Find My Friends, etc.

[BillyMatt87]

Why is Find My Friends baked into iOS now? That app is incredibly creepy and I cant think of a single person who uses it. I never used it when it was an optional download so why force it onto my device?

Why are so many previously optional 1st party apps now being preloaded?

While I admit that some of these apps are useful such as Find My iPhone, iBooks and Podcasts. I don't understand why Apple is increasing the bloatware count with each major iOS release and honestly that's starting to make them no better than Android and Windows.

 

[Blujelly]

I use it have my family and friends on it.

for example lets say my other half has a car crash nothing major but it KO'd in her car, at least I know where she is!

Its more for stuff like that or if you looking to find a friend nearby for lunch or something but cant quite find them. Not to stalk people which is the impression you have!

 

[Furzul]

My wife and I use it quite a lot. If we go into town and go to different places, or can be useful to find each other.

 

[BillyMatt87]

I use it have my family and friends on it.

for example lets say my other half has a car crash nothing major but it KO'd in her car, at least I know where she is!

Its more for stuff like that or if you looking to find a friend nearby for lunch or something but cant quite find them. Not to stalk people which is the impression you have!

Good for you but why is Apple now forcing the app onto every device running iOS 9? If you have a use for the app, more power to you but why couldn't they just keep the app as an optional download from the App Store? I don't need bloatware taking up space on my iPhone.

 

[Blujelly]

Good for you but why is Apple now forcing the app onto every device running iOS 9? If you have a use for the app, more power to you but why couldn't they just keep the app as an optional download from the App Store? I don't need bloatware taking up space on my iPhone.

I cant imagine they take up so much data on your iPhone., its not worth getting aggy over a few apps that equate to nothing.

If its a real hardship for you I suggest a switch to a different OS

 

[BillyMatt87]

I cant imagine they take up so much data on your iPhone., its not worth getting aggy over a few apps that equate to nothing.

If its a real hardship for you I suggest a switch to a different OS

I just think it's kinda obnoxious of Apple to force their first party apps onto their users especially when they were optional before. They're basically doing the same thing as Android now but at least they let you delete the bloatware.

 

[Blujelly]

I just think it's kinda obnoxious of Apple to force their first party apps onto their users especially when they were optional before. They're basically doing the same thing as Android now but at least they let you delete the bloatware.

Could be worse mate at least there apps they are commonly used.

 

[lagwagon]

Good for you but why is Apple now forcing the app onto every device running iOS 9? If you have a use for the app, more power to you but why couldn't they just keep the app as an optional download from the App Store? I don't need bloatware taking up space on my iPhone.

Totally just a guess. But maybe for parents who have kids with iPhones as well. This way they don't have to install the app, it's already there.

Again though, just a "thinking out loud guess"

 

[davehutch]

Yeah, I hate the way that ITV3 and ITV4 are built into my TV as well. I don't watch them and can't understand why anybody else would either.
Complete waste of space as far as I'm concerned and takes up too on my Schedule Guide screen.

...of course, I could just not watch those channel but boy does it make me mad!

 

[Manatlt]

Why is Find My Friends baked into iOS now? That app is incredibly creepy and I cant think of a single person who uses it. I never used it when it was an optional download so why force it onto my device?

Why are so many previously optional 1st party apps now being preloaded?

While I admit that some of these apps are useful such as Find My iPhone, iBooks and Podcasts. I don't understand why Apple is increasing the bloatware count with each major iOS release and honestly that's starting to make them no better than Android and Windows.

My family uses it.

The reason it has been baked to iOS and the reason we had Find My Friends since iOS 4 is because many people use the app. Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean everyone doesn't either.

Apple's decision to bake this app is good because if I want to add a friend, as long they are on iOS 9 or above, I know it'll be easy to add them instead of asking them to download it.

 

[Gav2k]

Integrated dosnt mean forced. It's better now that it's integrated and still optional!

 

[AddisonIII]

Good for you but why is Apple now forcing the app onto every device running iOS 9? If you have a use for the app, more power to you but why couldn't they just keep the app as an optional download from the App Store? I don't need bloatware taking up space on my iPhone.

