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This is one area where iOS stands head and shoulders above Android. I used to run Cyanogenmod and I remember deciding to not upgrade the Facebook app because do

This is one area where iOS stands head and shoulders above Android. I used to run Cyanogenmod and I remember deciding to not upgrade the Facebook app because doing so would have required giving it a slew of permissions, including the ability to "directly call phone numbers". By contrast, in iOS, I can choose which apps have access to my location, contacts, etc. I know that Apple's track record when it comes to privacy isn't exactly spotless but Google would be well advised to follow their lead in allowing users granular control over 3rd-party apps' permissions.

tomp 13y ago
So far, I've been an Android fan (I love the customizability and all), but if anything will make me buy an iPhone, it's this feature.
outworlder 13y ago
Do not expect Google to implement it anytime soon, due to the massive app breakage potential. Android's permission system looks good on the surface. However, there are so many required permissons nowadays that many users do not even check them anymore. And you can revoke specific permissions on an app by app basis. On iOS, developers are told not to rely on certain permissions being available, such as location. Some apps truly can't function without those, but they are supposed to warn the user, not crash.
- e40 13y ago
  Do not expect Google to implement it anytime soon, due to the massive app breakage potential. I run AppOps 4.3/4.4 rooted (so I use the "App Ops X" version internally), and I must say, I've restricted most of my non-system apps and I've never seen a single broken app. I think this potential is vastly overblown. EDIT: for example, in the official twitter app, I turn off these: * Location * Read contacts * Receieve SMS/MMS * Post notification * Wake lock Never had a single problem with the app.
- jre 13y ago
  As long as the disallowed permissions simply return empty results (or random stuff) for the API calls, I don't see how this can break apps.
  - king_jester 13y ago
    AFAIK, AppOps doesn't do this, it throws a java exception when the app code attempts to use a permission that has been disabled. Depending on how the code is structured, you may or may not have your app break/crash.
- barrkel 13y ago
  There is almost zero app breakage potential. Because the implementation shouldn't be refusing permissions, it should simply be mocking them. Ask for a location? Mock it to an arbitrary location. Asking for contacts? Return an empty list, or a list with joe.smith@example.org. Etc.
  - jackgavigan 13y ago
    > ..the implementation shouldn't be refusing permissions, it should simply be mocking them. Ask for a location? Mock it to an arbitrary location. Like 38° 53' 50.55", -77° 2' 14.51"
- rahoulb 13y ago
  This is somewhere where android fragmentation is truly an issue. iOS didn't have granular switchable permissions a couple of versions ago but as the OS moved forward so did the apps.
shrikant 13y ago
CyanogenMod has this killer feature called Privacy Guard which you can enable on a per-app basis. It allows you to use the app and lock it out of unwanted permissions without breaking the app functionality.
corresation 13y ago
By contrast, in iOS, I can choose which apps have access to my location, contacts, etc. Could you detail the "etc"? To my knowledge historically the only activity that triggered a permission confirmation was a precise location fix. Later, after a debacle with many apps siphoning and scurrilously offloading contact lists, contact access was added as a confirmation. Android has very granular permissions, and iOS does not. If you don't like the requests of an app, the general option is not to install it. Such is exactly what I've done with a number of small vendor apps -- if you demand anything that you don't need, I don't install. Of course on the flip side Android, be design, allows for much tighter integration and leveraging between apps and the OS, so there are more interesting opportunities, both for good and bad. But those, too, are covered under permissions.
- neilkimmett 13y ago
  In iOS7 you can granularly allow/disallow apps access to: location services, contacts, calendars, reminders, photos, bluetooth sharing, microphone, motion activity (iPhone 5S and new iPads only) The first time an app tries to access any of the above you will be asked whether to grant it permission or not. You can then edit this preferences in Settings.app > Privacy
- mdorazio 13y ago
  Looking at the Settings area on my phone, it is possible in iOS 6 to set App-level permissions for: -Push Notifications -Location Services -Contacts -Calendars -Reminders -Photos -Bluetooth -Twitter Account Access -Facebook Account Access. Note that iOS7 may have added more.
  - FigBug 13y ago
    My only complaint is iOS apps know if the permission is denied, so every time you switch to them they can ask you to enable permissions which is annoying (Facebook messenger). I wish they just returned no data.
    - stanleydrew 13y ago
dublinben 13y ago
BlackBerry actually gave completely granular permission controls for every app you install, as far back as five years ago. It's a shame that neither iOS or Android have come anywhere close in that regard.

