Help (!) when about to install an app

[clixalot]

I am very new to this "app" thing...so this is probably a very stupid question, but when I am about to install an app (game) it says:

"This application has access to the following:"

Your Location
coarse (network-based) location, fine (GPS) location

Network Communication
full Internet access

Phone calls
read phone state

What does all this mean? For the internet part, I have limited data per month, will it really add up...I have 200 MB/month.

Thank you!

 

[CrimsonPride]

well pretty much everything will have access to internet, for weather widgets to connect to the internet, music widgets to get album art etc, most everything uses it sparingly but for weather apps you can have it to update every 2 hours or somthing rather than every hour.

 

[clixalot]

well pretty much everything will have access to internet, for weather widgets to connect to the internet, music widgets to get album art etc, most everything uses it sparingly but for weather apps you can have it to update every 2 hours or somthing rather than every hour.

Thanks...that is what I was assuming, you click on the app and it connects you to the website/internet...correct? So for the things that "update", the phone/app will basically connect to the internet every 1-2 hours? Does that take up much "data"? I just have the basic 200mb from AT&T...was wondering if I should bump up my data usage. I won't be using youtube/videos though.

 

[CrimsonPride]

Well you can get a toggle switch and only update on wifi which is what I did. Or if you installed 2.2 then there is a way to turn off data. I have the 200mb plan also and I just turn on data when I need it to be sure its not using any when I don't want it to

 

[Frisco]

I am very new to this "app" thing...so this is probably a very stupid question, but...

Responses are already coming to you, I just wanted to say that your question is one of the smartest and most important I've seen posted in these forums. That "access to" permission prompt can make some users uneasy about what they're giving up to the app (to the company? developer? world wide web in general? ).

 

[clixalot]

Responses are already coming to you, I just wanted to say that your question is one of the smartest and most important I've seen posted in these forums. That "access to" permission prompt can make some users uneasy about what they're giving up to the app (to the company? developer? world wide web in general? ).

Thanks! Yeah, when I saw that I thought "$(#, I better not install this yet!" It will take some time, but eventually I hope I get the hang of this!!

As far as some of the "technical" explanations that I have read in the forums....all I "hear" is "blah, blah, blah" LOL....this is so new to me, the simpler the explanation, the better, but eventually I hope to learn more...even if it is more 'technical'.

 

[Endoran]

Responses are already coming to you, I just wanted to say that your question is one of the smartest and most important I've seen posted in these forums. That "access to" permission prompt can make some users uneasy about what they're giving up to the app (to the company? developer? world wide web in general? ).

I concur. I wish android would tell you *why* an app wants permission to use something (and have the ability to hold the app to it). I don't download apps that ask for things that they shouldn't need. Seems like way too many apps ask for my location or access to my phone logs. Unless I really want it, it gets exed.

 

[clixalot]

I concur. I wish android would tell you *why* an app wants permission to use something (and have the ability to hold the app to it). I don't download apps that ask for things that they shouldn't need. Seems like way too many apps ask for my location or access to my phone logs. Unless I really want it, it gets exed.

That is what I didn't understand...what it meant and why it would be necessary. Like these two. I agree, they should explain "why" they want this.

Your Location
coarse (network-based) location, fine (GPS) location

Phone calls
read phone state

 

[CrimsonPride]

That is what I didn't understand...what it meant and why it would be necessary. Like these two. I agree, they should explain "why" they want this.

Your Location
coarse (network-based) location, fine (GPS) location

Phone calls
read phone state

gps location is needed for anything that uses where you are. google maps, any weather app that has an option for auto updating, anything that may access satellites

most things you can somewhat tell why they need access to what it asks for, if i cant figure out why it may need something i dont download it

 

[clixalot]

I have been searching, but I still don't know what "read phone state" means....any ideas?

Smart idea of not downloading if you aren't sure what something is....that is why I haven't downloaded anything yet.

 

[sremick]

I concur. I wish android would tell you *why* an app wants permission to use something (and have the ability to hold the app to it).

There's no way for Android to know or figure that out on its own. You'd be at the mercy of the app volunteering up this information, and then hoping they're being honest about it.

Imagine a locked door. Android is a person on the inside, App is a person on the other. App jiggles the door handle, trying to get in. Android can tell that App wants in, but not why. Android asks App, "Why do you want to come in?" App replies, "I need to use the bathroom.".

Is App telling the truth?