[T-Mobile Galaxy Note 4 General] AlkaliV2:
Guide Updated for Lollipop in post 2 below! This first post is for Kit-Kat releases

Removing these apps

WILL

remove functionality, break some of your menus, lead to force closes, and reduce the capability of your device. I am not responsible for what you remove and you have been warned

*Freezing these Apps will have the same effect as uninstalling them and is a much safer option for the user. Please consider freezing first and then uninstalling after you have tested the device.*

I originally set out to make this a list of "safe" to remove software for users bold enough to remove them if they didn't want that feature. The "Apps removed" list is still that original work, but what it has turned into instead is a reference library of all the Samsung apps and what they do. This is a work in progress and I will need the help of the community to keep it accurate, updated, and relevant. The way I have the software listed is the exact name as it shows in Android Tuner. I may edit this post later to include APK names, but for now this is the list as I can report it. The annotations I've added are intended to be as accurate as possible and some provide references for why I think they do what they do. If you know what one of these does and want to add to it or correct me (cause I am wrong a lot) please post and tell me so I can change the descriptions. If we do this right many people can benefit from this, including devs, who want to remove unneeded features from Touchwiz and maximize their ROM's efficiency.

Tools I Used:

Android Tuner (I use Pro but you can use normal for this as well)

BetterBatteryStats

*Please backup your apps when you remove them. Also after removing several system files please reboot and wipe cache/dalvik before noting phone performance.

(You MUST install and run Viper4Android (Or HERE if you use Rapture) before removing things from this list)

Reference List/Apps Removed:

3DTourViewer (Removes 'Tour' feature from Samsung Gallery app/Reference: HERE)

Active Applications (the engine that keeps track of open programs for the widget)

Active Applications widget (The widget that closes the app)

Adapt Sound (Adjust call sounds and custom headphone settings)

AirWakeUp (Wakes up the device by running palm over it)

AllShare FileShare Service (Samsung Fileshare engine)

Application Installer (Preload installer for stock software to restore removed apps)

Automation Test (Phone dialer code for system test/Reference: HERE)

Backup (SCloud Backup Application/Works with Samsung Account)

Beacon Manager (Part of QuickConnect Software)

Beaming Service (Mobeam Beam service coupons and barcodes/Reference: HERE)

Briefing (This is the homepage where you swipe left and it shows news stories on Touchwiz Launcher)

Bubbles (Live wallpaper)

Calculator (Talking caculator. Why it talks, I'll never know)

Calendar (do not remove "Calendar Storage")

Calendar Widget (do not remove "Calendar Storage")

CapabilityManagerService (Reports plugging or unplugging of headphones/headset)

Car Mode (Hands-free software for car rides with many controls)

Car Mode Remote (Part of Car mode software; no idea what else it interfaces with)

ChocoEUKor (Samsung font option)

ChromecastServerService (Removal Could break Chromecast functions)

Clock [Digital Easy] (Clock widget for 'Easy Touchwiz')

Clock [Digital] (Digital Clock Widget)

CloudAgent (Samsung Cloud Backup and Restore Service/Reference: HERE)

com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub (Gear Watches & possibly Android wear device component)

com.sec.android.app.sbrowsertry (No idea/Linked with Stock Samsung Browser in some way)

com.sec.android.app.wfdbroker (Engine for Samsung file sharing service)

com.sec.android.gallery3d.panorama360view (No idea/part of gallery function?)

com.sec.android.pagebuddynotifsvc (Used with Page Buddy Service)

com.sec.android.sviewcover (Controls S-View Cover/Do not remove if you have Flip Cover)

CoolEUKor (Samsung font option)

DCMProvider (Part of Direct Connect Software)

demo stub (Preload installer that reinstalls apps you remove on reboot provided by Tmobile)

DeviceKeystring (Removed from XstrestoLite as test software/Reference: HERE)

DiagMonAgent (No idea)

DirectShareManager (Samsung Sharing Manager)

DSMLawmo (No idea/part of DSMForwarding.apk)

Dual Clock [Digital] (Clock Widget for Touchwiz)

Easy settings (Settings available for Easy Touchwiz Launcher)

EasyOneHand (Resizes screen for single-handed use)

EasySidePanel (Part of EasyOneHand)

ELM Agent (Samsung Multi-user support/Reference: HERE)

Email (Email service for anything besides Gmail)

EpdgTestApp (Part of Page Buddy Service)

EpsonPrintService (Epson printer driver interface for printing from device)

Exchange services (Part of Email app)

Favorite Contacts (Widget for Favorite Contacts)

Flipboard (News providing app that works with 'Briefing' above)

