Verizon phones will soon get the useless 'AppFlash' search tool in an upcoming rollout

Android Police ^ | 3/28/17 | Corbin Davenport

[markomalley]

If there's one thing Android manufacturers and carriers love to do, it's copy existing Google products and make them worse. Verizon is a repeat offender when it comes to bloatware, and now the company is preparing to rollout yet another stupid application to its Android devices. This time, a search tool called 'AppFlash' will grace the home screens of Verizon Android phones.

You may be familiar with Evie Launcher, an app launcher with a universal search bar for quickly finding apps and web content. The developers behind Evie have now partnered with Verizon to make 'AppFlash.' It's basically just Evie's search functionality, but on its own page of the home screen - like the Google Now/Pixel Launcher.

As far as I can tell, this does absolutely nothing that Google search can't do. AppFlash's main features are searching inside apps, finding nearby food and entertainment, and being easy to access. The built-in Google Search can do all of that, so why does this exist? Advertising, duh. Notice that 'Suggested Apps' section on the AppFlash main screen?

TechCrunch says that AppFlash will start to rollout across Verizon Android phones "in the coming weeks." It's not really clear exactly how that rollout will work, or if using an alternative app launcher will make a difference. Evie also mentioned that AppFlash is just a Verizon-branded version of its new Sidescreen app, which it hopes to sell to other carriers in the future.

[markomalley]

From Slashdot ("Verizon To Force 'AppFlash' Spyware On Android Phones"):

Verizon is joining with the creators of a tool called "Evie Launcher" to make a new app search/launcher tool called AppFlash, which will be installed on all Verizon phones running Android. The app provides no functionality to users beyond what Google Search does. It does, however, give Verizon a steady stream of metrics on your app usage and searches. A quick glance at the AppFlash privacy policy confirms this is the real purpose behind it: "We collect information about your device and your use of the AppFlash services. This information includes your mobile number, device identifiers, device type and operating system, and information about the AppFlash features and services you use and your interactions with them. We also access information about the list of apps you have on your device. [...] AppFlash information may be shared within the Verizon family of companies, including companies like AOL who may use it to help provide more relevant advertising within the AppFlash experiences and in other places, including non-Verizon sites, services and devices."

Comment:

1. If you MUST use Verizon (or for that matter, any other carrier), buy your own phone. There are plenty of sources where you can get perfectly good unlocked phones for cheaper than what you pay from a carrier. And they don't have the bloatware and spyware installed from the carriers.
2. Use a VPN (yes, you can use a VPN from your mobile phone). See here for reviews for several. The cost can run from free (you get what you pay for) to about $10 a month. Yes, you can use a VPN for your cellphone. BTW, the advice about using a VPN applies not only to your phone, but to your home computer as well.

[Windflier]

"...is preparing to rollout..."

Rollout = noun
Roll out = verb

That is all.

[mass55th]

At the bottom of the article is this:

"Alternate title: This is why people buy iPhones"

LOL!

[McGruff]

I can remember when you used a phone to make phone calls.

[webheart]

Corbin is an idiot. Rollout is a noun.

[webheart]

You beat me on that one.

[Windflier]

You beat me on that one.

It sort of jumped out at me. I see that particular word crime all the time these days. It's just another sign of the growing illiteracy in our culture.