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CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

cyanogenmod.org

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Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#181

Post by fpgeek »

interpol_p wrote: post #46
dave809 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure the restriction to objective-c was due to performance concerns.

I believe it was also due to wanting developers to make use of the latest OS frameworks. Third party development frameworks often lagged behind in features (i.e, doesn't support new auto rotation features, doesn't support new camera features, and so on). The policy was changed and ultimately never enforced, but I always viewed it as a way to ensure that developers kept up-to-date.

It think the timing (days before the Adobe Flash CS5 launch, the first release that included iPhone application support, IIRC) and the eventual reversal makes it clear that this was about making life difficult for Adobe and Flash and not much else.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#182

Post by interpol_p »

fpgeek wrote: post #180
interpol_p wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your argument does not take into account the fact that a unified interface boosts consumer confidence and trust, which increases spending. It directly influences the quality of the end product — compromising on that is failing your users. Who cares if developers have to give up a cut? It's a level playing field: every developer gives up 30%, so prices standardise with that in mind. If developers rolled their own and…

No one here is arguing that Apple shouldn't offer a standard in-app purchase option. As you describe, there are substantial benefits. The issue is with the way they mandate it, even in situations where it is actively harmful. Amazon (to take the most notorious of many examples) doesn't need Apple's help to build consumer confidence and trust. In fact, including Apple in Amazon's transactions makes them more complicat…

You are correct, of course. I agree and think Apple should change their policy regarding non-app specific digital content. However, I believe Apple should simply lower their payment split down to 5-10% and behave more like a standard payment processor attached to your Apple ID.

Amazon should then be allowed to increase their prices on iOS to compensate for the difference. I would happily pay a little extra per-purchase to keep all my purchases under one account, using one interface, and would be happy to take advantage of Touch ID authenticated purchases across stores.

I still do not like the idea of purchasing on iOS outside my Apple ID. It is quite outside my comfort zone to purchase within an app using a different UI, trusting my details with a different provider, and so on.

Regarding handling returns: one of the main complaints I have heard from Android developers is the influx of emails they have from customers asking for refunds, and having to process those refunds. While I agree that it could be used as a promotional opportunity, many developers view it as an unnecessary burden.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#183

Post by victorhooi »

drcube wrote: post #172
unfasten wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And on most carrier locked Android phones, you have to find an exploit to root your device before they let you sideload apps. This is wrong. Allowing this is built in to Android and it's a user togglable setting. Verizon explicitly mentions sideloading and how to enable it: http://mobile.vzw.com/LocationAgent For Android devices, please confirm the device's Location Services setting GPS and Verizon Location Service…

Fair enough. I've seen phones that disable the setting for allowing sideloaded apps. But fortunately it's not as prevalent as I thought.

Can you name any handset that do that?

I've honestly never seen it before, and I'm curious what manufacturer would actually do this nowadays.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#184

Post by derleth »

yareally wrote: post #179
derleth wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CM phones home by default. There's a word for software like that: Malware. The Play Store shouldn't have malware.

Seriously? You realize how many apps on the market use Google Analytics or some other form of Analytics? Nearly all of them, including Google's Apps. Nearly all of them give absolutely no way to opt out either short of host blocking. However, CM gives you an option to under device settings.

So that's the standard we want to hold them to? Just a little better than Google?

Why isn't it opt-in?

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#185

Post by derleth »

gnur wrote: post #139
derleth wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And, of course, CM still phones home by default, which is malware behavior, and not something we need to condone.

Don't be so dramatic. The phone home to provide statistics, it's much better then what is built in every stock rom. Also, phoning home is not malware behaviour. Every single website in the world does it, is that all malware?

> The phone home to provide statistics

What are they doing with those statistics? What could they do with them in the future? What could they be forced to do with them?

If it's so harmless, why isn't it opt-in?

> Every single website in the world does it

Obviously not. Websites don't have access to hardware the way CM does.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#186

Post by derleth »

css771 wrote: post #136
derleth wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

CM phones home by default. There's a word for software like that: Malware. The Play Store shouldn't have malware.