FWUpgrade (Update software for Samsung/Not needed if using custom ROM)

Gear VR Service (New Gear VR from Samsung interface software)

Gear VR Shell (Wrapper? for Gear VR Software)

Health and Safety (Information pop-ups for S-Health and other apps)

Health Service (Needed for S-Health)

HP Print Service Plugin (Print spool driver for HP printers and printing from device)

IndexService (Indexing service, similar to windows, and connects with SFinder for file location)

Internet (Stock Samsung browser)

Live Weather (Live Weather wallpaper from Yahoo)

Magnifier (Accessibility option for magnifying the screen and text)

Mobile Print (Another Print Spooler for printing from phone)

Mobile Tracker (Allows you to track phone if stolen)

MobilePrintSvc_CUPS (CUPS is the linux printing service used for printing from device)

MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend (Extra driver/wrapper for CUPS software and printing)

Multimedia UI Service Layer (No idea/interfaces with Stock Samsung Music Player)

Music (Stock Samsung Music player)

Music Controller (No idea/part of Samsung music player?)

My Files (Samsung file browser)

My Interests (If you use travel wallpaper this updates the lock screen wallpaper)

My Places (Location widget)

Nearby Devices (Part of NFC capabilities)

Nearby service (Part of NFC capabilities)

OCR Service (Optical Character Recognition for reading text with camera and within PDFs/Reference: HERE HERE )

Phase Beam (Live wallpaper)

Photo Note (Converts pictures taken with camera into editable document with S-Pen/Reference: HERE)

Photo Studio (Picture editing software with stock Samsung camera)

Post_T_Promo (Equivalent of Samsung Preload that re-installs T-mobile software if removed)

Print Spooler (Ability to print from your device)

Private Mode Service (Allows for Private Mode to be enabled or disabled)

Quick Connect (Searches for nearby devices for wireless sharing/Reference: HERE)

Quick Connect Interaction Service (Part of the above sharing service)

RoseEUKor (Samsung font)

SFinder (File finder added by Samsung)

Samsung Account (Account with NUMEROUS ties to software. Do not remove unless you know you don't need this)

Samsung Billing (Used for app purchases in Galaxy App Store)

Samsung Calendar SyncAdapter (Relays calendar information to Samsung cloud backup)

Samsung Cloud Data Relay (Part of Samsung cloud backup and restore)

Samsung Cloud Quota (Part of Samsung cloud backup and restore)

Samsung Contact Syncadapter (Backs up your contacts to Samsung cloud service)

Samsung Content Agent (Used with Samsung Link Software?)

Samsung Galaxy (Samsung Social network sync which connects contacts to Facebook, Twitter, etc./ Reference: HERE)

Samsung Galaxy Apps Widget (Widget for the Samsung Galaxy app store)

Samsung Keyboard (Removal Breaks Ultra Power Saving Mode)

Samsung Link Platform (Remote sharing of media between devices)

Samsung Link Platform Connectivity (Connection interface for Link Platform above)

Samsung Memo SyncAdapter (Syncs your saved memos to Samsung cloud service)

Samsung Print Service Plugin (Another Printing driver for printing from device)

Samsung Push Service (If you use the Galaxy app store this alerts you when Samsung software you have installed needs to be updated)

Samsung SBrowser Syncadapter (Syncs your bookmarks from the stock browser to Samsung's cloud service)

Samsung Setup wizard (Samsung login wizard used for first setup)

SamsungSans (Samsung Font)

SapaMonitor (Audio monitoring system/possibly related to CapabilityServiceManager for detecting headphones?)

Screen mirroring (Samsung software used to display phone screen to Samsung TVs)

Setup Wizard (Stock Android Setup Menu for first boot after clean install or factory resetSafe to remove but if removed you will have to add accounts manually!)

Shots & More (Photo editing software)

SmartcardManager (Interfaces with certain SIM cards and other security related cards/Reference: HERE)

SmartcardService (Background service associated with SmartcardManager)

Sound Detectors (Keeps microphone active for certain sounds)

SoundAlive (Installed and successfully ran Viper4Android before removal)

Studio (Photo editing software)

TMServerApp (Linked to Samsung Drivelink or Samsung Mobile software/Reference: HERE)

Touchwiz Easy Home (Easy Launcher for Touchwiz)

Travel Wallpaper (Wallpaper? Yeah, no idea)

Trim (Video editing software available in AOSP/Reference: HERE)

Video (Samsung's proprietary video player and says it is Samsung in the APK name)

Video Clip Studio (Video editing software)

Video Trimmer (Samsung video editing tool)

VPN Client (Needed for Android VPN protocols and available in AOSP so it does not need to be removed)

