I really hope Google fixes Android's broken security model. As the owner & user of an Android device, I should be able to configure feature access on a per-app basis. It's ridiculous that you have to either grant an app all requested access, or just don't install it. You should be able to install it, but choose which features to grant access to and which to deny.
I would like to see Apple, Android and Microsoft provide a mechanism where the developers can explain, in their own terms, why they need access to certain permissions. I own an HTC HD7 which is WindowsPhone 7. I remember installing some generic music player app (for the life of me I cannot remember the name of it). It required access to, among other things, my location information. At this point the installation was cancelled and the app deleted from my phone. All I could think was "Why on Earth do you need to know where I am to let me listen to my music?".<p>If developers were at least given an opportunity to explain to their users why they are requiring certain information, consumers may be more willing to allow access. It seems to me many apps take a "lets grab all the info we can" approach which is extremely off putting.
The increasing number of permissions that appear to be out of place for this app is exactly why i hit the "force stop" button for the app about a month ago and then went on to hit the uninstall button for it about 3 hours ago.
I would like to continue to use the facebooks messaging features though. however their need to include the read/write/edit your SMS/MMS messages permissions is a serious put off and causes me not to want to install it.
I'm not gonna lie, I like using facebook, but I unplugged it from my phone a while ago and haven't regretted it. Social networking is a fun diversion but a terrible lifestyle.
It's pretty much the only thing left they didn't already require, so no big surprise here. Perhaps it's time to switch to only using the web version on my phone...
This is it, the final call, privacy invading has gone to far.<p>I'm already wearing at least half a tinfoil hat, now it's time to put it on leave it there.<p>I have already deleted my facebook account a long time ago and honestly I haven't missed it ... at all!<p>I encrypt all my hard-drives at home and on my laptop, just because I can.<p>I have several privacy extensions installed in my browser and I try to avoid using chrome unless it's absolutely necessary.<p>I still use google search and gmail, but I will migrate away from them in the near future.<p>I do not want to be the product being sold any more, I don't want anyone to be able to put together a complete profile on me with a few clicks on keyboard.<p>"The line must be drawn here, this far - no further"