MoodyBlues

My feelings exactly. When I signed up for FB years ago, I couldn't stand using it. From a programmer's perspective, its interface was clunky and non-intuitive, and all I could think about was "I'd change this, I'd change that." But, alas, I had no control over their programming.

Then I started finding out about the outrageous, covert sharing of its users' private/personal data, and that was that. I deleted my account and never looked back.

MoodyBlues

Same here.

No, I have nothing to hide. I don't want or need to hide behind some anonymous name so I can rant and rave and leave nasty reviews.

I'm a top reviewer on Amazon with a 98% helpful rating. I don't post reviews just for the fun of bashing someone/something. I actually think out whatever it is and post a thoughtful review; if the product deserves criticism, I write that, but my critical comments are far outweighed by my positive comments. And even when I do criticize something/someone, I do it nicely and respectfully. No, really, I know there are REAL people behind the products, and it's not my intent to hurt or embarrass them, but rather to inform them of whatever problems/shortcomings I may have encountered.

So forget about wanting to post nasty reviews while hiding in anonymity.

The thing is, I want to have the right/ability to control when/where something I post with any given account shows up. If I'm posting a review in the Android market, that's as far as it should go. I don't WANT my G+ account associated with my reviews for Android apps. It's not that I'm embarrassed or worried or anything. I simply do not WANT that association and its possible long-term ramifications--and I think it's perfectly reasonable that that should be my choice.

pmm75

I agree forcing anything like social networks on users is bad, like when you couldn't create a Spotify account without a Facebook account. However, what you write above I find very hard to believe would stand in any court in western world. On working hours, yes but on your free time, never.

FWIW, I also did a trial review. It shows my name but nothing in my stream which I guess is ok by me. Not preferred but I guess it makes other reviews more trustworthy in my eyes.

zuben el genub

If you are using a company issued phone you can be barred from using social networking on the phone even in your own time. On your own phone, no, they have no say. But with some companies demanding access to your social accounts, you could still have trouble. Some companies also demand you have a social account.

2 states just passed laws making this illegal. A school or company cannot ask for access to a private account.

I still think Google is doing this to one-up FB.

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Last edited by zuben el genub; January 3rd, 2013 at 09:05 AM.

MoodyBlues

Yep, I'm in one of them: California. It just went into effect on the 1st.

mjschmidt

Maybe you didn't read my post above? Maybe it was too long?

If you post an app review on the Play store it will NOT be posted to your G+ account.

If you post an app review on the Play store it will NOT be posted to your G+ account.

So, your concern was that it not go any farther than the Play store, and guess what... IT DOESN'T! Woot!

If you never post anything on Google+ (which is separate from what you post in the Play store) then there will be nothing there for anyone to see.

To all of you complaining about being forced to use Google+ I'll say it again (and after that I assume you're just trolling if you keep spouting misleading info)... YOU NEVER HAVE TO USE IT, EVEN IF YOU POST A REVIEW IN THE PLAY STORE.

To add a little perspective, this is like people complaining that their car came with a radio, because they don't like radio, they just want to listen to an MP3 player connected via bluetooth. You can still use your MP3 player, and you will NEVER need to use your radio.

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MoodyBlues

Maybe I worded it poorly. But I thought I was pretty clear that I don't want any ASSOCIATION between my G+ account and reviews I post in Android's market. The mere *FACT* that posting reviews in Android's market requires you use your G+ account means there *IS* an association between the two.

Then I guess I'm just missing something! Because the most recent times I started to write a review for an Android app, I was *REQUIRED* to have a G+ account in order to post. But you're saying that's not true. Okay...

Oh, wait! The Android play store is confused about this, too!

Look, this is what just came up when I tried to post a review:

"Google Play reviews now use Google+ so it’s easier to see opinions from people you care about.

