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Also, there's no way to download an app but deny it some permissions. iOS gets this right: apps don't get to ask for any permissions when you download them, the

Also, there's no way to download an app but deny it some permissions. iOS gets this right: apps don't get to ask for any permissions when you download them, they have to request them at runtime and the user can deny any of them (and the app is still expected to function)

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago
This was briefly added in Android 4.something, but Google removed it.
- digi_owl 12y ago
  Appops. Supposedly there as a test system for apps. I guess to see if they would crash in case of malformed data from sensors etc. Some OEMs, like Huawei, offer similar functionality on their products.
  - heywire 12y ago
    It is possible to "activate" this functionality on some phones as well. I have it enabled on my Samsung Galaxy S4, which is rooted, but otherwise is running the stock ROM (though not by choice).
- on_and_off 12y ago
  It was a test tool and supposed to be hidden : you had to enter its Intent directly in order to launch it (if I remember well, they had also forgotten to hide it as a menu choice when creating a widget shortcut to the settings in one android subversion). Even if they repackaged it as a proper app (it really showed that AppOps was a test tool, the interface was pretty primitive), I don't see the point. Permission revocation is not that useful against an app like Facebook that will use its permissions to access your private data as soon as it is installed. What we need here is granular permission granting. Apps start with only inoffensive permission (bluetooth access ? internet ? I guess some reflection on what these base permissions should be would be needed) and only gain access to your private data (mail, contacts, calendar, ...) if they ask for it and you grant it to them. That way, apps can only collect your data if you let them.
digi_owl 12y ago
The basic problem is likely that google is in the data gathering business. This to provide ever more targeted ads. Thus they can't have someone block all data going in or out of the device.
- TheCapn 12y ago
  Possibly tiers of permissions then? I know apps I've written will not work without a network connection: they're useless without it so to put that as a "required" feature is necessary. However, I do like ease-of-use features like telling the person they don't have their wifi network enabled or something which requires a different permission but totally optional. Lots of apps want access to folders of pictures and accounts which I assume to be for "sharing" and "social" features I never use. I'd love to disable those manually but currently don't have an avenue to do so. Of course apps could still set everything to "required" but at least the option for consumer choice is there.
freshhawk 12y ago
If you have root you can install XPrivacy, which allows you to deny (or provide fake data) for any app/permission combination. You have to jump through some hoops to install it because obviously Google doesn't like to encourage this kind of control over your phone, but it's there and I can't imagine using an android phone without it.

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago

This was briefly added in Android 4.something, but Google removed it.

digi_owl 12y ago
Appops. Supposedly there as a test system for apps. I guess to see if they would crash in case of malformed data from sensors etc. Some OEMs, like Huawei, offer similar functionality on their products.
- heywire 12y ago
  It is possible to "activate" this functionality on some phones as well. I have it enabled on my Samsung Galaxy S4, which is rooted, but otherwise is running the stock ROM (though not by choice).
on_and_off 12y ago
It was a test tool and supposed to be hidden : you had to enter its Intent directly in order to launch it (if I remember well, they had also forgotten to hide it as a menu choice when creating a widget shortcut to the settings in one android subversion). Even if they repackaged it as a proper app (it really showed that AppOps was a test tool, the interface was pretty primitive), I don't see the point. Permission revocation is not that useful against an app like Facebook that will use its permissions to access your private data as soon as it is installed. What we need here is granular permission granting. Apps start with only inoffensive permission (bluetooth access ? internet ? I guess some reflection on what these base permissions should be would be needed) and only gain access to your private data (mail, contacts, calendar, ...) if they ask for it and you grant it to them. That way, apps can only collect your data if you let them.

digi_owl 12y ago

The basic problem is likely that google is in the data gathering business. This to provide ever more targeted ads. Thus they can't have someone block all data going in or out of the device.

TheCapn 12y ago
Possibly tiers of permissions then? I know apps I've written will not work without a network connection: they're useless without it so to put that as a "required" feature is necessary. However, I do like ease-of-use features like telling the person they don't have their wifi network enabled or something which requires a different permission but totally optional. Lots of apps want access to folders of pictures and accounts which I assume to be for "sharing" and "social" features I never use. I'd love to disable those manually but currently don't have an avenue to do so. Of course apps could still set everything to "required" but at least the option for consumer choice is there.

freshhawk 12y ago

If you have root you can install XPrivacy, which allows you to deny (or provide fake data) for any app/permission combination. You have to jump through some hoops to install it because obviously Google doesn't like to encourage this kind of control over your phone, but it's there and I can't imagine using an android phone without it.