VpnDialogs (Part of VPN protocols and found in AOSP so it does not need to be removed)

VRSetupWizardStub (Software setup for GearVR Hardware)

Weather (Weather widget from the main Touchwiz screen)

Wi-Fi Direct (Wi-Fi file sharing)

Wi-Fi Direct Share (Wi-Fi file sharing)

wssyncmlnps (Samsung Updater/Reference: HERE)

Stats Removing Software Above (Base: Rapture v2.3)

System Partition: 632 MB

Apps Removed: 83 (not including Google Apps which I moved to /data partition)

Clean Boot RAM Usage (System): 343 MB

Clean Boot RAM Usage (User): 143 MB

Clean Boot Kernel Usage: 422 MB

Total RAM: 908MB

Battery loss per/hr: 0.5% (according to BBS)

Functional Features with My List:

All S-Pen Functionality (Menus, screen write, S-Note, etc)

Google Now activation screen on/off

Camera functionality

Gallery

Camera Voice Commands

Phone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Calls, NFC etc.

Pebble functionality

Chromecast functionality

Viper4Android Installed (Power Saving Driver)

3Minit Battery Settings

Multi-Window

Wi-Fi Calling

Fingerprint Scanner

Samsung Keyboard (For Ultra Power Saving Mode)

Touchwiz Launcher (As a fallback to Nova)

Xposed

Ultra Power Saving Mode

Unknown Apps List/Removed Apps Being Tested (Highly Experimental!):

AutoPreConfig (No idea/Seems no one does: LINK)

com.android.sharedstoragebackup (needs further testing/no idea)

com.sec.android.SamsungDrmProvider (may control things like Netflix or Music content/Remove with care)

com.sec.android.soagent (No idea, possibly security related?/Reference: HERE)

com.sec.bcservice (Security related to syscope and SecSettings/Reference: HERE)

Context Service (Shares phone usage stats with Samsung devs/Reference: HERE)

Enterprise SIM Pin Service (no idea/likely security and knox related)

Enterprise VPN Services (no idea/VPN service related to knox?)

Intelligence Service (No idea/Removed from Xstrestolite/Reference: HERE)

Interaction Control (No idea/interfaces with weather widget perhaps?/Reference: HERE)

Market Feedback Agent (Works with the Play Store providing statistics and usage information)

MDMApp (Does a LOT for security/Reference: HERE)

Smartcard Manager (No idea/Security smartcard manager perhaps?)

SmartcardService (No idea/Something to do with security smartcards perhaps?)

SnsImageCache (Where social media contact pictures and media are saved)

Sysscope (No idea/security related/see "com.sec.bcservice" link above)

Tasks provider (No idea/Quick Google search shows everyone removes it)

Other Software Explained: I Don't Recommend Removing or Freezing Most of These

AirWakeUp (Found under accessibility options; used for hand gestures associated with waking the device and other functions)

Android System (Core Android process//Never remove or freeze this is you value a working device)

Assistant Menu (Part of the settings menu that allows for customization of your accessibility options)

AudioConnectionService (No idea, but I'm not bold enough to remove it)

Automation Test (A phone dialer and manufacturer's testing application to ensure working hardware)

AutoPreconfig (No idea//Likely associated with Samsung

Basic Daydreams (This is associated with the daydream function used with docks and other screensaver options)

Bluetooth Share (If you remove this functional bluetooth features WILL fail//I removed it and bluetooth would not activate)

Bluetooth Test (This is the testing application for ensuring that bluetooth is functional in the factory hardware tests)

Calendar Storage (If you remove this your calendar will not launch or sync to Android server)

Camera (Fairly self-explanatory//Can be frozen or removed if you have a replacement, but this is why you bought the phone...right?)

Camera Test (Factory test menu for the camera hardware)

Certificate Installer (Used for accepting and revoking of Internet certificates with the Android OS)

ChromecastServerService (This is going to control your Chromecast connection availability//can be removed if no Chromecast used)

ClipboardSaveService (Samsung's clipboard interface program//I haven't tested it removed, but this one is not the stock android clipboard)

Clock (Android clock app//I HIGHLY discourage you from removing this)

Clock Settings (If you have Potato Clock installed this service will be here and is the settings menu for Potato Clock)

Color Adjustment (Samsung's screen color program that allows you to choose color settings//Don't remove)

com.android.backupconfirm (no idea; perhaps part of Android cloud service backup to Google servers?)

com.android.browser.provider (no idea; part of Android browsing capabilities I assume?)

