In addition to quicker-than-normal updates, one aspect of the Nexus line of phones and tablets is the prospect of buying a “pure Google” device with absolutely no carrier or manufacturer bloat of any kind. That’s why I was so intrigued – and a little angry – when I discovered the smallest trace of bloat on the new 32GB ASUS Nexus 7 I picked up last Saturday.
If you’re not rooted, you probably wouldn’t ever notice this. But that’s one of the first things I did after getting my new tablet – I’m actually not really into the whole custom ROM scene, but there are a few root-only apps I like to run.
So after rooting the device and installing SD Maid, I fired up the app and started to poke around. By total accident, I soon noticed that “ASUS Keyboard” was listed as a system app that was frozen by default. I unfroze it, but was unable to select it in Android’s Language & input menu.
Still, given my previous experience with the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime and Transformer Pad Infinity, I knew that this keyboard is the same one that comes preinstalled as the default on other ASUS tablets. And this, of course, begs the question, how the heck did this get on a Nexus tablet to begin with?
I’m not sure if this affects other versions of the Nexus 7, such as the 8GB, 16GB, or 3G versions. And I also don’t know if this was included in previous software versions. But the fact remains that it’s an .apk file that has no business being on a Nexus device, even if it is frozen by default. This also makes me wonder if ASUS has secretly added any other bits of code throughout the OS, unbeknownst to users, or perhaps even Google.
But, at the same time, this could also just be a mistake that will be removed with the next update. We’ll just have to wait and see.
hmm… interesting I’m going to check if this keyboard is on my nexus too, I have a vague memory of an article saying something about using the Asus keyboard if the stock JB one wasn’t cutting it but didn’t make the connection that it probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place. I don’t know how long you’ve had your device rooted for…any major reasons why we should root?
Most people root for custom ROMs, but I just have a few root only apps that I like to have installed, like SD Maid, Titanium Backup, etc. I actually have less of a reason to root my Nexus than I do my phone, because there’s not much it doesn’t do out of the box.
This is quite interesting, and a bit frustrating for me to know now that my Nexus 7 is running out of storage space. ASUS doesn’t need to be putting their software on the tablet, especially if it can’t be used anyways. I, too, am wondering whether this was intentional or some sort of odd accident, but either way I hope it gets fixed soon. Until then, I suppose it is time that I finally switch to a custom ROM.
How much space is that keyboard taking up?
Not much I’m sure, but it’s the idea of ASUS wasting space on my device that I don’t like. Plus, its also possible that this is just the first bloat app to be discovered, there may be more wasted space we don’t yet know about.
Actually, Asus keyboard is useful for inputting Chinese characters through handwriting or non-Mandarin Pinyin methods. Taiwanese speak Mandarin but they use Zhuyin, Taiwanese Mandarin romanisation, instead of Pinyin, PRC Mandarin romanisation. And there are also Chinese people who only speak their regional languages instead of Mandarin. Google is very ignorant about Chinese languages and just want to be politically correct and force everyone to use Pinyin. Asus is doing a great job!