Default android permissions

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

I am a brand new developer and brand new corona user. I built my very first app through trial and error and much reading and learning. However, it is very, VERY disappointing to find out that after I tried to account for everything before building and posting my first app to the google market, I find that those who attempt to download my simple quiz app are faced with a warning that informs them that my app will access their phone book and calls they make, their Internet connection, as well as their network connection. I understand that many apps need these capabilities, but my app doesn’t. And worse, because it is apparent to any reasonable end user that an app such as mine shouldn’t need these permissions, it immediately leads them to “rightly” worry that my app could be some type of malware. After finding out that this was a problem, I immediately began to look for a solution, for examPle, I’ve tried adding a blank android permissions table and so forth, to no avail. to my utter dismay, after researching the ansca forums, it appears that there is no solution, save trying to somehow go outside corona, recompiling the APK with 3rd party programs and so forth. I purchased corona precisely because DIDNT want to have to work with other complicated Tools. If that was the case, I might as well just learn c or java or whatever and use Xcode. I still hold out hope that there is a solution to getting rid of these three default permission settings. If there really isn’t, then I’m really shocked. This should be the NUMBER 1 thing on the corona agenda. Either that, or somebody needs to give me a really good reason why ANY permission should be set such that it can’t be altered. Can’t you just set these three permissions to false like the rest of the huge permissions list, and let developers turn them on as needed? What are these three doing that is so special and untochable, besides creating a huge headache for me, and I’m sure many others? Please help me!!! Corona has made me so happy, and now at the very end I have to have a sleepless night over something that seems to have no real solution. Tell me it ain’t true!!! :frowning:

  • a distraught corona newbie [import]uid: 125649 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 325382[/import]
#2

Yes, I agree that is a problem. On Amazon AppStore apps are constantly getting bad reviews because of permission issues. People don’t even bother downloading, they just rate with 1 star. Here is an example: http://www.amazon.com/Candycane-Apps-Fling/dp/B006ZZC3D6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335083347&sr=8-1

There are many more, just watch the reviews of the free app of the day. It would be great if we could just start with no permissions and add as needed.

–wunderwuzzi [import]uid: 118947 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 102502[/import]

#3

Is this is a problem using Corona on amazon? Ive downloaded Corons apps on Google Play and this issue doesnt exist with them. If its just amazon doing it I wouldnt be bothered much by it as we all know even though all the markets are good to be on the one you want it too work on is Google Play. If this is indeed something that happens using Corona on Amazon I wouldnt even bother with Amazon.

Im kinda annoyed after reading those comments on amazon. That one guy is going off because the developer has taken out the permissions that were annoying everyone. Kinda looked like he did it by removing openfeint. Um. Wouldnt you be happy with a developer who listened and removed the issue? Isnt that a good thing? This guy seems to think hes up to something evil because he took them out. Kinda bullcrap. I hate how some people just think they are so freaking important and have a brain that sits out in left field. I was going to make an account but devided whats the point? Remember that saying about arguing with fools on the internet.

You actually see stupid people often which is what is expected. Even on the google market I see dumb people. Like I hate it when people whine about the price of things, how developers tricked them by only letteing them play four levels and then want an ingame purchase for the rest or how having ads is ruining thier gaming experiance. How do they not understand that people should get paid for thier work? Thats why most devs do it. Ridiculous man. I wonder if these people bitch and moan in the walmart line when they have to buy a roll of toilet paper for 2 bucks. How dare that toilet paper company charge me! Why Im Mike V! I should get it for free! Grrrrrr sorry went off there I do apologize. :wink: [import]uid: 143556 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 102512[/import]

#4

Will bring this up in our next meeting :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 102516[/import]

#5

Peach is like, Ill just ignore the sputtering idiot above me. hahaha. Funny! [import]uid: 143556 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 102518[/import]

#6

Haha, hey Mike!

Actually your post wasn’t up when I opened the tab. I open a bunch of threads at once sometimes and yeah, it must have taken me longer to reply to this than the 20 minutes between our posts.

I agree that some people will never be pleased, some want everything for free, including the benefit of others hard work. It’s a shame and it does seem to be more prevalent on Android markets, for whatever reason.

The end of your post was amusing :wink: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 102540[/import]

#7

I really need a way to turn these off if I’m going to release my app for android. Which I may not due to performance issues anyway. :stuck_out_tongue:

But yeah, my app is entirely self contained and absolutely, positively, does not want or need permission to modify storage or access the net, and I don’t want it claiming it does. [import]uid: 143026 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 104983[/import]

#8

Hi, same question, I think that this permissions was because Im still trial , when I move to Pro before first release its not going to happen (in the daily build ) [import]uid: 143958 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 105308[/import]

#9

No, I’m using pro and daily builds, still can’t make those permissions go away. [import]uid: 143026 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 105323[/import]

#10

Not yet, no - we are planning (very soon) to put up a list of requested features and have a system where you guys can let us know what is most important to you; so look out for it and when we get it setup put in your +1 for this. OK? :slight_smile: [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 105356[/import]