com.android.keyguard (This is your lockscreen//DO NOT FREEZE OR REMOVE)

com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks (no idea; not sure it is needed and have removed it personally but don't know what it affects and it is part of standard android system [AOSP])

com.android.wallpapercropper (Cropping tool for wallpaper//Removing or freezing causes wallpaper changes to crash)

com.qualcomm.interfacepermissions (no idea and I sincerely think this interfaces with the CPU/GPU so I'd leave it alone)

com.qualcomm.qcom_qmi (no idea; personally would not touch)

com.qualcomm.timeservice (no idea; personally would not touch)

com.samsung.android.sdk.spenv10 (This is your S-Pen software//If you remove it the S-Pen will do nothing fun)

com.samsung.authenication.gba (No idea; likely security layer for Samsung applications//I have not removed this)

com.sec.android.app.chromecustomizations (no idea, probably an interface for Google Chrome's addons or sync capabilities)

com.sec.android.app.FlashBarService (This is your Multi-Window feature//You can remove this if you don't care about the feature, but I don't know what else it affects [read: at your own risk])

com.sec.android.app.minimode.res (no idea; I'd only be guessing putting something here)

com.sec.android.app.sbrowsertry (this is software that links the stock Samsung Browser to Android//Can be removed if you don't use stock browser)

com.sec.android.app.SmartClipService (S-Pen feature//Can be removed, but Smart Clip won't work on Air Command menu and possibly other side effects)

com.sec.android.chromecastservice (part 2 of chromecast functionality//can be removed if you don't have a Chromecast)

com.sec.android.SamsungDrmProvider (no idea as mentioned previously//I've left it in, it uses negligible resources and likely has an important role with the OS)

com.android.visualeffect.res (no idea; but part of the original AOSP so I would leave it in)

com.sec.chromecast.remoteplayer (part 3 of Chromecast services//Can be removed if you don't use Chromecast)

com.sec.ims (All services related to IMS in any fashion is related to Wi-Fi Calling//Do NOT remove if you use a T-mobile device and/or Wi-Fi Calling)

com.sec.imsservice (All services related to IMS--in any fashion--is related to Wi-Fi Calling//Do NOT remove if you use a T-mobile device and/or Wi-Fi Calling)

com.sec.phone (Don't remove if you like placing calls)

ConfigUpdater (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Contacts (You contacts app//Freezing or removing this causes major issues with the Samsung Framework: Do so at your own risk)

Contacts Storage (The AOSP app for saving your contacts information//leave it in)

Context Service (no idea; I only know this is a Samsung service and I have no idea what it does or affects)

CSC (Part of the standard AOSP OS and dialer code entry information//can be removed but I don't recommend it)

DeviceKeystring (no idea; can't even begin to guess)

DeviceTest (Another factory test option for your device and part of AOSP software)

Dialer Storage (AOSP and where recent numbers dialed and other dialer information is stored)

Dictionary (AOSP dictionary for auto-correction and reference information//leave it in)

DigitalPenSDK (no idea; I can't prove it, but I think this is related to your touchscreen driver for the active digitizer)

Direct Pen Input (no idea; makes the S-Pen an active stylus is my guess//Don't remove if you like your S-Pen)

Documents (no idea; perhaps related to Google Drive?//I wouldn't remove it)

Download Manager (You need this for downloads to work//DO NOT remove)

Downloads (This is the UI for the Download Manager service above//It can be removed, but I wouldn't do it)

EmergencyManagerService (Related to Emergency mode//You can remove it, but I wouldn't)

EmergencyProvider (Related to Emergency mode//You can remove it, but I wouldn't)

External Storage (no idea; I think it is related to the MicroSD card but I don't know//I wouldn't remove it)

Factory Mode (no idea; I assume it is related to the factory hardware tests)

Filter Installer (no idea; I wouldn't remove this)

Filter Manager (no idea; I wouldn't remove this)

FilterProvider (no idea; I wouldn't remove this)

FixmoISA (no idea; related to security//Reference: HERE)

FlashAnnotateSvc (no idea; couldn't even guess)

Fused Location (no idea; related to Google location service?)

Gallery (Samsung picture gallery//Don't remove it, it breaks part of the camera functionality)

GestureService (no idea; related to Google service//I wouldn't remove it)

GlanceViewMk (Related to recent apps button//I don't recommend you remove this as it is part of AOSP)

Google Account Manager (Keeps Google account login info//Do not remove)

Google App (Google!//If you remove this version from /system you CANNOT activate the "OK Google" with the screen off)

Google Backup Transport (no idea; but related to Google so I don't recommend removing it)

Google Calendar Sync (Syncs your calendar to Google servers//I don't recommend removing it)

Google Contact Sync (Syncs your contacts//don't remove this)

Google One Time Init (Google service//Do not remove)

Google Partner Service (Google service//Do not remove)

Google Play Services (Critical Google service//DEFINITELY do not remove)

Google Services Framework (Critical Google service//DEFINITELY do not remove)

Google Text-to-Speech (Critical for OK Google voice reading//can be removed but I wouldn't recommend it)

HTML Viewer (no idea; important for web viewing?)