New reviews will be publicly linked to your Google+ profile. Your name on previous reviews now appears as “A Google User.”

pmm75

I just read about that. I had no idea they would have right to do that in US in the first place. Well, this time the change is for better in those states

mjschmidt

Moody Blues, you have misunderstood.

They mean, by being linked, that if you click on the name link from your App review in the Play Store it will open your Google+ Profile page. That's what they mean.

If you post a review in the play store, it will NOT appear in your Google+ profile.

I know this, because I tested it. Just like I wrote in my first post here.

Anyone here can test it. Post a review, then go to Google+ and see if it shows up.

Yes, reviews are linked to Google+.

No, they do not appear on Google+.

If you never post anything on Google+, people who click on your name from the app review link will not see anything!

That fact that the G+ account exists does not force you to use it.

The ONLY difference between now, and previous to this change, is that it will now use the name that is linked to your GOOGLE account... NOT to your Google+ account, but your GOOGLE account (ie. Gmail) because that is where Google+ will get the name... from your Gmail account.

sntaylor

Doesn't Google automatically create a Google+ account for everyone who has a Gmail account? It uses all the same details and data, like mjschmidt has said, there is no requirement to actually use g+, essentially, when leaving a review, all it is doing is linking that review to your current account that you are logged in on?

If you want complete annonominoty(sp?) Create a new account, and download new apps from it, to leave feedback. It will mean you have to add two accounts every time you reset or change phones etc, but if that's what you want!

It's not like Google force you to pay for things, you don't like it, you don't use it....if you wanna leave the developer feedback, email them!?

Bob Maxey

Isn't part of their TOS a provision that lets them change it from time to time? Besides, what do they care . . . few people compared to the whole actually read the TOS/EULA. They click "yes" so they can get in and get going.

xelanor

I hate google+ and gmail it has to be integrated in every single one of googles new websites or services..

mjschmidt

Well, there's always iPhone or Windows Phone. ;-) of course those are both eco-systems as well, just like Android & Google have become.

You can use an Android device without a Gmail account. It just means you will need to side-load all your apps.

myrecek

Hi

Have some application developers noticed a decline in amount of reviews they received since this change? I assume some does, I would like to know how big is this decline.

Slug

Related topics merged.

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JAy3001

Because I do not want to be a member of a social networking site, so why should I be forced to join one just to review an app?

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JAy3001

I have been looking into the very same for a while now. Firstly I looked at an iPhone, but I refuse to pay £34+ pm for a phone. So I thought a Win8 phone would be good, but there are issues..

Firstly you cannot set a different background image (not a big thing for me),
Secondly it appears there are issues setting custom ringtones, (I cannot confim this tho)
And thirdly, you CANNOT move any apps/games to the SD Card. You can only put media on them, athough you can download games/apps to an SD Card and install them from it.

Also, least we not forget it you buy a 4GB internal memory Win8 phone.. Around 2.8GB is used by the OS. Leaving only 1.2GB for apps/games?! This brings back terror memorys of my Desire and when you could not move to SD Card!

So reluctantly I have gone with another Android phone, I will just not rate or review any apps/games anymore. Mind you, you know what Googles next step will be? Forcing you to signin or create a G+ account when you first setup your phone?

pmm75

You do not really have to be "a member". I know it irritated people back when Spotify required a Facebook account but eventually they created dummy accounts to get around it. If you are in Android, you probably have Gmail already and G+ is just few clicks away. Do not add picture, connect to no people, keep it hidden and essentially you are not a member of a social network.

mjschmidt

No one is forcing you to use it. It's basically a "profile" page as part of the Android/Google eco-system.

Think of it this way... do you have a job? Do they deduct taxes from your paycheque? Guess what, you're part of a social network, even if you never use the services paid for with your taxes.

Or do you not pay taxes?

FLAWLESSVW

My irritation with this is very simple:
I just don't WANT the "extra baggage" of a G+ account.

