News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on I'm sick to death of Android. Parent comment

Re:I'm sick to death of Android by nextparadigms on Thursday March 29, 2012 @01:51AM (#3769819)
That's probably so you can call phone numbers for businesses from inside Google Maps, without having to ask for permission at that point each time. I doubt it means it can call on its own.

But even so, I agree that the permission system is so generic and creepy, and sometimes you freak out when you see some (probably harmless) permissions, because you don't really know what to expect, and you don't know what kind of power Google has given to developers through these permissions.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:I'm sick to death of Android by wladimir on Thursday March 29, 2012 @02:00AM (#3769849)
Yes that's what it's probably for, I've found this discussion: http://www.wirelessforums.org/uk-telecom-mobile/latest-googl...

Though others claim that for calling it launches the phone app, and doesn't call out itself...

Anyway -- it is just a pretty harmless example. Some games are much worse. I don't have time to research or decompile all interesting apps to see what they are doing with a certain permission.

I never call from my map, so don't want to grant it. It may also use the permission for calling premium/foreign numbers behind my back and cramming my cellphone bill. I don't like the "Accept it all or leave" approach.

[ Parent | on HN ]