[Galaxy Note 4 General] fundaprob:
Long time ago, in the mid-2000s, there was such a fabulous concept as "PDA". Unfortunately, Microsoft let it slip and the concept went downhill.

Now for me it was the idea of a device that is not a phone (hence the existence of a separate "smartphone") and that is rarely online. It's bigger than "phone" and you use it to do serious stuff, not reading Twitter and ranting on Facebook.

I understand this concept is not very popular these days but this thread is for those of you security paranoids who are not risking putting your precious data online at all. But even if you are not so extreme you can safely get rid of more than 100 apps, you'll just have to experiment a little given my lists here.

Below are the apps I have removed to make my Note Edge run as smooth as ever, with battery lasting days on average use. I have been experimenting with this, gathering info about each problematic app from the internets; details and links are included below where I could find them.

What is removed: cellular/phone/messages/Qualcomm support, Samsung-only sharing/device features (quick share, direct share, beacon, TV, battery sharing, etc.), location services, Google/Samsung stuff, Dropbox/Evernote/Flipboard/other bundled stuff, backup/sync/cloud, tracking/remote management/locking (it had lots of this stuff), wearable stuff, environment sound detecting, payment/checkout, Chrome/Chromecast, Play/Samsung stores (install apps offline by APK), Car Mode, private mode, Knox, printing, S Finder, S Voice, Emergency Mode, SIM support, weather, Safety info, wizard appearing when you hard-reset the device (so all settings are set to defaults, you can customize them later anyway), Smart Remote, talkback, default video player, editing and trimming.

What is kept: all legit core functionality: external SD card, Internet (for offline browsing), Wi-Fi (but didn't try it), Bluetooth, NFC, camera and photo studio, Edge panel (Cocktailbar) features, S Pen including direct input, notes, snippets, etc., voice recorder/other tools, Easy Mode including reduced screen and side panel, Night Clock, S Health (tested pedometer, heart rate), service menus (e.g. *#0*#), ART/Dalvik runtimes work (instead of 300+ apps to optimize you get 143), USB features including MTP/debugging/adb, most native Samsung apps like Gallery and S Planner that are good. Dialing 911 seems to work which is surprising given all removed phone components.

After using this unbloated version of Kitkat 4.4.4 all apps still work fine except for some games that need Google Services Framework (however, it'll need other Google components, not just that - experiment). Not all though - Heroes 3 HD work just fine. Also note that if GSF is removed (partially or fully) while setup wizards are not you won't be able to get past the first run wizard as it will crash due to missing GSF. So either remove both or none.

I used this app to remove things. But you can probably freeze them with Titanium Backup with the same effect (except wasted disk space).

Removed apps (in alphabetic order):

Adapt Sound

AirWakeUp - this gesture drains battery like crazy, 10-15% per hour in sleep mode

AllShare FileShare Service - for playing content on other devices: http://www.shouldiremoveit.com/Samsung-AllShare-12424-program.aspx

ANT HAL Service - wearable support

ANT Radio Service

ANT+ Plugins Service

Automation Test - some say it can freeze the device, some say it's safe to remove: http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s2/general/jelly-bean-xxlsj-solution-to-battery-t2016419

AutoPreconfig - cellular stuff: http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html

Backup

Basic Daydreams - appear when the device is locked like a screensaver (photos, etc.) instead of clock, etc.

BeaconManager

Beaming Service

Blurb Checkout

Briefing

CapabilityManagerService - Popups when headphone jack used: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sp...ng-galaxy-s3-sprint-version-stock-rooted.html

CarMode

CarModeRemote

CatchFavorites - Yahoo/Twitter stuff: http://xdaforums.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943