I am fine with the Play store knowing exactly who I am when I post a review.
I even have a FB account which I use very infrequently to KIT with people in different states and usually only sign on when I get an email.

I just don't WANT or NEED another social networking account. Even having something sitting there unused bothers me in general. OCD, idk.

It's just dumb...I can't even think of a good analogy it's so dumb. Maybe like saying I MUST have a Turbo Tax account in order to sign on to my local bank's website or something. I have another way of doing my taxes, don't want a Turbo Tax account!!!

Yeah, no more reviews from me which is a shame because I used to try and provide helpful/objective reviews. Bad move.

JAy3001

Sorry, I still do not agree with having to use g+ just to review apps. What is the point in having 100's or 1000's of empty or dead g+ accounts?

But there is no point it talking about this as this is what Google wants and that's what they get. On a side note, as I setup my new phone it even prompted me to create a g+ account as I retrieved my Gmail account.

Gmash

The point is Google gets to pad their stats to make Google+ look popular vs Facebook, even if people aren't actually using their account.

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paulbates

Sadly the devs lose out. I'm holding back my ratings and telling the devs sorry and why via email/site. If enough resist and tell the devs they will raise hell

pmm75

That's a bit contradictory, isn't it? If you create a G+ account to write reviews, you are actually using it, not just a part of some padding.

I see it more like your profile page in whole Google system, not as something that requires you to link to people and chat with them. Now is it good to force real name use, that's debatable.

mjschmidt

Okay, I'm still seeing some people here who don't quite understand how this works.

You do NOT have to create a Google+ account to leave reviews. The fact is, when you have a Google account for Android, by default a Google+ account is created for you. What's happening now is that your reviews are being linked to that account.

So what you are failing to realize is that even if you never leave another review in the play store, YOU STILL HAVE A GOOGLE+ ACCOUNT!

As long as you are using an Android device with a Google Account (ie. Gmail) you also, BY DEFAULT, have a Google+ profile page.

You can delete your Google+ account, however it is not clear whether or not this just deletes content you have posted to Google+, but leaves the "profile", or if it deletes your profile page as well.

You also have the option of deleting your Google Profile, but I have no idea how this will affect any other Google products you use, or even how it will affect the use of your Android device.

To get there, log in to Gmail. Go to your account settings (See your account name/icon in the top right corner? Click on your icon, then click on Account). > From the Account Overview page click on Google+ from the menu on the left side. > Scroll down to the bottom and you will see a section called "Disable Google+".

Again, you will have two options, deleting Google+ content, or your Google profile, and I have NO idea what that will do to your other products. You have been warned.

Once more, to those of you saying you won't leave reviews because you don't want to have a Google+ account... even if you never leave another review, you still have a Google+ profile page.

zuben el genub

I don't have a profile with Google now. I didn't use my right name, they have location only by GPS, they don't have birthday or gender. All they have is name, phone,and carrier (only one phone) and I like it that way. I don't feel like being pestered about a profile or posting.

I have both FB and Twitter accounts - FB only for those devs who put their customer service or web site there. Twitter only follows Mars Rovers. I keep getting email as to why I don't post. Google Play managed to hide the logout menu on the computer for a couple of weeks with a big pesty notice about joining +. I know I don't have to use it, but it's the principle of the thing. I prefer this site to either FB or Twitter. I don't have people who might have a general interest pestering to be friends, most of the posts stay on topic. I'd want an "eff-off" button as I'm not interested in half of those "people you might know" pitches.

paulbates

I know I still have a Google + account. The point is I don't care for the fact that having a + account was merged with my mobile app recommendations. I already understood the inherent dangers of deleting the profile, hence my decision to keep it and to stop making recommendations.

Last edited by Slug; January 20th, 2013 at 07:54 AM. Reason: Not appropriate in a public discussion

zuben el genub

I still have both Blogger and Picasa. They are empty. I deleted all the stuff and moved it elsewhere. I can't delete just those.

