Samsung Galaxy S4 software update

[GoneBallistic]

Seems to not be as big a deal as I thought originally.

Edited October 27, 2013 by GoneBallistic

[vontar]

It removes consent for location sharing. Not cool.

 

I guess the fix will be to turn off GPS location or have the phone rooted.

[GoneBallistic]

If I'm understanding it correctly, you can't turn off the GPS location. I could be wrong. I keep mine turned off all the time anyway, so if you are still able to turn it off, it's no big deal.

[Wingshooter]

Thanks for the warning. I haven't installed yet... now I won't.

So it will just share your location with everything/everyone?

[vontar]

should be able to at least turn off GPS as GPS puts a drain on the battery.  But it is possible for them to program it in a way to disable, disabling gps.  I bet there will be allot more rooted phones after that.

[GoneBallistic]

Thanks for the warning. I haven't installed yet... now I won't.

So it will just share your location with everything/everyone?

That's what I'm gathering. I could be wrong. I'm hoping it's like Vontar says. Hopefully someone will get on here who has done the update or knows the facts. When I was reading about the update before committing to install, one of the "improvements" was that it "removed location sharing consent". Whatever that means. It just didn't sound like something I wanted. Removal of the consent requirement on anything is generally bad.

[GoneBallistic]

should be able to at least turn off GPS as GPS puts a drain on the battery.  But it is possible for them to program it in a way to disable, disabling gps.  I bet there will be allot more rooted phones after that.

What exactly does "rooted" mean?

[vontar]

What exactly does "rooted" mean?

  You get admin access to your phone.

You could install other Operating systems/mods.

Edited October 27, 2013 by vontar

[GoneBallistic]

  You get admin access to your phone.

You could install other Operating systems/mods.

That definitely sounds advantageous, though I'm not sure how I could utilize that type of access. I would just need someone who knew what they were doing to fix everything that I don't like about the phone.

[TripleDigitRide]

I have the S4 through Sprint. I just checked, and I don't have any software updates available.

[vontar]

That definitely sounds advantageous, though I'm not sure how I could utilize that type of access. I would just need someone who knew what they were doing to fix everything that I don't like about the phone.

 

 

I don't really use, but I wanted this option.

 

I have unlimited data.  However they want to charge extra and limit the data if I turn on tethering though the phone provider.

I believe it is an extra 10 dollars to tether data and get limited to 1gb of data.

 

With my phone rooted, I am able to turn on tethering which is native in the phone. 

 

I have only tested it to confirm it works, but I know some people that use that for their home computers internet.  I don't want to raise red flags but I figure I am paying enough on my phone to use it how I want.

[GoneBallistic]

I don't really use, but I wanted this option.

 

I have unlimited data.  However they want to charge extra and limit the data if I turn on tethering though the phone provider.

I believe it is an extra 10 dollars to tether data and get limited to 1gb of data.

 

With my phone rooted, I am able to turn on tethering which is native in the phone. 

 

I have only tested it to confirm it works, but I know some people that use that for their home computers internet.  I don't want to raise red flags but I figure I am paying enough on my phone to use it how I want.

I agree. Just like a vehicle. Once you purchase it, you should be able to do with it as you please.

[Sam1]

have any documentation supporting this? because i've got it installed and am not able to track the device through our web portal with location services disabled

[GoneBallistic]

have any documentation supporting this? because i've got it installed and am not able to track the device through our web portal with location services disabled

http://m-support.verizonwireless.com/mobl/devices.kb_87938.tp_2.model_6754.html

[Sam1]

The only difference I see on the phone is that Google's consent has been removed, all others appear to be on there and working.

[GoneBallistic]

The only difference I see on the phone is that Google's consent has been removed, all others appear to be on there and working.

So if I have GPS turned off, can any entity or application track or otherwise report my location? Also can GPS be turned on without my knowing it?

[tnguy]

That definitely sounds advantageous, though I'm not sure how I could utilize that type of access. I would just need someone who knew what they were doing to fix everything that I don't like about the phone.

The three most advantageous things I have gotten from it

1)Ability to remove applications you don't want (usually those crappy ones installed by the carrier)
2)Ability to completely back up everything
3)Enabling the wifi hotspot functionality without paying $$$

[tnguy]

So if I have GPS turned off, can any entity or application track or otherwise report my location? Also can GPS be turned on without my knowing it?

Rough location can also be obtained from local wifi hotspot information (Google knows where most of them are) and cell tower information. So turning off GPS won't necessarily help completely.

[tnguy]

FWIW, there are apps out there that can fake GPS data. If you install them in the normal way, you have to enable fake GPS information (and I think the apps can tell somehow) but if you move the app to the system area (requires root), it becomes the "official" GPS information provider. Haven't tried this myself but was reading about it a while back.

