Users were not pleased, and it seems that Nothing has taken note of their concerns.
What you should know:
– In response to user dissent after the beta release of Nothing’s OS 4.0 for the 3a series, the company announced it will enable the removal of bloatware.
– “Later this month,” Nothing indicated that users will have the means to get rid of the redundant Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services.
– The OS 4.0 Open Beta was introduced by Nothing in late October for the 3a series, soon after the flagship Phone 3 had its update.
While Nothing’s OS 4 made significant changes, many users are dissatisfied, particularly regarding the recent bloatware implementation by the company.
Bloatware refers to the “unwanted” applications that come pre-installed on a phone at the time of its first power-up. This includes games, social media apps, and more, which have been a source of frustration for Nothing users on the community forum (as reported by 9to5Google). The volume of user feedback was considerable, prompting Nothing to provide an update on the bloatware situation in OS 4. The announcement stated, “Following your feedback and suggestions,” the company plans to make pre-installed services “more flexible.”
Nothing is also aiming to give users “greater control” over the bloatware present on their devices.
This means that starting “later this month,” Nothing will allow users to completely remove the Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services. Nothing mentioned that previously users could only disable these Meta products, but offering an uninstall option truly restores that authority back to them. The company believes that having these on devices enhances stability for apps like Instagram and Facebook.
In retrospect, Nothing previously mentioned in its OS 4.0 Open Beta announcement that it intended to pre-install “partner apps and services” to assist with its BOM costs (Bill of Materials). Although the company noted that this is a typical strategy, one adopted by Samsung as well, it did not sit well with users. A user referenced comments from Nothing’s official X account (formerly Twitter), asserting, “Nothing OS eliminates the bloatware.”
There was even a remark from Nothing’s CEO Carl Pei in 2022, stating “no bloatware,” in relation to the company’s products.
Changes in Nothing OS 4
The Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta launched swiftly at the end of October, welcoming Phone 3a and 3a Pro users. Among its key features, the update introduced camera enhancements, Lock Glimpse, and a visual redesign. Lock Glimpse is created to offer users a curated choice of lock screen wallpapers. Once activated (enabled) for your lock screen, Lock Glimpse will switch between various wallpapers each time your screen is activated.
Moreover, utilizing the “Left swipe to explore” feature allows users to swiftly browse other suggestions while viewing their locked device.
Nothing also collaborated with photographer Jordan Hemingway to incorporate a more “cinematic” style to user photographs with a new preset. The flagship Phone 3 had already entered the OS 4.0 beta phase in July, preceding its Open Beta launch two months later.
