Google’s Android operating system is set to give users more detailed choices over what apps can access, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter remains private. That could include photos, contacts or location. An announcement of the change, which would put Android closer in line with Apple Inc.’s iOS, is expected for Google’s developer’s conference in San Francisco this month, one of the people said.
If there’s ever been a use case for ‘finally’, this is it. iOS gains Android features, Android gains iOS features. They pressure each other into becoming better, and we, all, benefit.
The Apples and Googles of this world might rather not have to deal with it, but isn’t competition beautiful?
hip hip
Given the way OEMs and mobile operators work, no one will get those changes in the foreseeable future.
Security only works when applied to the whole stack.
Use independent systems then, like Sailfish.
Your point however is correct when baseband firmware is concerned. That part is practically always untrustworthy in devices offered today.
Edited 2015-05-10 05:09 UTC
Maybe when their stores provide the applications I care about.
A bit ironic since
a) usually it’s ‘stores’ and ‘apps’ that leak actual information, and not the system
b) in fact, specially it’s ‘applications people care about’ that are worst offenders, which obviously won’t work when you try to limit their privileges in any sensible way,
c) i’d even say the very idea of having ‘their stores’ is what is wrong with the current stack, since they’re basically a frontend for monetizing your information, and as long as that is the goal, no real privacy is possible.
A mobile OS without the applications I need is a brick.
I remember there was one in the early kitkat version, yet they removed it rather quickly. I dream of such tool that acts like a permission proxy per app, so that you can fine tune what you want the application gain control or not on a usage basis.
It’s still available in AOSP- and CM-based custom ROMs. And I believe there’s even an Xposed module to re-enable it on OEM versions of Android.
On most custom ROMs, it’s located under:
Settings –> Privacy –> Privacy Guard
You pick which permissions each individual app is allowed, and which permissions are given “blank” or “anonymous” data. And you can configure it to either silently deny, or show a pop-up when an app requests that permission.
This. “App Ops” is amazing. And if the EU knew about it, it’d be a human right to have.
I can flip off access to everything. Even by default. If you install an app on a regular phone it can read anything it wants and send it to the moon. Custom android rom says NO.
When it comes to two mega corporations, I think your ‘competition’ is more of a backroom handshake. What ever looksgood for business.
Giving more choice/control over access settings “would put Android closer in line with Apple Inc.’s iOS“?
Now, there’s only one thing I can say t that: W.T.F.
iOS as the poster child of providing more choice, right.
Some stuff s better in IOS, some is bettr in Android, is that something new?!
Edited 2015-05-11 05:59 UTC
When Google and/or Apple(never happen) decide to let users block, they themselves from their incessant stalking, tracking, logging, perverse keyhole peeping and calling home, too, then that will be significant news and reason to crow. Until then it’s just a BS privacy in name only gesture akin to Coke and Pepsi keeping the smaller brands(nosy apps)off the shelves, hogging all the data for themselves then calling themselves heroes for the subterfuge play.
Anyone confident that the Cyanogenmod (Android fork) players, or any of the other alternative platforms will cede to leaving their customers to use their devices in peace and privacy, or are they just more intrusive scum wannabes waiting their turn at bending their customers over?
It certainly won’t come from Microsoft with anything they come up with on mobile either.
Don’t delude yourself, most CM users are spied on by Google as much as any vanilla Android user as soon as they install Google Services. Some are trying to go truly Google free and do not install Google Services AT ALL (no framework so no google apps no chrome no keep no cloud no backup no contact/calendar/drive/app sync without going through many extra loops to end up with a semi working solution, no assisted GPS, no Google Search, no Youtube).
Yeah, nobody does that in the real world. And to be honest, I’d rather have Google spy on me in exchange of all those services than have some third party game/app developer tracking my contacts for marketing (and reselling) purposes…
Personally I disable all syncing with Google, they do not need to know my appointments or my text notes, but I’ve stopped lying to myself thinking they can’t if they wanted to and I’ve been much happier ever since.
Edited 2015-05-12 00:07 UTC
Not to be too off-topic, but I can imagine at least one case where it would be more appropriate.
Specifically, Modula-2 when the ISO standard was finished (1996). It added finalization via the keyword “FINALLY”. (Also, that standard took way too long to come out, or so I hear.) “Did you hear that they published the ISO 10514 standard?” “ISO Modula-2? FINALLY!” 😛
On a more serious note, you could also imagine someone saying that when GM2 (GNU Modula-2) reached 1.0 status back in 2010. “GCC supports ISO Modula-2? FINALLY!”
Actually, it was a forked version of GCC 4.1.2, and while he’s migrated to 4.7.4 by now, it’s still not included with GCC by default. So when (or if) that day ever comes (and was indeed his intention, AFAIK), then you’ll hear me say it. But not until then.
Relevant links (for fellow nerds):
http://www.excelsior-usa.com/doc/xds/xc11.html#508
http://lwn.net/Articles/420006/
http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/gm2/2015-04/msg00004.html