Chrome

ChromecastServerService

CloudAgent

com.android.backupconfirm

com.android.provider.partnerbookmarks

com.android.sharedstoragebackup

com.qualcom.qcom_qmi - cellular protocol: https://sigquit.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/an-introduction-to-libqmi/

com.qualcomm.interfacepermissions - seems to be safe to remove

com.sec.android.app.chromecustomizations

com.sec.android.app.sbrowsertry - probably safe to remove: http://techspooler.com/guides/remove-bloatware-apps/1868

com.sec.android.app.wfdbroker - All Share related: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1910885&page=2

com.sec.android.chromecastservice

com.sec.android.mimage.expressme

com.sec.android.minimode.res - there are no mini apps in Note, probably safe to remove

com.sec.android.pagebuddynotisvc

com.sec.android.SamsungDrmProvider

com.sec.bcservice - probably safe to remove, deals with system status (rooted, etc.): http://androidforums.com/threads/li...-de-bloat-your-boost-mobile-galaxy-s3.778877/ - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2285894&page=2

com.sec.chromecast.remoteplayer

com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation - this and other 4 apps are safe to remove

ConfigUpdater - Automatically updates certificates, firewall config, sms list, timezone info, said to be safe to remove: http://blog.burrowsapps.com/2014/03/what-android-apps-are-safe-to-remove.html, http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2727541

CSC - cellular stuff: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...1gdDJRekl4QmkyNmIzUmRvX2h3UDVkQXc&output=html, http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html

DCMProvider - communicates with other Samsung devices: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/380456-dcmprovider-what.html

DeviceTest (com.sec.factory) - service codes: http://androidforums.com/threads/all-bloatware-detailed-complet-list.871115/

DirectShareManager

Drive

Dropbox

DSMLawmo - Dedicated Security Management to remotely lock/reset/etc. the device: http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s2/help/dsmlawmo-t1863011

ELM Agent - multi-user support: http://androidforums.com/threads/elm-agent.825065/

Email

EmergencyManagerService

EmergencyProvider

Enterprise Sim Pin Service

EpsonPrintService

Evernote

Exchange Services

Favorite Contacts

Filter Installer

Filter Manager

FilterProvider

FixmoISA - some DoD stuff: http://gcn.com/articles/2013/05/29/breakdown-dod-security-controls--ios-android.aspx

Flipboard

Fused Location - location-related: https://developers.google.com/andro...android/gms/location/FusedLocationProviderApi

FWUpgrade - Upgrade client for AllShare app: http://forums.androidcentral.com/sp...ng-galaxy-s3-sprint-version-stock-rooted.html

GALAXY Apps Widget

Gmail

Google Backup Transport

Google Calendar Sync

Google Contacts Sync

Google Partner Setup

Google Play Books

Google Play Games

Google Play Movies & TV

Google Play Music

Google Play Newsstand

Google Play Services

Google Search

Google Services Framework - needed for Google apps

Google Text-to-speech Engine

Google+

Hangouts

HP Print Service Plugin

InCallUI

IndexService - S Finder-related, causes problems: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2461958

Intelligence Service - spying, Carrier IQ: http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s5/help/kill-com-samsung-android-t2811304

Keyguard wallpaper updator

KeyguardTestActivity

Kies Application BnR

KLMS Agent

Live weather

LocalFOTA

LocationServices

Maps

Market Feedback Agent

MDMApp - some remote management: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/mobile/solution/security/mobile-device-management

Mobile print

Mobile Tracker

MobilePrintSvc_CUPS

MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend

My interests

My Places

Nearby devices

Nearby Service

OMACP - SMS-related: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spr...1gdDJRekl4QmkyNmIzUmRvX2h3UDVkQXc&output=html

PacProcessor - claimed to be safe to remove: http://blog.burrowsapps.com/2014/03/what-android-apps-are-safe-to-remove.html

Pay with PayPal

PEN.UP

Perso - call sound personalization: http://androidforums.com/threads/all-bloatware-detailed-complet-list.871115/

Post_T_Promo - Dropbox stuff

Power Sharing - transfer power to another Samsung device: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.app.powersharing&hl=en

Preconfig - cellular stuff: http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/08/change-csc-samsung-galaxy-devices-s4.html

Print Spooler

Private Mode Service

Quick call contacts

Quick Connect

Quick Connect Interaction Service

RCPComponents - remote control: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s5/396488-galaxy-s5-battery-life-getting-bad.html

