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Google announces Android for Work

googleforwork.blogspot.com

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Re: Google announces Android for Work

#141

Post by runeks »

dredmorbius wrote: post #117
loxs wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually that's the reason I use iOS

Can you expand on that?

> Oh wow, can this be used to just create a separate profile for every app? That way I can run Uber or Line without giving them every permission to everything? This is the biggest reason I do not install apps. Every "famous" app requests so many permissions it's just stupid.

iOS does not require the user to accept all permissions that an app wishes to use, before installing that app. On iOS, you install an app without giving it permission to much, initially, and then the app, when you start it, starts asking for permissions that it needs, as it needs them. You can deny any permission request, and the app still works.

Eg. you can install the Facebook app, and deny it access to read your contact list.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#142

Post by vetinari »

runeks wrote: post #141
dredmorbius wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you expand on that?

> Oh wow, can this be used to just create a separate profile for every app? That way I can run Uber or Line without giving them every permission to everything? This is the biggest reason I do not install apps. Every "famous" app requests so many permissions it's just stupid. iOS does not require the user to accept all permissions that an app wishes to use, before installing that app. On iOS, you install an app withou…

In iOS, there are about 10 permissions (location, contacts, calendars, reminders, gallery, bluetooth, microphone, motion, twitter and facebook accounts).

In Android, about 150.

There is no mapping 1:1. Some things iOS does not allow at all (wifi information, sd card access). Some things iOS allows by default, with no way to deny it (internet access).

The iOS approach would not scale, the user would be burried under confirmation dialogs. And that's just the initial confirmation, there has to be UI, when he changes his mind later.

Those, who claim that iOS approach is superior are showing their ignorance, that they newer thought about the way, how the user would set matrix of this amount of permissions with many apps, without getting lost (hint: many are getting lost just in the current system. Imagine, that they would be able to toggle anything. And imagine, what the developers would say about that).

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#145

Post by fshen »

MichaelGG wrote: post #11

> a dedicated work profile that isolates and protects work data Oh wow, can this be used to just create a separate profile for every app? That way I can run Uber or Line without giving them every permission to everything? This is the biggest reason I do not install apps. Every "famous" app requests so many permissions it's just stupid. And not to mention the weirdness of some of them, like "WiFi Device Information".…

Four years of android user. Just switch to iphone6 2 month ago.

Almost every app requests too many permissions. Almost every app starts a background process to receive notifications. which are very bad.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#146

Post by dspillett »

MichaelGG wrote: post #43
scottjad wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you deny them, roughly how often in your experience does this cause the app to crash or display an error?

I think it can return valid data, like empty sets or fake data. So apps shouldn't crash at all.

Code that assumes it is going to get data instead of allowing for an empty response (in a circumstance where this is technically possible in reality but so rare the developer didn't thing to allow/test for it) could cause misfunction.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#147

Post by teekert »

I hope this will appeal to our management, at the moment we have to use this horrible, horrible Vodafone-at-work app on Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobileiron...). I crashes, it ask for a password constantly, separate from your system password, it cannot show appointment in your normal agenda or the lock screen, it drains battery.

They switched to it because some apps for android "lied" to our exchange server and said that mail was encrypted locally while it was not, passwords would not even be necessary (I think that was solved in Android >4). The Vodafone app caused many people to just stop syncing work related accounts: Not worth the trouble.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#148

Post by therealmarv »

errantmind wrote: post #32
MichaelGG wrote: post #11

> a dedicated work profile that isolates and protects work data Oh wow, can this be used to just create a separate profile for every app? That way I can run Uber or Line without giving them every permission to everything? This is the biggest reason I do not install apps. Every "famous" app requests so many permissions it's just stupid. And not to mention the weirdness of some of them, like "WiFi Device Information".…

CyanogenMod's Privacy Guard is useful for dealing with this situation. There is a setting to enable it by default on newly installed apps. No matter what permissions the app says it requires, you are prompted when it actually requests them and can deny them at will or permanently.

Why do I need a custom ROM for privacy? This is so wrong. Great that you can partially fix this but what about the millions of other users who also want to control their privacy without reflashing a complete ROM.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#149

Post by pjmlp »

MichaelGG wrote: post #41
Nicholas_C wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't there an app that restricts these permissions? I believe your phone has to be rooted for it to work though.

Yeah, but I have a Huawei Mate 2, which, last I looked, had some really obscure rooting instructions. Most steps consisted "download this random exe and give it admin permissions". Plus you have to email Huawei and ask nicely for the bootloader unlock code. And, rooting doesn't help the majority of users. Whereas protection from spying would. But Google, perhaps accidentally, seems intent on making permissions less v…

And Nokia before them with Symbian security.

Re: Google announces Android for Work

#150

Post by gambiting »

minusSeven wrote: post #123

All the negativity aside can someone post what this brings to the market. What can android for work do essentially that other androids can't ? What does this bring extra to average android users?

Why would average android users care? It's not for them. But I work for a large company which allows me to use my own device for work purposes,but I have to install a 3rd party sandboxing app, which encrypts everything inside it and allows our IT department to remotely wipe it if needed. If Android supported this natively, we wouldn't have to spend big $$$ on a 3rd party solution.
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