I'm slowly moving all email to another provider. Gmail will just be used for spam, eventually (and Play)

I also mail the devs. A lot of the apps I use also have members on a very respected astronomy forum also. I can tell them there.

sntaylor

I think that we should ask zuben el genub to be our friend/contact on android forums

pmm75

Also worth noting is that G+ is in principle one directional when it come to contact so everyone can follow whoever they want to without the other party having to react in any manner.

I must admit I have many two directional contacts from the closed beta period with many of my real life friends when people joined just because and had no idea how different from Facebook this was going to be. Since then I have almost only started following different bloggers and companies and stopped caring about unknown people following me.

Strangely some even bigger companies start following you back even if you produce no content. Maybe they feel that it's courteous or something but absolutely needless unless they want to share something limited to their own circles only which I doubt.

Slug

Can I remind members that this, along with most others on Android Forums, is a PUBLIC forum to which all members have access and right-of-posting? You are of course free to disagree with others' opinions, but you are expected to do so politely. You also don't have the right to decide what should or should not be said.

Thanks!

kct1975

Just to explain...

In a previous job, as a Government contractor, working for a specific agency, I was required not only to delete a MySpace account I had at the time, but I also was required to sign a document prohibiting me from using any social networking site for a period of 25 years.
I signed the document because I wanted to keep the job I had at the time, did not really care either way about social networks, and did not want to get into a tangle with the Federal Govt.

As for using Government or a company owned computer or smartphone, I didn't. How the government agency knew I had a MySpace account, I really don't know. Honestly, the MySpace account had nothing on it except my name, age, e-mail address, and the city where I lived.

Since then, I have not used any Social Networking site. I am a member of this site, other Forum sites, and Linkedin.

Each time I have joined such a site, I checked with the company FSO and got his approval. I am, however, still prohibited from using sites such as Facebook, G+, Twitter, etc.

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Last edited by kct1975; January 20th, 2013 at 01:18 PM.

pmm75

Sounds totally bizarre to me but maybe laws where you live enable you to sign contracts to give away your personal freedoms long after you've quit the job. I understand perfectly the need for NDA's but did they even give you any proper reason? I tried Googling (pun intended) for a while but couldn't really find anything resembling your case. Just some people who claimed they were forbidden by government from receiving endorsement and had issues with them in LinkedIn. Not sure what country's government it was though.

25 years is a long time. For all we know, the social networks might be certified indentity providers long before that although I seriously hope that never happens

kct1975

Just an update to the thread...

I have stated doing as others have suggested...

I have started e-mailing app authors, letting them they know I like their app, but cannot rate it due to the requirement by Google to have a G+ account, which I don't and won't have.

mjschmidt

kct1975, when did you create the Gmail account for your Android device? Did you somehow delete the Google+ account that would have been automatically created for you?

Google Requires People to Use the Google+ Social Network, Gains Ground Against Facebook - WSJ.com

I keep seeing people say they don't/won't have a Google+ account, but a Google+ account page (even if you never use the service) is automatically created for every Gmail account.

So, unless you are somehow "grandfathered" out, or have managed to delete the G+ account without hurting your Gmail account, then despite what you may think, you do have a G+ account.

I would be happy to be proven wrong, more data is always good.

FLAWLESSVW

Although I've never gone to the actual G+ url and logged in or created an account, I always thought there was one automatically created for me, especially since activating my first Android device. I've had a Gmail account since I got outta Nam, but think the G+ got tacked on when I got a smartphone... I just get the idea the account is hanging out there.

I just went to G+ on my PC and entered my Gmail login and it takes me to a screen saying "Join Google + by creating your public profile", (Step 1 Upgrade, Step 2 Add people, Step 3 Be awesome).

