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You still have to approve permissions during the app installation on Android. Its made pretty clear exactly what is being accessed.

by nness 12y ago

amake 12y ago
You really think anyone looks at that, much less OP's father?
- gohrt 12y ago
  Presumably OP's father doesn't pay more attention to iOS privacy settings, then.
  - emsy 12y ago
    Consider this: You really want a flashlight app. You go download the app and see a list of permissions. You really just want to have a light so you go ahead and click okay. Now on iOS, you download the app and open it. A dialog pops up that says: "May DubiousFlashlight access your contacts?" Of course you tap no. Your contacts are safe and the flashlight still works. I think the main problem is that on Android, it's the standard that most app will have need a ridiculous list of permissions. Just look at the permissions of the topmost entries for basic apps like barcode readers, flashlights, compasses and so on. Now try the same on iOS and look what permissions you will be asked for, and which permissions you will need to actually use the app. Imo, iOS protects the average user much better than Android.
    - dublinben 12y ago
      This is only the case on the crap-infested, ad-riddled Play Store. On a market like F-Droid, where the apps respect your freedom, they also respect your privacy much more. The flashlight apps available there only require the permissions they need, and don't collect any kind of personal information.
      - pessimizer 12y ago
        This is both true and irrelevant for the vast majority of users, who will do what they're sold.
  - amake 12y ago
    I disagree. As a user of both platforms, iOS's privacy settings are clearer (each permission is requested separately) and more granular (not all-or-nothing). I do not read through the massive list of permissions every app requires when installing on Android. On iOS I do think about whether or not I want to give an app a permission when it asks for it.
- jasonlotito 12y ago
  Yes. To answer your obvious follow up, yes, from people not in tech.
outworlder 12y ago
That's completely different. Even if you take the time to sift through the list of permissions, you haven't installed the app yet, so it is completely unclear what the app needs the permissions for. On iOS, you are using the app already and will be prompted when it tries to access a resource. Given the app context, it is much easier to understand why that permission is being requested. I have a bunch of apps on Android that I haven't updated precisely because they are asking for new permissions and I have no clue why. Maybe if I could see new functionality I'd be able to understand why they need more permissions now. I am a developer. An ordinary user will either not care or not understand this.

You still have to approve permissions during the app installation on Android. Its made pretty clear exactly what is being accessed.

by nness 12y ago

You still have to approve permissions during the app installation on Android. Its made pretty clear exactly what is being accessed.

amake 12y ago

You really think anyone looks at that, much less OP's father?

gohrt 12y ago
Presumably OP's father doesn't pay more attention to iOS privacy settings, then.
- emsy 12y ago
  Consider this: You really want a flashlight app. You go download the app and see a list of permissions. You really just want to have a light so you go ahead and click okay. Now on iOS, you download the app and open it. A dialog pops up that says: "May DubiousFlashlight access your contacts?" Of course you tap no. Your contacts are safe and the flashlight still works. I think the main problem is that on Android, it's the standard that most app will have need a ridiculous list of permissions. Just look at the permissions of the topmost entries for basic apps like barcode readers, flashlights, compasses and so on. Now try the same on iOS and look what permissions you will be asked for, and which permissions you will need to actually use the app. Imo, iOS protects the average user much better than Android.
  - dublinben 12y ago
    This is only the case on the crap-infested, ad-riddled Play Store. On a market like F-Droid, where the apps respect your freedom, they also respect your privacy much more. The flashlight apps available there only require the permissions they need, and don't collect any kind of personal information.
    - pessimizer 12y ago
      This is both true and irrelevant for the vast majority of users, who will do what they're sold.
- amake 12y ago
  I disagree. As a user of both platforms, iOS's privacy settings are clearer (each permission is requested separately) and more granular (not all-or-nothing). I do not read through the massive list of permissions every app requires when installing on Android. On iOS I do think about whether or not I want to give an app a permission when it asks for it.
jasonlotito 12y ago
Yes. To answer your obvious follow up, yes, from people not in tech.

outworlder 12y ago

That's completely different. Even if you take the time to sift through the list of permissions, you haven't installed the app yet, so it is completely unclear what the app needs the permissions for. On iOS, you are using the app already and will be prompted when it tries to access a resource. Given the app context, it is much easier to understand why that permission is being requested. I have a bunch of apps on Android that I haven't updated precisely because they are asking for new permissions and I have no clue why. Maybe if I could see new functionality I'd be able to understand why they need more permissions now. I am a developer. An ordinary user will either not care or not understand this.