Flashlight apps

[qbspy]

So I was reading an article on CNN money, about apps taking too much info from people, without their understanding. Trese Bros save us! Another reason to go Patreon, but I digress. They mentioned my flashlight app, and it asks too much. I figure that a flashlight app couldn't be too hard to program, but I don't know. Why they aren't manufacturer installed I don't know. Maybe Cory and fallen could make a no permission flashlight app? I'd settle for Trese ads at the bottom even. Call it the Trese torch or something. Could you guys do this fallen?

[dayan]

It might be more complicated than it seems to pull off. They have so much to do already.

[fallen]

qbspy - hahah, funny idea. We've got to focus on our strong-suit, games

[tenbsmith]

I understand TB's wanting to focus on their passion.

But, qbspy (does that stand for quarter back spy) has a good idea. An app company with a reputation for protecting their customers and charging reasonable prices. The company would have to be in it for the long haul, but that could work.

Anyhow, I use DriodLight, was that on the list of offenders? It was created by Motorola, has no adds, is very simple, and doesn't take much memory.

[qbspy]

tenbsmith I didn't see droid light on there. Yep, quarterback spy.
fallen I respect TBG's position, but imagine the second Trese Bros app with 50 million downloads.

[AA]

Yeah i've never seen any dev put this much time into there games before

[AA]

Nov 6, 2014 14:59:57 GMT -5 qbspy said:

So I was reading an article on CNN money, about apps taking too much info from people, without their understanding. Trese Bros save us! Another reason to go Patreon, but I digress. They mentioned my flashlight app, and it asks too much. I figure that a flashlight app couldn't be too hard to program, but I don't know. Why they aren't manufacturer installed I don't know. Maybe Cory and fallen could make a no permission flashlight app? I'd settle for Trese ads at the bottom even. Call it the Trese torch or something. Could you guys do this fallen?

and don't you mean no unnecessary permissions?

[qbspy]

As few as reasonably possible. I'm not a programmer, but I know 85% of these "devs", force unnecessary permissions on you.

[AA]

I wouldn't say 85% but most if them do yes

[Cory Trese]

Part of the challenge comes from developers depending on third party suppliers. You want top notch game analytic? Install this library -- which requires permission X, Y and Z. Developer has little control over what the library does.

We have made some tough compromises ourselves, choosing privacy over features, to keep our permissions low. When you get into multiplayer games, it's hard to avoid a dozen intrusive permissions.

The question isn't about the permissions, but about what the developer is doing with them. Are they using access to the contact list to facilitate their "invite to play" menu ONLY? or are they using that permission to download your list and store it on a server?

[tenbsmith]

That's really interesting about the third party suppliers.

And a good point about permissions and how they are used. But, as a consumer it's easy for me to see what permissions are being asked, but difficult to know how they will be used.

[AA]

Thats what i meant by unnecessary permissions

[qbspy]

Seems like android has it's weaknesses. God Bless TBG, and all the good work they've been doing. I trust you guys.

[Cory Trese]

Well, at least on Android you know what permissions the application has. iOS has a much different ecosystem, with Apple attempting to make all the right choices for you. I'm not sure which is better, but they are different.

[qbspy]

I would go android. It's like politics isn't it? I did tell someone yesterday that I don't trust anyone who can photograph the planet.