perhaps the iphone allows you to do that, but I am not allowed to prevent my apps from updating, except for all the apps i have downloaded myself.
since i am not allowed to disable apps that I do not use, including email nfc telephone (on a tablet device that CANT be a phone for my use), browser that shows location (DATA!), saves passwords, form information, and many things I could itemize if I turn my phone on and look, I am paying for data usage that I do not use.
I minimize it as best I can with what I am allowed to disable. I also take the battery out of my phone during non use as I am NO LONGER allowed to disable nfc among other things.
the recent leaked news about ATnT sharing w/the NSA wasnt about LG or Samsung, so my suspicion is that yes, ATnT DOES have direct access to either my phone or the android 'update' policy, but I dont think regular ATnT employees have this information or knowledge.
a rooted phone might be the answer when I am allowed to make that change.
in looking at my phones settings over the last very interesing six months or so, it is clear that:
the phones purpose in providing user services is a very small percentage of the phones designated purpose.
many of you will understand exactly what I am talking about.
the disappearance of the browser from the data usage settings is what prompted me to bring this up. I WAS tracking its usage because it was being used and I dont use it ! i was only able to throttle its usage by resetting it every single day until it vanished from my menu, like, YESTERDAY.
I dont mind paying for data if a data hog is what I sometimes am, and so far ATNT seems to be honest with me about my usage, but I do alot to keep an eye on it and sadly seeing just how much we are being watched by our devices.
some of that 'watching' IS where our paid data plan is going. what other people are posting about it seems to make it quite obvious. and its nobodys fault but ours ? when I had smart wifi enabled I too saw it was a big mistake, now that allows me to disable it but it wont stay that way without my re-checking and re-pushing the buttons daily as well.
updates come to this tablet with no wifi, I have data only when its left at home. and I do keep that all turned when not in use.