Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by dave1010uk on Sunday January 27, 2013 @02:27AM
(#5123538)
One thing that I dislike about native apps over web apps is there is no way to tell how securely credentials are being passed over wifi or a mobile network. With websites you can make sure the connection is HTTPS from the browser and be pretty sure no one who can sniff your network traffic can see what you're doing.
I'd hope that in this day and age every native app, especially those of a banking nature, is using HTTPS where appropriate but (without sniffing your own network) there is no way to tell.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by james4k on Sunday January 27, 2013 @03:23AM
(#5123645)
Then why was it accepted in the first place?
Edit: I know they've redacted apps after release plenty of times in the past, but it clearly involves bitcoin and they clearly have a stance on that, so chances are good that it was a calculated decision.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by nwh on Sunday January 27, 2013 @06:17AM
(#5123911)
There's a lot of similar apps on the app store that let you view accounts / exchange rates, just not take part in transfers. It seems they are allowed, just not ones that allow trading.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by redegg on Sunday January 27, 2013 @01:46AM
(#5123447)
Even though I use Coinbase for buying/selling, I would not trust them to store my moderate balance of Bitcoins.
Their hot-wallet dependency and my storage of coins at a central location simply does not give me enough assurance my coins will be safe there for a significant amount of time.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by mrb on Sunday January 27, 2013 @02:16AM
(#5123526)
What are you talking about? Coinbase proudly explained their internal safety precautions, explaining that most of their coins are stored in a cold wallet, not hot wallet.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by redegg on Sunday January 27, 2013 @02:39AM
(#5123565)
I should have stated I don't trust my coins in the hands of others.
Bitcoin, unlike other currencies are irreversible. You have one, and only one chance to keep them safe.
I rather be content with the loss of Bitcoins in my possession, _knowing it was my fault_, than losing them to a thief holding Coinbase's staff at gunpoint for the offline wallet's private keys.
Re:Coinbase releases iPhone app
by dustcoin on Sunday January 27, 2013 @04:50AM
(#5123782)
I trust Coinbase with a small amount of coins. Similar to how no one walks around with all of their USD as cash in their wallet, it makes sense to only fund an mobile app/third-party wallet with enough bitcoins for convenient spending. Long-term savings should be stored encrypted and offline.
I'd hope that in this day and age every native app, especially those of a banking nature, is using HTTPS where appropriate but (without sniffing your own network) there is no way to tell.
"Can't actually send money from this app"
"I can't add funds or send anything."
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id588530550?mt=8
http://blog.coinbase.com/
Edit: I know they've redacted apps after release plenty of times in the past, but it clearly involves bitcoin and they clearly have a stance on that, so chances are good that it was a calculated decision.
Examples:
http://www.bitpak.com/?p=34
https://blockchain.info/wallet/iphone-app
http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/5386/why-isnt-bit...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmatonis/2012/06/13/why-apple-...
Their hot-wallet dependency and my storage of coins at a central location simply does not give me enough assurance my coins will be safe there for a significant amount of time.
Bitcoin, unlike other currencies are irreversible. You have one, and only one chance to keep them safe.
I rather be content with the loss of Bitcoins in my possession, _knowing it was my fault_, than losing them to a thief holding Coinbase's staff at gunpoint for the offline wallet's private keys.