I agree...to me t seems to be one more way of tracking people. Heck I can think of several people that the last thing they want is to be tracked by their spouse.

 

[AddisonIII]

My family uses it.

The reason it has been baked to iOS and the reason we had Find My Friends since iOS 4 is because many people use the app. Just because you don't use it, doesn't mean everyone doesn't either.

Apple's decision to bake this app is good because if I want to add a friend, as long they are on iOS 9 or above, I know it'll be easy to add them instead of asking them to download it.

Reading back over what the OP write there is no problem with those who want the app...it's like if I want the thing I can down load it myself. As for myself, I could care less about that app so I place it in a folder with all those other junk apps I never wanted or use.

 

[liteshow]

I agree with OP. Find my friends and other apps like health, stocks, watch, etc should not be integrated into the OS but rather be offered as a downloadable option. Remember the infamous Newstand app?

Just like the apple apps imovie, Pages, Keynote, Garageband, etc, Find my Friends and the other apps mentioned above should be designed like that.

 

[parrot5]

I agree...to me t seems to be one more way of tracking people. Heck I can think of several people that the last thing they want is to be tracked by their spouse.

The system asks you before you get tracked by a friend or your family group. You can even join the family group without signing up to get tracked.

 

[kilcher]

Cook recently said they're looking at letting users remove Apple apps. I would imagine some of that will come with time.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/15/9330187/remove-apple-iphone-default-apps-stocks

 

[Radon87000]

I just think it's kinda obnoxious of Apple to force their first party apps onto their users especially when they were optional before. They're basically doing the same thing as Android now but at least they let you delete the bloatware.

LOL Android doesn't let you delete bloatware.Theres a ton of Google apps which can't be uninstalled on Nexus

 

[Manatlt]

Cook recently said they're looking at letting users remove Apple apps. I would imagine some of that will come with time.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/15/9330187/remove-apple-iphone-default-apps-stocks

He said he will look in to some apps that don't impact on other apps. Like News, Stocks, Compass, Find my iPhone etc.

But apps like Mail, Messages, Contacts, Phone WILL stay. And Find My Friends is sort of now integrated with the Messages app, so FMF now does impact with other core apps. So it'll be hard to remove it.

 

[TRICKorDEVICE]

Why is Find My Friends baked into iOS now? That app is incredibly creepy and I cant think of a single person who uses it. I never used it when it was an optional download so why force it onto my device?

Why are so many previously optional 1st party apps now being preloaded?

While I admit that some of these apps are useful such as Find My iPhone, iBooks and Podcasts. I don't understand why Apple is increasing the bloatware count with each major iOS release and honestly that's starting to make them no better than Android and Windows.

Because it's tied to the iMessage feature that allows you to temporarily share your location with any iOS user.

 

[theshoehorn]

Remember the infamous Newstand app?

Which is still a baked in app... just renamed to News.

 

[RadioGaGa1984]

I just think it's kinda obnoxious of Apple to force their first party apps onto their users especially when they were optional before. They're basically doing the same thing as Android now but at least they let you delete the bloatware.

So move to android.

 

[I7guy]

Why is Find My Friends baked into iOS now? That app is incredibly creepy and I cant think of a single person who uses it. I never used it when it was an optional download so why force it onto my device?

Why are so many previously optional 1st party apps now being preloaded?

While I admit that some of these apps are useful such as Find My iPhone, iBooks and Podcasts. I don't understand why Apple is increasing the bloatware count with each major iOS release and honestly that's starting to make them no better than Android and Windows.

I think this has been answered but my family all uses it in the event of a family emergency. As for it being baked in to the o/s I'm okay with it.

 

[Poontaco]

Which is still a baked in app... just renamed to News.

Nope. It's not the same app at all. The only similarity is the first four letters.

 

[Poontaco]

It's baked into the OS now to give its users increased functionality. No one is forced to use it.

 

[electronicsguy]

Why is Find My Friends baked into iOS now? That app is incredibly creepy and I cant think of a single person who uses it. .

What exactly do you find creepy about a service which needs you to explicitly enter a friend's details, have that friend's approval and can be switched off by the friend whenever desired?