App Thinning? How about OS Thinning?

[gordol]

Apple has made a bit of a deal with "App Thinning" where the app store has the ability to install only app modules that are supported on the target device, as a way to deal with the size creep supporting the differing feature sets of iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6+, 6s, 6s+, iPad2, 3, 4, New, Air, Air 2, Mini, Mini 2, Mini3, and Pr0 (holy cow, 19 models! And we thought Android was fractured!).

How about OS Thinning? However, I'm not talking about not delivering TouchID support to devices without the finger print scanner. I'm talking more about not including non-core applications in the undeletable firmware. Specific examples of apps that should be removed from firmware and instead offered through the App Store (which, btw, will make it possible to update just the apps when appropriate rather than waiting on full iOS updates):

• Weather
• Stocks
• News
• Podcasts
• Voice Memos
• Compass
• Maps
• Find Friends
• Find Phone
• Game Center
• Watch

The only one of those that I use is Podcasts. The rest are either irrelevant or have better alternatives.

Actually, apps like Safari should be separate as well, if only so it can be updated with security fixes on a different schedule than iOS as a whole.

 

[Rob Phillips]

In a recent interview, Tim Cook admitted that they are looking at allowing users to remove certain stock apps in the future. It remains to be seen if this ability will make an appearance in iOS 10 but it goes to show that it's a distinct possibility. Tim brings up a good point that some apps are linked to other things within the iOS ecosystem so simply letting the user remove them would cause issues. Anyway, it's an interesting read.
http://m.imore.com/tim-cook-talks-ipads-future-removing-pre-installed-apps-new-interview

 

[anon(5140585)]

Apple has made a bit of a deal with "App Thinning" where the app store has the ability to install only app modules that are supported on the target device, as a way to deal with the size creep supporting the differing feature sets of iPhone 4, 4s, 5, 5s, 5c, 6, 6+, 6s, 6s+, iPad2, 3, 4, New, Air, Air 2, Mini, Mini 2, Mini3, and Pr0 (holy cow, 19 models! And we thought Android was fractured.)

Doesn't Samsung have more phones just within their Galaxy line?