tomp 13y ago

So far, I've been an Android fan (I love the customizability and all), but if anything will make me buy an iPhone, it's this feature.

outworlder 13y ago

Do not expect Google to implement it anytime soon, due to the massive app breakage potential. Android's permission system looks good on the surface. However, there are so many required permissons nowadays that many users do not even check them anymore. And you can revoke specific permissions on an app by app basis. On iOS, developers are told not to rely on certain permissions being available, such as location. Some apps truly can't function without those, but they are supposed to warn the user, not crash.

e40 13y ago
Do not expect Google to implement it anytime soon, due to the massive app breakage potential. I run AppOps 4.3/4.4 rooted (so I use the "App Ops X" version internally), and I must say, I've restricted most of my non-system apps and I've never seen a single broken app. I think this potential is vastly overblown. EDIT: for example, in the official twitter app, I turn off these: * Location * Read contacts * Receieve SMS/MMS * Post notification * Wake lock Never had a single problem with the app.
jre 13y ago
As long as the disallowed permissions simply return empty results (or random stuff) for the API calls, I don't see how this can break apps.
- king_jester 13y ago
  AFAIK, AppOps doesn't do this, it throws a java exception when the app code attempts to use a permission that has been disabled. Depending on how the code is structured, you may or may not have your app break/crash.
barrkel 13y ago
There is almost zero app breakage potential. Because the implementation shouldn't be refusing permissions, it should simply be mocking them. Ask for a location? Mock it to an arbitrary location. Asking for contacts? Return an empty list, or a list with joe.smith@example.org. Etc.
- jackgavigan 13y ago
  > ..the implementation shouldn't be refusing permissions, it should simply be mocking them. Ask for a location? Mock it to an arbitrary location. Like 38° 53' 50.55", -77° 2' 14.51"
rahoulb 13y ago
This is somewhere where android fragmentation is truly an issue. iOS didn't have granular switchable permissions a couple of versions ago but as the OS moved forward so did the apps.

shrikant 13y ago

CyanogenMod has this killer feature called Privacy Guard which you can enable on a per-app basis. It allows you to use the app and lock it out of unwanted permissions without breaking the app functionality.

corresation 13y ago

By contrast, in iOS, I can choose which apps have access to my location, contacts, etc. Could you detail the "etc"? To my knowledge historically the only activity that triggered a permission confirmation was a precise location fix. Later, after a debacle with many apps siphoning and scurrilously offloading contact lists, contact access was added as a confirmation. Android has very granular permissions, and iOS does not. If you don't like the requests of an app, the general option is not to install it. Such is exactly what I've done with a number of small vendor apps -- if you demand anything that you don't need, I don't install. Of course on the flip side Android, be design, allows for much tighter integration and leveraging between apps and the OS, so there are more interesting opportunities, both for good and bad. But those, too, are covered under permissions.

neilkimmett 13y ago
In iOS7 you can granularly allow/disallow apps access to: location services, contacts, calendars, reminders, photos, bluetooth sharing, microphone, motion activity (iPhone 5S and new iPads only) The first time an app tries to access any of the above you will be asked whether to grant it permission or not. You can then edit this preferences in Settings.app > Privacy
mdorazio 13y ago
Looking at the Settings area on my phone, it is possible in iOS 6 to set App-level permissions for: -Push Notifications -Location Services -Contacts -Calendars -Reminders -Photos -Bluetooth -Twitter Account Access -Facebook Account Access. Note that iOS7 may have added more.
- FigBug 13y ago
  My only complaint is iOS apps know if the permission is denied, so every time you switch to them they can ask you to enable permissions which is annoying (Facebook messenger). I wish they just returned no data.
  - stanleydrew 13y ago

dublinben 13y ago

BlackBerry actually gave completely granular permission controls for every app you install, as far back as five years ago. It's a shame that neither iOS or Android have come anywhere close in that regard.