HwModuleTest (More factory test software)

IMS Settings (All services related to IMS in any fashion is related to Wi-Fi Calling//Do NOT remove if you use a T-mobile device and/or Wi-Fi Calling that being said others have said it can be removed, but I wouldn't personally)

IMSLogger+ (All services related to IMS in any fashion is related to Wi-Fi Calling//Do NOT remove if you use a T-mobile device and/or Wi-Fi Calling that being said others have said it can be removed, but I wouldn't personally)

InCallUI (Important for dialer and phone calls//Do not remove it)

Input Devices (no idea; driver for inputs perhaps?//Don't remove it)

Interaction control (no idea; related to Samsung settings features//I recommend it not be removed)

Internet (Stock Browser//Can be removed if another browser is put in place)

IPsec Service (Security related service for AOSP//Don't remove this)

IWlan Settings (important for Wi-Fi Settings//Do not remove)

Key Chain (Contains password information for app logins//Do not remove)

Launcher (Part 1 of Touchwiz interface//it can be FROZEN if you have another launcher to save RAM HOWEVER: Several force closes if you remove it!)

Live Wallpaper Picker ( Just what it says//Force closes if you try to access Live Wallpaper)

LocationServices (Google Location service//Do not remove)

LogsProvider (no idea; logs something? I'm a simple man)

Manage accessibility (This is part of Samsung's settings//I don't recommend removing this)

Mapcon Provider (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Media Storage (no idea; driver for internal/external SD card?//Don't remove this)

Messages (Samsung messaging app//Can be frozen or removed if you have another SMS program in place)

Mobile Tracker (Samsung feature for tracking phone in the settings menu//Can be removed but I wouldn't)

MTP Application (Driver for MTP interface//Do not remove)

MyScript Resource Manager (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Nfc Service (Needed for NFC//Do NOT remove!)

OMACP (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Package Access Helper (Part of Android package installer//Do not remove)

Package Installer (Android Package Installer//Do NOT remove!)

PacProcessor (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Perso (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

Phone (If you like making calls with your phone this should stay)

Photo note (S-Pen feature//I don't recommend removing unless you don't want this feature)

PopupuiReceiver (no idea; couldn't even guess)

Preconfig (no idea; couldn't even guess)

Private Mode Storage (This allow private mode to function//This can be removed but for stability I would NOT remove it)

ProxyHandler (Proxy handling for Android//I would leave this alone)

Remote controls x3 (There are three of these and one is likely linked to the IR Blaster//I do not recommend removing these)

RilNotifier (Ril are system files that store phone information//DO NOT REMOVE)

ringtonebackup (no idea; I'd be guessing)

RootPA (no idea; I'd be guessing)

S-Voice (Voice commands for the phone//This can be removed HOWEVER: If removed screen-off OK Google command will not work. You need this file and the original Google App that come installed to make the screen off version work)

Safety Assistance (Critical part of Emergency mode service//Can be removed, but I recommend against it)

Samsung Camera Filter (no idea; I know it is part of the camera app but I don't know its role//I'd leave it alone)

Samsung keyboard (Stock keyboard//Can be removed if another keyboard replaces it HOWEVER: If you remove this Ultra Power Saving mode will NOT function properly unless you modify it with UPSM. I recommend you leave this in)

Scrapbook (Tied to gallery in some way; I do not recommend removing this due to people's reports saying it causes a force close and I'll locate the link later)

Screen Write (S-Pen feature of Air Command//I would leave this in unless you don't use S-Pen at all)

Secure UI Service (no idea; couldn't even begin to guess)

to be continued...

My Thanks goes to:

Google! You make me smarter or at least appear smarter. Thank you for that

Linux - My OS of choice

Samsung - You may use Touchwiz, but I love your phones

[MENTION=1380660]iB4STiD[/MENTION] for ALL his amazing ROMs

The Alliance Team for their spectacular ROM releases and amazing customization

[MENTION=693309]edgarf28[/MENTION] for the inspiration and his work on XstrestoLite for the S5

[MENTION=5089674]fAiLOfax[/MENTION] for his AMAZING reference work found HERE

The XDA Community and all their posts

*If I forgot anyone they will be added as soon as I remember