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Question

app research

Mar 30, 2015 2:11AM PDT

Is there a site that anyone uses that has a list of available apps with a table of permissions it demands and ratings?

Say for example I decide I want to find an app on the play store that allows me to play spades. It would be helpful if there were a site I could go to and see a list of the 20 or whatever number of apps there are that allows one to play spades and the pemissions that each requires. I could scroll down and know which ones I do or do not want to try without wasting a lot of time reading through the license agreements of all 20 to find out which ones demand permissions a spades game has no business having and which ones only ask for permissions that would normally be considered reasonable.

For example I found one that was good but requested permission to my music and media files. I see no reason it needs to know I listen to Barry Manilow or the video I made of my kids playing.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Not yet.
Mar 30, 2015 2:18AM PDT

But I did find a card game with such permissions. It was required since the app could post screen caps of "achievements." To do that it would need that permission.
Bob

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Why?
Mar 30, 2015 5:59AM PDT

I am confused by your answer.

Why would a card game need to know what music files were on your phone in order to post a screen cap of achievements? What possible impact could the presence or absence of say a Barry Manilow album have on whether you achieved anything in a card game? If it stores my achievements on the SD card it needs selective permission to write to a folder on my SD card. It does not need full permission to read all the contents of my SD card or permission to delete all contents of my SD card. As owners of our devices we should be able to selectively specify what the app can see or not see.

To me it is like someone coming to my hope to install an air conditioner. They need access to the attic where my duct work is and access to where my AC units are located. But if they said they also needed access to my file cabinets and dresser drawers the answer would be no. Should be able to say no to any app that asks for access to something I do not want them to mess with.

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To answer
Mar 30, 2015 6:02AM PDT

We would have to dive into Android's permission system. "Media" file permission could be needed to share a screencap shot that was in the media folder. Since that's a folder or area and not a file by file permission, you can see the permission issue.

Maybe this is the wrong OS for you? That is, you don't see this in iOS. In fact do you see a file browser for iOS?

See how the design differs?
Bob

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thank you
Mar 30, 2015 12:50PM PDT

I do follow you now. Thanks for the expanded explanation.

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PS. About me.
Mar 30, 2015 6:08AM PDT

I write a few apps so I can see under the hood. It doesn't mean I can explain it that well but I see the OS and what it was built on. iOS may be better for you.
Bob

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better than most
Mar 30, 2015 12:52PM PDT

I have found you explain things better than most. Thanks again.