4 ms·

Sure, they should have to use the Keychain APIs just like everyone else.

scarface74 7y ago
And system programs? Should all apps have root access? Should they all be able to make changes that the settings app can make?
- csande17 7y ago
  Settings, Phone, SMS, and maybe App Store are probably the only iOS system apps that actually deserve to be special.
  - saagarjha 7y ago
    How about apps that serve to be repositories of sensitive information that is disclosed by consent to other apps, such as Health or Wallet?
    - csande17 7y ago
      It's always bugged me that iOS creates specialized one-off APIs for accessing things like Health and the photo library, instead of a generic, extensible interface that third-party apps could use to create their own shared data stores. Why should I have to depend on Apple to decide that a particular kind of health data should be allowed? Similarly, Android has a generic "intent" interface you can use to jump out into another app to get data from the user (take a photo, open a file, scan a QR code, etc.), while iOS has a bajillion different UIWhateverViewControllers that cover only the use cases Apple thought of and can only launch system apps.
      - saagarjha 7y ago
        Honestly, I think this touches too close to the “default apps” issue that Apple has been quite recalcitrant on, and in my opinion it won’t be fixed until they change their mind on this. They have the technology in place to do this safely, so at this point this has to be a choice they’ve made. However, to address a specific concern about your first point: I do find it convenient to have one central location for all these things, as opposed to a dozen different home automation and health tracking apps or random folders on my filesystem for photos. Apple might be heavy handed in limiting categories here because it keeps data consistent and prevents issues where years of menstrual cycle data was being added under a custom “Periods” category and format that’s incompatible with this year’s “Cycles” measurement.
      - scarface74 7y ago
        Similarly, Android has a generic "intent" interface you can use to jump out into another app to get data from the user (take a photo, open a file, scan a QR code, etc.), while iOS has a bajillion different UIWhateverViewControllers that cover only the use cases Apple thought of and can only launch system apps. Apps has had that since iOS 8. Thats exactly how the share sheet works.
        saagarjha 7y ago
        Of course, that only allows for exporting data out of your app. If you want to import data or work with it this doesn’t really help.
        scarface74 7y ago
        You could always create a Shortcut and add it to the share sheet....
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
- shkkmo 7y ago
  Is there a reason there can't be a standard system of granting access to apps?
  - scarface74 7y ago
    A standard system for granting apps root access - you mean something like Vista’s User Account Control? What could possibly go wrong?
    - shkkmo 7y ago
      Yup, most operating systems have the ability to grant root access, what is your point?
      - scarface74 7y ago
        And it’s been a major catastrophe for the average user for the last 40 years.
        damnyou 7y ago
        And the current situation with iOS is an even bigger catastrophe for society. I don't think the problem is copying per se... the problem is that Apple is just too big, too powerful, to be good for society. Apple should be broken up.
        zepto 7y ago
        A catastrophe for the average user is a catastrophe for society. Apple has solved that problem and you haven’t articulated what is wrong.
        damnyou 7y ago
        Average users are not the only people that matter, despite what Robert Bork wants you to think. What is wrong is the concentration of power within a company answerable only to shareholders. Even democratically elected governments need to be heavily scrutinized for abuses of power.

And system programs? Should all apps have root access? Should they all be able to make changes that the settings app can make?

csande17 7y ago
Settings, Phone, SMS, and maybe App Store are probably the only iOS system apps that actually deserve to be special.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  How about apps that serve to be repositories of sensitive information that is disclosed by consent to other apps, such as Health or Wallet?
  - csande17 7y ago
    It's always bugged me that iOS creates specialized one-off APIs for accessing things like Health and the photo library, instead of a generic, extensible interface that third-party apps could use to create their own shared data stores. Why should I have to depend on Apple to decide that a particular kind of health data should be allowed? Similarly, Android has a generic "intent" interface you can use to jump out into another app to get data from the user (take a photo, open a file, scan a QR code, etc.), while iOS has a bajillion different UIWhateverViewControllers that cover only the use cases Apple thought of and can only launch system apps.
    - saagarjha 7y ago
      Honestly, I think this touches too close to the “default apps” issue that Apple has been quite recalcitrant on, and in my opinion it won’t be fixed until they change their mind on this. They have the technology in place to do this safely, so at this point this has to be a choice they’ve made. However, to address a specific concern about your first point: I do find it convenient to have one central location for all these things, as opposed to a dozen different home automation and health tracking apps or random folders on my filesystem for photos. Apple might be heavy handed in limiting categories here because it keeps data consistent and prevents issues where years of menstrual cycle data was being added under a custom “Periods” category and format that’s incompatible with this year’s “Cycles” measurement.
    - scarface74 7y ago
      Similarly, Android has a generic "intent" interface you can use to jump out into another app to get data from the user (take a photo, open a file, scan a QR code, etc.), while iOS has a bajillion different UIWhateverViewControllers that cover only the use cases Apple thought of and can only launch system apps. Apps has had that since iOS 8. Thats exactly how the share sheet works.
      - saagarjha 7y ago
        Of course, that only allows for exporting data out of your app. If you want to import data or work with it this doesn’t really help.
        scarface74 7y ago
        You could always create a Shortcut and add it to the share sheet....
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
shkkmo 7y ago
Is there a reason there can't be a standard system of granting access to apps?
- scarface74 7y ago
  A standard system for granting apps root access - you mean something like Vista’s User Account Control? What could possibly go wrong?
  - shkkmo 7y ago
    Yup, most operating systems have the ability to grant root access, what is your point?
    - scarface74 7y ago
      And it’s been a major catastrophe for the average user for the last 40 years.
      - damnyou 7y ago
        And the current situation with iOS is an even bigger catastrophe for society. I don't think the problem is copying per se... the problem is that Apple is just too big, too powerful, to be good for society. Apple should be broken up.
        zepto 7y ago
        A catastrophe for the average user is a catastrophe for society. Apple has solved that problem and you haven’t articulated what is wrong.
        damnyou 7y ago
        Average users are not the only people that matter, despite what Robert Bork wants you to think. What is wrong is the concentration of power within a company answerable only to shareholders. Even democratically elected governments need to be heavily scrutinized for abuses of power.