#11

Well, this issue (default Android permissions) is *VERY* important. Makes our Android apps look bad, us look bad and ultimately Corona look bad… Wrote an email to support about this when I found out (a month ago), was told that is was for your stats (!), was checking today to see if anything had been done to remove these “things”, to find out that no and not even working on it, but maybe mentioning it in the next meeting… Not really very on, is it? This is a serious intrusion on personal privacy and perhaps not even legal? Priority 1, I’d say. [import]uid: 101889 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 108606[/import]

#12

Yes, this issue is extremely important. I never criticized Corona for anything. It’s a great product and I made many good apps with Corona SDK. But this issue is known for a very long time and not solved or answered yet. Please let us know if you do not plan or you are not able to solve it. Because if we want to to publish succesfull apps for Android, it should be solved now. Not next month but really in next daily builds. Otherwise I will have to stop my development in Corona and move away.
In past, I would call Carlos and tried to explain it to him. But there is no Carlos now, so what should I do…
[import]uid: 7038 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 109134[/import]

#13

Knots 3D: Amazon Free app of the Day today. Unfortunately I am getting a fair number of 1 star reviews due to these permissions issues. Too bad since the one star reviewers generally like the app but are concerned with privacy (as they should be). Corona, this really needs to be addressed soon. This has been an issue on the forums for many months. This may be my biggest single complaint of an otherwise great programming framework.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00701L5XS?ie=UTF8&ref=mas_faad [import]uid: 17130 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 115915[/import]

#14

Hey guys,

We’re not ready to strip out the default permission from Android apps yet. We can’t just rip them out, because a lot of code and 3rd party dependencies such as InMobi, inneractive, OpenFeint, Flurry, etc. Ripping them out would cause crashes and generate a lot issues - but we haven’t forgotten about this and do hope we can come to a solution. [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 116235[/import]

#15

Can I offer a suggestion? I’m having a permission problem, but in my case, I didn’t add a permission for Vibrate. Seriously I have to get permission to use vibrarte?

I think that it would be cool that if I call an api call like system.vibrate() that Corona SDK should realize that calling that api needs VIBRATE and would automatically add it.

So if I’m using network.*, gameNetwork.* ads.* or any thing that needs the network, turn the permission on at the time I need it. Yea, its work, perhaps not low hanging fruit, since I would want it to see if I’m writing files and need to turn the WRITE EXTERNAL permission on. But at least for the common things, like we know we don’t have address book access, no reason to turn that on at all. Phone call would be tough since you can open a tel: url to make a call.

Or perhaps the build screen should list the available permissions too for weird things. [import]uid: 19626 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 116242[/import]

#16

@ Peach

" We can’t just rip them out,"

But people are already ripping them out with apktool. They are not only ripping out unnecessary permissions but unused libraries as well

http://www.ludicroussoftware.com/blog/2012/05/08/remove-unused-libraries-from-corona-apps/

Provided the app doesn’t actually USE analytics, advertising etc, this does not seem to cause a crash. After all the permissions are not used and libraries are not called.
[import]uid: 84768 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 116670[/import]

#17

@jfb - I *believe* this can cause problems in Jellybean. I’m not certain because I do not work directly with Android, I can only relay info at this stage.

Have you had success with Jellybean? [import]uid: 52491 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 116681[/import]

#18

I want to second the link jfb mentioned above. Following the excellent instructions Darren posted on his blog, I was able to remove both the permissions and 3rd party libraries and it wasn’t as difficult as I had expected (though still a hassle to have to do for every release).

http://www.ludicroussoftware.com/blog/2012/05/08/remove-unused-libraries-from-corona-apps/

Sales on both Google Play and Amazon have been up slightly for Knots 3D since the offending components were removed. I highly recommend you follow these instructions as your app ratings and sales will be better for it . [import]uid: 17130 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 122023[/import]

#19

I want to second the link jfb mentioned above. Following the excellent instructions Darren posted on his blog, I was able to remove both the permissions and 3rd party libraries and it wasn’t as difficult as I had expected (though still a hassle to have to do for every release).

http://www.ludicroussoftware.com/blog/2012/05/08/remove-unused-libraries-from-corona-apps/

Sales on both Google Play and Amazon have been up slightly for Knots 3D since the offending components were removed. I highly recommend you follow these instructions as your app ratings and sales will be better for it . [import]uid: 17130 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 122023[/import]

#20

In response to Peach’s comment, I am indeed having problems using apktool for Jellybean systems. Specifically I’m attempting to remove permissions for my apk’s on the Kindle Fire HD.

I can decompile, modify, and recompile just fine. It even installs correct, but once the app is started there is are error that will cause Amazon to flat out reject. If you start in landscape, lock the screen, turn to portrait and then unlock the app will force close.

I have checked and a normal Corona apk that is unaltered will handle this case fine. An apk that gets decompiled, recompiled, and jarsigned (even with no other changes to anything in the apk) will cause this crash.

This is very disappointing as this has been the only way to remove unneeded permissions from Corona apks. Without this ability I’m sure my apps will begin getting numerous reviews about unneeded permissions.

Corona, please make this permissions issue a top priority! [import]uid: 84258 topic_id: 25382 reply_id: 124893[/import]