On the heels of being featured by the New York Times the app newly released by DLP Mobile called Secret SMS Replicator. According to Google is violates the terms of use as it constitutes “invasions of personal privacy”. This really isn’t all that shocking even though the application has to request permission to access these things we all know most don’t read or check them and as Google see it this application only has a malicious nature to it providing no other benefit. Continue reading “Another App removed from Google Android Market” »
What has long been a major complaint of Android developers is finally coming to an end. Google announced this week that they have opened up their Licensing Service for Android Applications. Basically it works like this, When an application starts to execute on the device it sends a request to verify that the application was in fact downloaded from the Android Market and purchased by this user (all the information is encrypted) if so it authorized the application to start. This requires network access however Google has also given the ability to have flexible enforcement based on your policies.
In my conversations with Android developers, I often hear that you’d like better protection against unauthorized use of your applications. So today, I’m pleased to announce the release of a licensing service for applications in Android Market.
This simple and free service provides a secure mechanism to manage access to all Android Market paid applications targeting Android 1.5 or higher. At run time, with the inclusion of a set of libraries provided by us, your application can query the Android Market licensing server to determine the license status of your users. It returns information on whether your users are authorized to use the app based on stored sales records.
This licensing service operating real time over the network provides more flexibility in choosing license-enforcement strategies, and a more secure approach in protecting your applications from unauthorized use, than copy protection.
Our plan is to replace the current Android Market copy-protection mechanism with this new licensing service to protect your applications over the next few months. I encourage you to check out the Licensing Your Applications section of our Developer Guide and the Android Market Help Center to learn how you can take advantage of this new service immediately.
via Android Developers Blog: Licensing Service For Android Applications.
It looks as though according to a blog post by AppBrain that Google has removed not just a few, not even a couple hundred but closer to 4500 apps from the Android market. Google has long had in place a content policy that forbid “pornography, obscenity, nudity or sexual activity” though it wasn’t ever enforced up until now. With the event a few weeks ago regarding Google asking a developer to remove his “malicious” apps and then Google forcibley removing the remaining installations from users phones it begs the question, Is Android really open? I, along with many others have no problem with Google removing applications deemed malicious or in violation in the market policies. It tough for a company like Google to balance openness and the need for control. I agree with AppBrain’s assessment that I would rather have fewer quality apps than be able to claim I have x number of apps I can download.
Continue reading “Google cleans up Android Market by removing porn apps?” »
The Android Market is updating it’s legal policies in what looks like the first move in allowing more widespread use of the “Bill to Carrier” option. The Android Developer’s Blog had a quick post stating that an Email was sent to existing developers stating the changes being made and were given 30 days to acknowledge the changes, All new developers have these terms already part of there agreement.
Continue reading “Android Market prepping for updates to payment system” »
Android and Me writer Anthony Domanico posted a great opinion piece on Chuck Falzone’s (AndroidGuys.com contributing editor) “Paid App Pledge”. The gist is that Android users get a bad rap about paying for things, We like free stuff go figure right? Well Chuck started the #PaidAppPledge asking those that take the pledge spend $5 a week on Android apps and games. Check out the article for Anthony’s opinion and his suggestions, and please join in the discussion in the comments on his post @ Android and Me… Regardless of how you feel or what you can afford its all for a good cause Android so check out the full article
Though there are many good paid applications in the marketplace, there is a belief on the part of potential Android developers that Android users are much less likely to spend money on applications than their iPhone counterparts. Several weeks ago, Chuck Falzone, a blogger over at Android Guys, launched the Paid App Pledge as a means of making a statement to developers that Android is a viable platform for launching paid applications as a means of making money.
via Is the Android Market ready for the Paid App Pledge? Survey says…[OPINION] – Android and Me.