Amazon Underground

[JTsyo]

Looks like Amazon is taking another stab at grabbing customers from Google Play. With the way the Fire phone flopped, guess they need something else to tap into the Android marketplace.

From what I read, there's no in-app purchases for the apps listed and Amazon picks up the tab for the minutes played.

 

[zardthebuilder]

i guess amazon will make their money or derive value from the data they collect. the list of permissions is astounding. i don't think i will install this on my phone or tablet. if i ever buy a game-specific tablet, underground might be okay.

 

[007ELmO]

what does game-specific tablet even mean

 

[zardthebuilder]

a tablet that only has games on it so that amazon won't get much other data about me. turn on when i play a game. turn off when i'm done. no e-mail, no web surfing, no location, no trading, no shopping, etc.

 

[JTsyo]

i guess amazon will make their money or derive value from the data they collect. the list of permissions is astounding. i don't think i will install this on my phone or tablet. if i ever buy a game-specific tablet, underground might be okay.

I tried on my Kindle and it's not available. Guess it's just plain android.

 

[balloonshark]

a tablet that only has games on it so that amazon won't get much other data about me. turn on when i play a game. turn off when i'm done. no e-mail, no web surfing, no location, no trading, no shopping, etc.

I know where you're coming from. I just bought a kindle fire that will only be used for game books for a relative.

What's worse is I may have to have a "game specific" Windows 10 computer and then dual boot linux or have another linux machine for personal use.

Here is a list of Underground's permissions. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-com-Amazon-Underground/dp/B004GJDQT8#mas-app-permissions

• com.amazon.mas.client.install.KICKOFF_INSTALL_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Access platform metrics
• Call the single sign-on provider
• com.amazon.mas.client.CONTENT_PROVIDER_READ_com.amazon.mShop.android
• com.amazon.mas.client.install.RECEIVE_INSTALL_STATE_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Install packages
• Access customer attributes
• Access coarse (e.g., Cell-ID, Wi-Fi) location
• com.amazon.mas.client.authentication.permission.DEREGISTRATION_BROADCAST_PERMISSION_com.amazon.mShop.android
• PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming
• Access information about Wi-Fi networks
• Manage the list of accounts in the AccountManager
• Allows an application to receive messages via Google Cloud Messaging
• Receive broadcast intents from in-app purchasing
• Access device credentials
• Receive updates when Amazon app settings have changed
• com.amazon.mShop.android.permission.MAPS_RECEIVE
• com.amazon.mas.client.GLOBAL_BROADCAST_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Read permission settings
• Get notifications of permission changes
• Manage regional settings
• Record audio
• Change Wi-Fi connectivity state
• Open network sockets
• Install an app update
• Read account changes
• Read the user's contacts data
• Access the flashlight
• Access the list of accounts in the Accounts Service
• Act as an AccountAuthenticator for the AccountManager
• com.amazon.mas.client.CONTENT_PROVIDER_READ
• Write to external storage
• Access fine (e.g., GPS) location
• com.amazon.mas.client.malware.blockedapp.BLOCKED_APP_PROVIDER_WRITE_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Allows an application to uninstall home screen shortcuts
• Access information about networks
• Get access to Appstore’s settings
• Delete packages
• Allows installation of home screen shortcuts
• Monitor incoming SMS messages, to record or perform processing on them
• Send SMS messages
• com.amazon.mas.client.install.CONTENT_PROVIDER_WRITE_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Generic permissions access
• Allows an application to read device settings
• Access to the authentication SDK
• com.amazon.mas.client.install.INSTALL_com.amazon.mShop.android
• Update configuration values
• Access the vibration feature
• com.amazon.mShop.android.getui.permission.GetuiService
• Access the Amazon video SDK
• Request authtokens from the AccountManager
• Required to be able to access the camera device
• Read from external storage
• Change account property
• Read only access to device state
• Communicate to Google Cloud Messenger (GCM)