Remote Controls - com.fmm.dm

Remote Controls - com.fmm.ds

Remote Controls - com.sec.pcw.device

RilNotifier - Radio interface layer: http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s2/deve...rom-v9-available-changelog-op-t2037363/page93

ringtonebackup

RootPA - looks like junk: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2523379&page=4

S Finder

S Voice

Safety Assistance

Safety Information

Samsung Account

Samsung Billing

Samsung Calendar SyncAdapter

Samsung Cloud Data Relay

Samsung Cloud Quota

Samsung Contact SyncAdapter

Samsung Content Agent

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung Link Platform - communication with other devices: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...sier-share-media-across-devices-computers-tv/

Samsung Link Platform Connectivity

Samsung Memo SyncAdapter

Samsung Print Service Plugin

Samsung Push Service - notifications for ChanON, etc.: http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon-galaxy-note-2/279259-samsung-push-service-what.html, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sec.spp.push

Samsung SBrowser SyncAdapter

Samsung setup wizard

Samsung Syncadapters

Secure UI Service - since it's from Qualcomm it's probably safe to remove

Security policy updates - automatic network updates for threat detection: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.policydm&hl=en

Service Mode RIL

Setup Wizard - since it's Google must be safe to remove

SilentLogging - some surveillance stuff: http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/10/03/s...-phone-numbers-gps-data-email-addresses-more/

SIM Toolkit

SLLibrary

Smart Remote

SmartcardManager - SIM-related, 3rd party: https://code.google.com/p/seek-for-android/wiki/SmartcardAPI

SmartcardService

SnsImageCache - social networking: https://android.stackexchange.com/questions/12265/what-is-sns-app

Software update

Software Update

Sound detectors

SoundAlive - music playback effects

Street View

SysScope - tracks system status (rooted/official/etc.)

Talkback

Tap and pay

TcpdumpService

Travel wallpaper

Trim

Video

Video clip studio

Video Player

Video Trimmer

Weather

WlanTest - said to be safe to remove

WlucTest - said to be safe to remove

wssyncmlnps

YouTube

Apps you should leave alone and why:

3DTourViewer - some camera feature: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2790808&page=231

com.android.keyguard - screen lock (PIN, pattern, etc.): https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17689842/what-the-heck-is-the-keyguard-in-android

com.qualcomm.timeservice - network date/time sync, if removed clock will be screwed on each restart

com.samsung.android.app.catchme - breaks Night Clock if removed (someone says it's Yahoo/Twitter stuff: http://xdaforums.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943)

Easy Settings

EasyBottomPanel

EasyOneHand

EasySidePanel - if this and/or other Easy* is removed Side Panel and Reduce Screen no more works

FlashAnnotateSvc - S Pen/screenshot related: http://www.sammobile.com/2012/11/28/n7000xxlsa-–-galaxy-note-android-4-1-2-jelly-bean-test-firmware/

Heatlh Service - S Health doesn't start w/o it

HwModuleTest - probably what appears when dialing *#0*#

LogsProvider

MyScript ResourceManager - S Pen stuff: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2469681

QuickTool - Edge ruler, flashlight, etc.: http://xdaforums.com/note-edge/general/themers-paradise-useful-information-t2946943

RootPa - might be causing problems if deleted

SapaMonitor - probably okay, audio input/jack monitor: http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-3/360445-sapamonitor-jammonitorservice.html

Service Mode - internal info window: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20248195/open-servicemode-menu-programatically-in-android

Service mode - may be related to service menu (*#0*#): http://forum.cyanogenmod.org/topic/30459-service-mode-servicemodeappapk-on-sgs/

Tags - NFC tags

Touchwiz Easy Home - if deleted Night Clock won't show up

Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct share

Attached are lists of safe-to-remove apps authored by different people that I've collected from various places in general for Samsung devices (I only used this as a reference, don't know how valid it is).

There's also a screenshot with installed apps in the standard launcher - just one incomplete page.

.

Update from me 1 year after: how was the experience?

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=67600207&postcount=38