App Opps

I had just listened to All About Android episode 140 and within the first 10 minutes, they had a discussion about App Opps. They cover it well but in summary, it's an application that brings a set of hidden options forward that went from Android 4.3 through Android 4.4.1. I do take advantage of it and I will go further.

At 6:30 in the podcast, they ask Daniel Bader his opinion of whether Google should allow it to remain or not. His answer is "no." His reasons are because it's a "framework debugger," meant only for developers. He feels that we should not have access to it because it can break applications that require permissions for certain features (e.g.: a mapping application needs access to the GPS. Daniel also feels that due to the open nature of Android, there is a play between users and developers that allow users to "get up [the] ass" of developers that have extra permissions.

I can sympathize with the desire to keep it for developers only. Access to it through the Play Store does open it to a broad audience, including some that would break their own phones and expect someone else to fix it. However, this doesn't mean it should be removed. I would pose that it could be moved to the developer's options in the phone. With the hidden aspect to these options, it will reduce the amount of people accessing them who shouldn't. More often, it will then be accessed by people who can make informed decisions and understand that they can temporarily break their phone this way (most things will come back with a wipe).

I do not agree that breaking apps is necessarily a bad thing. Sure, you can make that cool new app you got useless. Whoops... go back and re-enable that permission. I would say that in some cases it is good that you can make these decisions yourself. For instance: why should I allow an app such as a game or a remote control access to my contact information or SMS? In this case, I say break it (though most likely it won't actually do anything to the app).

Last but not least is the interplay between developers and their users. In a perfect world, a developer would explain why an app needs a particular permission (excluding obvious-to-the-layman type such as Maps/GPS). However, the reality is that the developer is under no onus to do such a thing. The user could then go find an alternative app that would do the same, right? Not necessarily. If the app is meant to run a particular piece of hardware, then it is up to the hardware/app developer to make the app and will most likely not open the API. Then you have no choice.

What brought this on is that I am a user of App Opps. I specifically downloaded the app when I found out what permissions were asked from the developer of my PocketTV remote app. Specifically, I don't understand why it should be able to read my contacts or receive SMS messages. I just want to control my PocketTV. I acknowledge that it may never actually read my contacts or receive SMS. I acknowledge that I didn't immediately contact the developer and ask "why." However, I feel that it is unfair for them to require it for me to be able to use the app. Nor do I want to offer the opportunity for the information to be read because once read and potentially copied to their server, it's out of my control further. Instead, I wish the right to choose what company has what information (as much as this post-Snowden world allows).

I wanted to make a statement in my own voice as to how I feel; this is my opinion. I currently have comments on but moderated. I cannot promise to be online at all times to moderate but feel free to contact me via Twitter or the Contact bar above if you would like to say something.