Android M bringing official granular permissions (App Ops)

[s44]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/05/27/android-m-to-introduce-granular-permission-control/

Surprised there isn't a thread for this yet.

It looks like I might finally be able to run pure stock without even Xposed (which is currently necessary for permissions control)...

 

[poofyhairguy]

I am curious how they roll this out. They have to find the careful balance between control and usability nightmare.

 

[cronos]

I am curious how they roll this out. They have to find the careful balance between control and usability nightmare.

Vista UAC on Android :awe:

 

[poofyhairguy]

Vista UAC on Android :awe:

 

[poofyhairguy]

You were making a joke but they basically moved to a Vista model of asking permissions when needed instead of at time of installation.

 

[s44]

Apparently only apps targeting M+ will work like this? So, useless for the near future.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Apparently only apps targeting M+ will work like this? So, useless for the near future.

How the hell would they do it otherwise? Just blanket break apps across the board?

 

[s44]

Same way custom ROMs and Xposed modules do it now: feed the app fake/empty data when disallowed.

It doesn't break apps.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Same way custom ROMs and Xposed modules do it now: feed the app fake/empty data when disallowed.

I am sure Android developers would love Google signing off on that "solution."

 

[mrochester]

Great to see Google finally catching up with Apple in this regard.

 

[dlock13]

You were making a joke but they basically moved to a Vista model of asking permissions when needed instead of at time of installation.

iOS has been doing this for years now as well, so it looks like it is something the general consumer wants on their device.

 

[poofyhairguy]

iOS has been doing this for years now as well, so it looks like it is something the general consumer wants on their device.

Looks like it.

 

[kpkp]

Apparently only apps targeting M+ will work like this? So, useless for the near future.

Users will be able to manage all apps permissions on M while on older OSes it will stay as it is.

 

[WelshBloke]

I bet this pisses facebook off mightily.

 

[Kneedragger]

This should have been in the last OS.. I've been using App Ops Starter for a while.

 

[mrochester]

This should have been in the last OS.. I've been using App Ops Starter for a while.

It should have been there from the start!

 

[s44]

I knew it was too good to be true:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/383rj8/dear_google_please_dont_give_flashlight_apps_my/

 

[sweenish]

So, I've actually used the M preview.

Went into facebook's permissions, turned off a couple, no problems.

You may not get asked at each permission's first go for a while, but they're still very much manageable.

 

[sweenish]

I knew it was too good to be true:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/383rj8/dear_google_please_dont_give_flashlight_apps_my/

What idiot post-Lollipop uses a flashlight app? Or better yet, what idiot uses one of those crappy flashlight apps?

They could have had a good argument, but used the dumbest example possible.

And then there's the massive over-reaction to simply having an email address. All coming from someone who willingly uses Google services.

 

[poofyhairguy]

So, I've actually used the M preview.

Went into facebook's permissions, turned off a couple, no problems.

You may not get asked at each permission's first go for a while, but they're still very much manageable.

Nice

 

[Kneedragger]

It should have been there from the start!

OK I can agree with that!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

What idiot post-Lollipop uses a flashlight app? Or better yet, what idiot uses one of those crappy flashlight apps?

Even better, is when the stock Android ROM upgrades itself without asking, includes an app that takes over your tablet, and mysterious flashlight apps just start appearing in your app drawer, with a label of "Settings".

Digiland Android tablet, sold by BestBuy - nothing but Chinese Spyware.

 

[Commodus]

As much as some Android users might not like following Apple, this is something the platform has needed for years. Outside of Google Play, there's a load of scamware that thrives on people not paying attention to the permissions an app wants. The sort of stuff that texts premium numbers in the background.

 

[ControlD]

I've been running custom ROMs so long I just sort of assumed Android already had this. I didn't realize it was something baked in after the fact.

 

[Red Storm]

Android M is looking really nice. I have no more interest in rooting or custom roms so it's nice to see this stuff come to stock Android. I've always felt they should be doing it the way it's done in iOS. Speaking of which, is there a way to revoke a specific permission in iOS?