Why I'm Reconsidering

[puremacgyver]

I am have a problem with my tablet. For this reason is why I am returning this product. I am sorry but this is a complete violation of my privacy.

Bob

 

[puremacgyver]

Here is a pic of what I'm talking about.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u291/pure_macgyver/samsung.jpg

 

[funkylogik]

Lol calm down. which app is it?
Permissions can be quite abstract and easily misinterpreted
EDIT sorry its a game.
That isnt the tablets fault lol but youll probably find that the calls permission is there so that the game will pause when someone calls you (if on a phone)
The fact that youre on a tablet makes me wonder why youre worried though lol

 

[pool_shark]

Ok.

 

[SulkyAndroid17]

Funky is right, you need to chill.

And you don't have a problem with a tablet, you have a problem with an app. Lower-level access or access to available accounts is not a problem? But phone calls are? If you didn't like the permissions, why did you install it? The phone permission might be needed to monitor if the device is about to ring. So the app can save state and pause. That way you can come back to the game after the call.

Here are some links explaining permissions:
Android permissions explained, security tips, and avoiding malware
Manifest.permission

 

[WoohooGuy]

Did you buy the game before it went free and accepted the "invasive" permissions or did you buy the game and they changed the permissions once it went free?

If you go back to the app page in the Play store within 15 minutes you can one click a refund if you feel something wasn't reveled, or if you feel the app is incompatible with your device.

If they changed the app permission when they went free then ask for a refund first from the app maker, 99 percent of the time they will comply as they dont want negative threads like this floating out there. You can contact the app maker via the purchase confirmation email google sends you.

If they dont comply then contest the charges with your credit card company or bank and bad mouth them everywhere you go but at least include the entire story.

 

[Thom]

I am have a problem with my tablet. For this reason is why I am returning this product. I am sorry but this is a complete violation of my privacy.

Welcome to Android Forums.

What product are you talking about?

If it is Asphalt 8 it is listed in Play Store as a free app. Just uninstall it.

... Thom

 

[mikedt]

Lol calm down. which app is it?
Permissions can be quite abstract and easily misinterpreted
EDIT sorry its a game.
That isnt the tablets fault lol but youll probably find that the calls permission is there so that the game will pause when someone calls you (if on a phone)
The fact that youre on a tablet makes me wonder why youre worried though lol

AFAIK that's handled by the OS itself, i.e. if a phone call comes in, Android should suspend whatever game or app is running and invoke the phone app, so it can take the call. I believe that's how it works. Many games I've seen don't have phone permissions, they might have internet access and/or affects battery life, or whatever, that's fair enough IMO. Something that might require phone permissions, specifically "monitoring, recording and processing" would something like a replacement phone app or a call recorder AFAIK. There's also phone permissions, for "read status and identity", with nothing to do with recording and monitoring. Many apps have that one.

I think it would be worth the OP contacting the devs concerned, see what they have to say about it, especially if it's a game.

 

[mikedt]

Welcome to Android Forums.

What product are you talking about?

If it is Asphalt 8 it is listed in Play Store as a free app. Just uninstall it.

... Thom

The phone perms for Asphalt 8 are just "read phone status and identity", and not this "monitor and record" one the OP is showing. That to me is suspicious, especially if it is a game. Think it's just to make sure that Asphalt stops when a phone call is in progress. Media players often have "read phone status", to make sure that they don't go on playing when you're trying to talk to someone.

 

[palmtree5]

The phone perms for Asphalt 8 are just "read phone status and identity", and not this "monitor and record" one the OP is showing. That to me is suspicious, especially if it is a game. Think it's just to make sure that Asphalt stops when a phone call is in progress. Media players often have "read phone status", to make sure that they don't go on playing when you're trying to talk to someone.

:ditto:

Probably no need to be overly concerned as the app would be using the speakers. Wouldn't want it playing its sound while on a phone call with someone

 

[lunatic59]

Could also be sloppy development. I've seen apps where dev's simply turn on everything they might need rather than going for specific permissions in order to rush to market. I agree with Mike, though. It looks suspicious and I'd contact the dev about it. Please post back if you hear anything.

 

[Slug]

The phone perms for Asphalt 8 are just "read phone status and identity", and not this "monitor and record" one the OP is showing. That to me is suspicious, especially if it is a game.

+1

The permissions shown in the screen grab definitely don't tally with those listed for Asphalt 8: Airborne in the Play Store. There may be a perfectly good explanation for this, such as a badly-worded manifest file, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Reputable devs such as Gameloft should always be willing to respond to queries.

 

[palmtree5]

Interesting find...: Asphalt 8: Airborne | Mobile Console | Games | Samsung Apps | Samsung Content & Services

See comments there

 

[Hadron]

+1

The permissions shown in the screen grab definitely don't tally with those listed for Asphalt 8: Airborne in the Play Store. There may be a perfectly good explanation for this, such as a badly-worded manifest file, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Reputable devs such as Gameloft should always be willing to respond to queries.

That's assuming that the app was downloaded from the Play Store.

OP, can you confirm where you installed it from?

 

[funkylogik]

Maybe it came preinstalled hence the anger at the tab?

 

[Thom]

That's assuming that the app was downloaded from the Play Store.

OP, can you confirm where you installed it from?

He maybe root-ed and stepped into something.

... Thom

 

[Hadron]

Maybe it came preinstalled hence the anger at the tab?

True. Just wanted to check all possibilities.

 

[sdrawkcab25]

judging by the screen grab, the app definitely is not being downloaded from the google play store.

 

[funkylogik]

Im guessing the op is one of the people who give us the rare compliment of thinking this site is populated by google employees, has returned his tab and wont be back

 

[electricpete]

Lol.

I think op only posted the first two posts and left. I didn't see anything to identify it as a game or as Asphalt8.... Did I miss something? (Wouldn't be the first time)

 

[Thom]

Asphalt 8 is identified in message #2.

... Thom

 

[funkylogik]

In the second line lol

 

[Shocky]

I blame Gameloft, they make crap games anyway.

 

[mikedt]

judging by the screen grab, the app definitely is not being downloaded from the google play store.

It's definitely not Google Play, might be 1Mobile or something. And those permissions are suspicious for Asphalt 8: Airborne, specifically the phone call monitoring and recording.

 

[mikedt]

I blame Gameloft, they make crap games anyway.

TBH Gameloft has their problems, but I don't think that spying on people is one of them.

OT: Gameloft makes some very large and demanding games, so you do need some cutting-edge, high-end(expensive) hardware to run them properly, or at all. Asphalt 8 is almost a 2GB download. Also they severely geo-restrict where their products are available. Both of which can lead to disappointment and frustration IMO.