So I don't know. Do I have an account or not. I really don't want one or want to be forced to have one to accomplish other things (like rating an application that has absolutely nothing to do with G+. May as well force me to have a Starbucks reward card to vote in an election)

zuben el genub

I got a Gmail account long before + and long before Buzz. I have absolutely no idea if Google stuck a + account in there or not. I have Tbird configured to get mail from Gmail. I haven't looked at the web page in a long time. Nor have I updated the Gmail app on the phone. I use Aquamail to get the mail.

Google tried this nonsense with Buzz years ago and got shot down by either privacy legislation or connecting to Buzz without asking if you wanted to opt in or not,
At launch, Google's decision to opt-in its user base with weak privacy settings caused a serious breach of user information and garnered significant criticism - wikipedia

So now they are going in the back door by requiring + for services you might want. But you can NOT use the services.

I already have Yahoo screaming about a public profile. They ain't getting it. Even Iron Browser makes the comment about not using anything like social extensions.
Fx has about:config that lets you tweak.

If you want a public profile, you will have to allow me to state I am a sky blue pink alien from the constellation Libra.

I saw a news article the other day that Google is now in 2nd and 3rd place in social networking. I suppose they will push even harder until they are number one.

Slug

Log-in to Google Dashboard and all shall be revealed.

Anyone at all concerned with the privacy of their personal data should do so, in fact. It allows users to see what is shared, with whom, and most importantly how to make it more private.

ZILLION11

Maybe Google sees G+ as the best way to deal with "unhelpful Google Play commenters".

kct1975

To answer your question, I have had a Gmail account since about 2006. I have an Android phone since about 2009.

With both, I was never required to have a G+

In fact, until I updated my YouTube app a couple of months ago, I did not have a G+ account. Updating my YouTube app on my phone forced me to create a G+ account to complete the installation of the updated app.

I was ticked-off. I the Googled on how to get rid of the G+ account, found the instructions, and deleted it. With some effort, I was able to revert my YouTube account to being linked to my Gmail account instead of a G+ account.

I was planning on upgrading my my current OG EVO to the LTEVO soon, but if I would be forced to create a G+ account just activate my phone, I may have to rethink that.

As I have mentioned, I am prohibited from using Social Networking sites, and I wish Google and other companies would understand that there individuals like me, that cannot and will not use social networks.

Last edited by kct1975; February 2nd, 2013 at 04:41 PM.

FLAWLESSVW

Excellent advice Slug. I stumble into my Google dashboard very infrequently, but when I do it is sobering as to the amount of data and how big the snowball has gotten since my last visit. In fact, I think I'm going to create a calendar item to jump in there every now and then to be sure only what I want to have access to my account does.

kct1975

While I understand the need for Google and App Authors to make sure that comments posted on Google Play to be kept useful and clean, there is no reason it has to linked to a social network account.

Honestly, I would have no problem at all having my comments linked to my Gmail account, and the App Authors having the ability to see my Gmail address, and ask me about my comments.

Droidwerks

I think it's total BS, Google is obviously trying to boost their + membership numbers in order to increase ad revenue. If I bought/downloaded an app I should be able to leave a review without having to sign up for Google's latest ad serving toy....

Needless to say, I won't be leaving any reviews, and I'd imagine a lot of other people feel the same way......

kct1975

Yup...when I like an app now, I e-mail the developer letting them know Iike their app, and that do to Google's recent policy change, I won't be leaving a rating at the Play Store.

kct1975

Here is exactly one of the reasons I would not want a G+ account even if I were allowed to have one...

https://support.google.com/plus/answer/2980762?p=plus_sign_in&rd=1

I have no interest in App Developers knowing who my friends are or any information information about me.

kct1975

It is just frustrating that the way the world seems to be going is that at some point, having a Social Networking will be a requirement to use apps on a Smartphone or to log into websites.

Just sux...that's all.

If that is the way the electronic world is going, then I may either have to eventually 'drop off' the digital grid or I may have to get a lawer to try to get me out of the Social Networking prohibition I am under from the Federal Government.