apk PhotoStudio_WQHD_K.odex Pinboard.apk Pinboard.odex RNB.apk RNB.odex RNBShell.apk RNBShell.odex S-Voice_Android_phone.apk S-Voice_Android_phone.odex SamsungBilling.apk SamsungBilling.odex SamsungLinkPlatform.apk SamsungLinkPlatform.odex SamsungMagnifier.apk SamsungMagnifier.odex SamsungMusic_20.apk SamsungMusic_20.odex Samsungservice2_xxhdpi_RTL.apk Samsungservice2_xxhdpi_RTL.odex sCloudBackupApp.apk sCloudBackupApp.odex sCloudDataRelay.apk sCloudDataRelay.odex sCloudDataSync.apk sCloudDataSync.odex sCloudQuotaApp.apk sCloudQuotaApp.odex sCloudSyncCalendar.apk sCloudSyncCalendar.odex sCloudSyncContacts.apk sCloudSyncContacts.odex sCloudSyncMemo.apk sCloudSyncMemo.odex sCloudSyncSBrowser.apk sCloudSyncSBrowser.odex SecGallery2014.apk SecGallery2014.odex SecLiveWallpapersPicker.apk SecLiveWallpapersPicker.odex SecMyFiles2014.apk SecMyFiles2014.odex SecSafetyAssurance.apk SecSafetyAssurance.odex SetupWizard.apk SetupWizard.odex SFinder.apk SFinder.odex SharedStorageBackup.apk SharedStorageBackup.odex SHealth3_5.apk SHealth3_5.odex SmartSelfShot.apk SmartSelfShot.odex SNS.apk SNS.odex SOAgent.apk SOAgent.odex SoundAlive_20.apk SoundAlive_20.odex SPDClient.apk SPDClient.odex SPPPushClient_Prod.apk SPPPushClient_Prod.odex SStudio_WQHD_K.apk SStudio_WQHD_K.odex SyncmlDM.apk SyncmlDM.odex Tag.apk Tag.odex test TrimApp_phone_light_rotation.apk TrimApp_phone_light_rotation.odex Velvet_for_T_3.8.apk Velvet_for_T_3.8.odex VpnDialogs.apk VpnDialogs.odex VRSetupWizardStub.apk VRSetupWizardStub.odex WallpaperCropper.apk WallpaperCropper.odex WlanTest.apk WlanTest.odex Wluc.apk Wluc.odex wssyncmlnps.apk wssyncmlnps.odex</em>
Step 6: Firewall.
For your well rooted phone, I recommend a firewall. I use AFWall+ and this is not for privacy but to save on mobile data and power! Even though you restrict background data, the OS will continue to use data. I have no wish to online backup my contacts, calendar and other stuff. I manually backup and make safe copies in portable drives. Using the firewall app I have disabled all system app from using the mobile or WiFi with the following exceptions:
(gps) = to find my way!
(media) = to stream videos from YouTube or any site on the web browser.
The last pic shows all the app I have allowed to have internet access. Most are allowed only on WiFi. This way I'm guaranteed to not have my money zap away on its own.
I hope my instructable has been helpful to at least a few folks.