Anyone know how to remove widgets?

jenniewb

I have the Samsung S3 and about....over 30 pages of widgets, possibly double that (I lost count when I tried)
I only have about 5 pages of apps but have had many in the past, tested them out and binned them. They each seemed to create their own widget and once deleted and uninstalled didn't seem to delete from the widget page.


I don't use the widgets- mainly because with 30 odd pages to wade through I get bored. I tried to delete them, they wont go. I have tried wiping the handset but all the widgets reinstall themselves when I log in so unless I'm willing to create a totally new ID and lose many of my apps the widgets just seem to reinstall again.


I went to the O2 guru shop (handset is from Tesco, 11.5 months old but O2 is my network) and they just said that is how the handset is supposed to be. It isn't anything anyone can do anything about. Were they right?

grumbler

If you can't delete them then they are built into the OS, and changing ID can't help. The ones that are linked to your ID can be deleted.
Instead of "wading through 30 odd pages", just add the ones you need/use to one/few of your homescreens. Or 'tap&hold" Home button to get the list of the most recent apps you used.

Also, 'widget' and 'app' isn't the same. The former has to be added to a homescreen if you want to use it and can't be started from a list.

JJ_Egan

Top of the menu screen
APPS >>> scroll across WIDGETS.

Apps are applications and can be removed via the installant button or Play Store .if you uninstall an app that comes with a widget it should delete the widget .But you should never need to open a widgets page unless you are looking to put that widget on your home screen .
A Widget is a miniature application view of part of an app .
Some widgets are in multiple sizes and 20 pages is about normal .

jenniewb

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Top of the menu screen
APPS >>> scroll across WIDGETS.

Apps are applications and can be removed via the installant button or Play Store .if you uninstall an app that comes with a widget it should delete the widget .But you should never need to open a widgets page unless you are looking to put that widget on your home screen .
A Widget is a miniature application view of part of an app .
Some widgets are in multiple sizes and 20 pages is about normal .

Thanks for explaining all this to me- I'd tried to understand the concept of a widget but really couldn't. I tried a few apps and they resulted in loads of widgets (a clock app for example gave me about 2 pages of them!) I didn't like the clock app (for example) so deleted the app, the widgets remained. The handset has since been wiped and I'd reinstalled my ID (not tried creating a new one on that occasion) and all the widgets remained.


I used to have a Windows handset before this (Huawei W1) Whilst quite basic, I didn't have this mountain of useless information on my phone! I worry it slows things down on my phone and I also feel irritated that as well as the OTT bloat-ware I have a whole xx load of pages of useless widgets I can't delete!


I've since called Samsung and mentioned this to them and they are going to try to help me fix what could be a fault tomorrow, the lady on the phone wondered if the widgets could be making things slower in some way. The fact that old uninstalled apps still left me with widgets after being taken off my phone itself is a fault I think.

indesisiv

This doesn't sound right, are you actually uninstalling the apps? Or just removing the app from your home screen?
If you properly uninstall an app that you have installed it will remove the associated widgets with it.
Go to settings - apps and look for the app that you want to remove, then once you click on that app you should see an uninstall button.

JJ_Egan

>>>>I have a whole xx load of pages of useless widgets I can't delete! >>
You can but you delete the app .
In practice you should never see the widgets page unless you deliberately go to widgets to add a widget .
If the widgets are hidden from the user than millions will be screaming i can not find the widgets .
As widgets are dead until put to use they will not slow down your phone .

jenniewb

Thanks,
took my handset to the Samsung store today- didn't even know I could do that as I'd bought it from Tesco and not Samsung. They found out the battery was/is faulty, it had bowed and heated up too much which could be a reason why, am not convinced as the handset it slow not just running out of battery but will see how it goes when I get a new one.


I was also told about a special charger which turns itself off once the battery is fully charged and then switches on once the battery drops so it never over-charges and is damaged. Does anyone know what this is? The guy said Anker made it and it is available from Amazon but forgot what he called it.


Was looking at batteries. 4400mAh seems like a decent battery but they also have 7200mAh, is this really worth paying the extra £10 for? If I get a new handset in about 2 years how likely is it I'll be able to reuse this battery or will the 4400 be beyond well before then?

grumbler

jenniewb wrote: »

I was also told about a special charger which turns itself off once the battery is fully charged and then switches on once the battery drops so it never over-charges and is damaged. Does anyone know what this is? The guy said Anker made it and it is available from Amazon but forgot what he called it.

The telephone does this itself with any charger. I think you were told porkies.

Was looking at batteries. 4400mAh seems like a decent battery but they also have 7200mAh, is this really worth paying the extra £10 for?

Who are 'they'? Unless it's a reputable company and you are sure that it's not a fake, don't believe the figures.

If I get a new handset in about 2 years how likely is it I'll be able to reuse this battery or will the 4400 be beyond well before then?

What new handset? It's unlikely that your old battery will fit it.

JJ_Egan

Certainly moving from S1 S2 S3 S4 Note no battery has been the correct size to reuse .
Spare Anker batterys are cheap enough.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/2200mAh-Battery-GT-I9300-18-Month-Warranty-White/dp/B008AGA6PK

jenniewb

grumbler wrote: »

The telephone does this itself with any charger. I think you were told porkies.
Who are 'they'? Unless it's a reputable company and you are sure that it's not a fake, don't believe the figures.
What new handset? It's unlikely that your old battery will fit it.

'they' being Anker, from my research I've had a few people/users of the brand recommend their batteries.

I was told that you only need to recharge a mobile until it's done, once it's fully charged if you don't unplug it, the battery continues to charge and this can cause the battery damage.

I haven't researched that to be honest- the fact my battery gets hot after a full night (8 hour plus) charging made me believe him- I didn't know the phone automaticly cuts off after a full charge.

I just trusted this guy because he was a technical support person from Samsung and was suggesting this could have damaged my battery- there was no benefit to him saying this as the battery was already out of warranty so I didn't really question it. Was he wrong?

jenniewb

grumbler wrote: »

The telephone does this itself with any charger. I think you were told porkies.
Who are 'they'? Unless it's a reputable company and you are sure that it's not a fake, don't believe the figures.
What new handset? It's unlikely that your old battery will fit it.

By then my current handset will be 3 years old. I'll probably wait a little longer than that to be honest but as a ball-park-mark.

What I am imagining is by then I'll have a new handset, either because I will have a contract (trying to get my credit rating back and need all the help I can get and the offer of a new handset may be something that I'll want to take up) or because I'll want a new handset to do more on by then (already there are things I'd like to be able to do but can't on this handset.

Not a big enough issue to buy a new phone right now- but eventually no doubt I will.