Are you kidding me? They tell me exactly what data they collect and for what purpose. To say that is malware is either extreme sarcasm or extreme stupidity.

Then why isn't it opt-in?

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#188

Post by yareally »

derleth wrote: post #185
gnur wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't be so dramatic. The phone home to provide statistics, it's much better then what is built in every stock rom. Also, phoning home is not malware behaviour. Every single website in the world does it, is that all malware?

> The phone home to provide statistics What are they doing with those statistics? What could they do with them in the future? What could they be forced to do with them? If it's so harmless, why isn't it opt-in? > Every single website in the world does it Obviously not. Websites don't have access to hardware the way CM does.

> What are they doing with those statistics? What could they do with them in the future? What could they be forced to do with them?

If you would quit trolling for one moment, you could easily find your answer[1][2]. It's no more likely they will get away with sneaking something in than any other Linux Distro would as there are many eyes, including myself, looking at their source as a hobby. There are also those that dislike Cyanogen and would love to see them slip that monitor their source constantly. That is a good thing, and serves a purpose, unless it's a false alarm that "cries wolf" and gets repeated so much, everyone just ignores it when there's finally a real issue. Think about that please when you keep dragging up this current non-issue.

They also give a preview of what they are collecting when you go to the "opt out" screen on your device and the source is on Github. If you're super paranoid, compile your Cyanogen yourself minus the stats instead of relying on what they give prebuilt.

http://stats.cyanogenmod.com

http://www.cyanogenmod.org/blog/cmstats-what-it-is-and-why-y...

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#189

Post by laumars »

Zigurd wrote: post #175
victorhooi wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a terrible analogy. Firstly, a PC != mobile phone. This isn't a bloody OpenMoko phone - this is a working consumer device that's sold to you as a "dumb" device. It's like buying a television or DVD player, flashing some weird third-party firmware, then taking it back and saying, gee, it just stopped working... Or flashing your car's ECU chip. The manufacturer is certainly not expected to fix your mistake. They…

Actually, it's quite a good analogy. I have installed Linux on half a dozen newly purchased PCs and was just recently flummoxed by UEFI and trying to retain a Windows partition. I had to make an informed decision to do without Windows entirely on this latest machine. The effort to install an aftermarket ROM is similar.

No it's not a good comparison because you cannot brick a PC installing Linux. At most you lose any data that wasn't backed up, but you can then just use the normal recovery discs to get your machine back (which is a process the average user is expected to do every few years anyway - if just to fix the natural decay of Windows)

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#190

Post by reginaldjcooper »

coldtea wrote: post #151
reginaldjcooper wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not a sad thing to be, at least recently. Apple is one of the major enemies of personal computing freedom.

I don't know, I seen to have a free compiler on my Apple laptop. And a handheld mobile OS with unprecedented capabilities people would be dreaming of just a decade ago -- that I can code for by spending like $100, including the ability to release my apps to half a billion with credit cards at the ready. Perhaps if you're young enough to only remember the "everything must be FOSS" times, and not the times we paid $100…

I guess you can download the LLVM source but that has nothing to do with Apple.

> that I can code for by spending like $100

Odd that you think that's freedom, because I can put my own apps on my own phone for actual free. I can put other people's apps on my own phone without signing up for an app store and without a third party's permission. I can send my apps to anyone I want and charge them via my own payment processor if I want.

I agree we now have a "handheld mobile OS with unprecedented capabilities" and that iOS and the App Store were incredibly innovative a few years ago. But the problem is not whether or not I am allowed to develop an app, the problem is whether or not I am allowed to use my device on my terms. I couldn't even add a caller blacklist on iOS.

Also let's say I without any argument accept the idea that the past was less free. That still doesn't make what Apple are doing now free in any shape or form, that's just a flat-out logical fallacy. If you have to appeal to a worse past to explain how you are relatively free you have basically conceded the argument.

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