Timeline for Read phone state and identity
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Sep 12, 2020 at 10:15 | comment | added | Izzy | @vertigo yes, exactly that: when the phone rings, the audio focus changes – so an app can "watch" that. There are even code snippets for that (I'm no dev, so I cannot verify). The most likely reason why this approach is used so rarely is: the "official" docs still announce the "old ways", and that "old approach" just needs a one-liner – while for the privacy-friendly way you either have to code it yourself of find a fitting library. Things like that make me ask: if Google really wants to improve the user's privacy… How long is this available? And why not mentioned in the "official docs"? | |
| Sep 12, 2020 at 4:57 | comment | added | vertigo | This answer mentions that since 1.6/2.0, this permission is no longer required for pausing audio when a call is active, but doesn't actually say why, i.e. how to otherwise do it. So I did some searching and found this. | |
| Apr 13, 2017 at 12:18 | history | edited | CommunityBot |
replaced http://android.stackexchange.com/ with https://android.stackexchange.com/
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| Mar 7, 2014 at 7:34 | comment | added | MichaelGG | This is still a major concern, and one can only feel that Google is doing this intentionally. So many apps request this permission "so they can properly run in the background" or "stop when you get a call" or some similar excuse. | |
| Jul 8, 2013 at 5:28 | comment | added | Izzy | Have you followed above link? Mentions several such "privacy protectors": LBE, PDroid/OpenPDroid, XPrivacy. CyanogenMod will even ship with its own "PrivacyGuard" soon, Paranoid already does. Handycap with those: your device must be rooted, or you'd even need a custom ROM. Both might void your warranty (outside EU, at least). So it's another trade: privacy for warranty. But in case of a custom ROM, you even get rid of the "base sniffers" (see e.g. Motorola is Listening). | |
| Jul 7, 2013 at 22:57 | comment | added | user1501974 | What bothers me most are games targeted at kids to pick up their contacts. I remember cigarette companies marketing to children. People need to understand that they are trading freedom and privacy (theirs and their contacts) for "free". I couldn't find any apps that firewall access to contacts and personal info, either. | |
| Jul 7, 2013 at 22:34 | comment | added | user1501974 | Thanks very much. #4 and #5 are the ones that should raise concerns for games like subway surfer or fruit ninja. These are not call blocking apps so why do they need the identities of people calling me. I am not in favor of sending companies the phone numbers of my friends. It's like people are selling out each other for a few scooby snacks. | |
| Jul 7, 2013 at 19:38 | history | answered | Izzy | CC BY-SA 3.0 |