Comments on: Why Google needs to fix Android’s image problem

By: John

John — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:49:14 +0000

That may well be true, but the tone of the article…

By: Bshane

Bshane — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:58:24 +0000

Photo-pilfering capabilities should alarm anyone who, like me, uses a bank where some basic transactions require account-holders to photograph and send documents bearing sensitive financial information.

By: Yahya Haque

Yahya Haque — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 01:40:21 +0000

I could not agree more Tom. It would be much better for everyone if developers and OS providers policed themselves in-regards to privacy. I just dont think it will happen. There is too much money to be made by scraping users personal information. I wrote a post on how the FTC with its new report is a precursor to regulation. Let me know what you think of it. http://blog.famigo.com/2012/02/the-ftc-app-developers-and-children/

By: Timmy

Timmy — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 22:46:32 +0000

O yeah… and those Path fiasco( many ios apps did that) and fake apps prove that there’s a big hole at app store either

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:47:35 +0000

There seems to be based. Having developed apps for both platforms, I can say that both are equally as bad. Neither of them are really good but not really bad either.

By: Tom Krazit

Tom Krazit — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:23:14 +0000

It’s more about the notion that Google requires app makers to declare their intent to do a lot of things (what app doesn’t want to access the Internet?), but doesn’t require them to do this. It’s an oversight they should correct to be consistent.

I also think the situation different in the mobile era because apps are so disposable: people download and install apps without thinking about it quite as much because it’s so quick and easy to do so. That’s why Apple promises to review apps before they can be distributed, and why Google makes an app ask Android for permission before allowing that app to do anything.

By: Jeff Kibuule

Jeff Kibuule — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:12:58 +0000

What I really don’t get is that computers have had this power for YEARS. You should be suspicious of ANY app you install because it has access to your entire freaking hard drive.

By: Relwal

Relwal — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:57:56 +0000

It’s important to recognize this business of rogue apps uploading your photos for nefarious purposes is all hypothetical. Unlike the iOS Path adress book fiasco, there aren’t any examples of any programs stealing your photos, nor has anyone articulated any reason why they wood.

Google should certainly add a permission for reading SD card data or more specifically photos.

By: David Longfellow

David Longfellow — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:13:01 +0000

The only image problem Android has ever had is the false created by Apple fanboi journalists.

By: JAy.

JAy. — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:28:22 +0000

So, if I want to get copies of your photos, I write a timer app which has user-changeable wallpaper. Then I can request access to your photos. I can put several different chime tones on-line for users to choose (to reduce download size), so I need internet access. Then I do something totally different than what the user expects.

Change the rules all you want, but it is almost impossible to prevent creeps from being creepy.