Tuesday 25 December 2012

Bright screen light

I just need a simple app to show a white full screen in maximum brightness. It does not need any permission at all. Back then, I just cannot find one which does not require any permission (Why they need to read phone ID?). Hence, this one is developed and shared.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=my.lisekodroid.bslight

Android app permission

I'm an android device user, turn android developer. May be it just me but it is seems plenty of android apps requires unnecessary permissions from the user. Which made the users uncomfortable of their android device's security if them are conscious about it.

E.g. Firefox Browser for Android requires "take pictures and videos" permission. Then take a look at the stock android browser. It doesn't need that. For a browser to take pictures and videos just seem doing a bit more too seamlessly. In PC term, a browser just need to allow picture and video files selections from the gallery for uploading, that's it. Anyhow, we trust Mozilla.org, don't we?

Thankfully, there still a handful of apps doing what they do best without requiring any 'extra' permissions. Remember Microsoft advocates of "Defense in dept"?

Here some example apps which require permissions (or not at all) just right enough to get things done:
Root Explorer
Rebooter
CPU Memory Monitor
Steady Compass (Great! no permission required.)


Why some apps need "Phone calls - Read phone status and ID"?

Should android app permission structure organize to a more detail segregation? Ok, this app can read my phone status but not my phone ID, please?

Alternatively, the 'PDroid Privacy Protection' is a solution to these permission problems but it's installation requires custom ROM.