Google definitely seems to be getting out-of-control in my opinion. Edited October 27, 2013 by tnguy

[Handsome Rob]

Who do you think is looking for you? :tinfoil:

[GoneBallistic]

Who do you think is looking for you? :tinfoil:

No one in particular. I just don't like people, no matter who they are or are not, know where I am at any given time. I'm weird that way lol :D

Edited October 27, 2013 by GoneBallistic

[wewoapsiak]

By the looks of it, and because I haven't seen a discussion on XDA about this; this isn't really a big thing.  Your documentation linked doesn't really tell you squat, probably should just email verizon for clarification.  I'm guessing this is a Verizon only OTA update that started a few days ago?  I don't know what setup wizard they are referring to, if it is the one that pops up when start your phone for the very first time then I'm willing to bet this is just removing an extra setting that is already taken care of in the security menu.  But it's a crappy looking menu, so I'm assuming it's a verizon menu.

 

Again, I don't have an S4 so I don't know the exact path; but there should be a location access toggle somewhere if you go to the security menu.  It'll let you decide if you want apps to have your gps data or wifi / rough network location data.  I could be wrong, so this is just my  :2cents: 

 

As far as rooting advantages go:  

1) Remove the extra crap apps that is installed to the system partition by your carrier.

2) Use your phone to tether.

3) Use apps that need special permissions to block ads.

4) Install customized operating software, such as CyanogenMod.

      a)  Allows you better control of your system.  Can overclock, underclock, change the theme, etc.

      B)  Updates to the next android version usually happen faster.

      c)  Better app control, you can edit apps and remove / block their asinine permissions that they should have in the first place.  

5) It's your phone, you should be able to do what you want.

 

Verizon is very anti-modder when it comes to their phones, they usually lock down their bootloader.  But there are many many smart people to work on getting around the locked bootloader, sometimes its difficult, sometimes its easy.  Here is a direct link to a very good thread on xda for the Verizon S4, take a look at all the info.  If you decide to root, understand what you are doing before you follow the steps; you don't want a $500 paperweight.  If you want a custom, bloat free operating system, check out CyanogenMod.  I don't know the status of how bug free it is for your phone.

Edited October 27, 2013 by wewoapsiak

[GoneBallistic]

By the looks of it, and because I haven't seen a discussion on XDA about this; this isn't really a big thing.  Your documentation linked doesn't really tell you squat, probably should just email verizon for clarification.  I'm guessing this is a Verizon only OTA update that started a few days ago?  I don't know what setup wizard they are referring to, if it is the one that pops up when start your phone for the very first time then I'm willing to bet this is just removing an extra setting that is already taken care of in the security menu.  But it's a crappy looking menu, so I'm assuming it's a verizon menu.

 

Again, I don't have an S4 so I don't know the exact path; but there should be a location access toggle somewhere if you go to the security menu.  It'll let you decide if you want apps to have your gps data or wifi / rough network location data.  I could be wrong, so this is just my  :2cents: 

 

As far as rooting advantages go:  

1) Remove the extra crap apps that is installed to the system partition by your carrier.

2) Use your phone to tether.

3) Use apps that need special permissions to block ads.

4) Install customized operating software, such as CyanogenMod.

      a)  Allows you better control of your system.  Can overclock, underclock, change the theme, etc.

      B)  Updates to the next android version usually happen faster.

      c)  Better app control, you can edit apps and remove / block their asinine permissions that they should have in the first place.  

5) It's your phone, you should be able to do what you want.

 

Verizon is very anti-modder when it comes to their phones, they usually lock down their bootloader.  But there are many many smart people to work on getting around the locked bootloader, sometimes its difficult, sometimes its easy.  Here is a direct link to a very good thread on xda for the Verizon S4, take a look at all the info.  If you decide to root, understand what you are doing before you follow the steps; you don't want a $500 paperweight.  If you want a custom, bloat free operating system, check out CyanogenMod.  I don't know the status of how bug free it is for your phone.

I've had the phone for awhile. It's just one of those updates that come once in a blue moon. I happened to read the details and this caught my eye. I'm not as tech-savvy as a lot of you so I thought I would post it here and see what you guys thought. I'm going to change the title of the thread since this is probably not as big a deal as I thought. I will check into your link. Thanks to everyone for the input! :)

Edited October 27, 2013 by GoneBallistic

[tnguy]

By the time you find out, it's too late.

[tnguy]

3) Use apps that need special permissions to block ads.

Good point. I've had adaway running for so long I forgot I was using it.