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APP PERMISSIONS ARE much like reading the terms and conditions of a service. You might take a glance at them, but you won’t pay much attention to them, unless someone highlights something specific about them.
Whether you aren’t sure what exactly these apps are requesting, or just like to know more about them, here are the ground rules for navigating what can sometimes be an unclear process.
Why do apps need these permissions in the first place?
The short answer is for functionality. All apps need permission to use even the most basic smartphone functions before they can use them, and it’s best to apply common sense to this.
If it’s a messaging app, then it’s likely it will need permission to access your contacts, WiFi/3G/4G, SMS (if it’s trying to integrate with it) and if it makes calls, then your phone services.
All of these things on their own might seem intrusive, but the majority are asked purely to make app usage as smooth as possible, otherwise it would have to ask every single time if you want to allow an action, which isn’t great for the user if they just want to complete a simple action.
Each mobile OS has its own way of handling these permissions, and it’s worth learning the differences between them for when they come up.
When you download an app, you’re not asked for permissions until a specific feature is needed.
For example, if you downloaded a camera app, it wouldn’t ask for access to your photo roll (for editing) or your camera (for taking photos) until it’s actually needed. In essence, it makes things more digestible for the user since they’re dealing with each permission one by one.
Ultimately, it’s a more practical way of introducing permissions to users without overwhelming them.
Probably the least obvious example out there, when you’re on the app screen itself, you will need to swipe right to ‘details’ to see what’s required.
This also suffers the same problem as Android (which we’ll get to) as it will include all permissions in bulk and assumes you’ve read and accepted them when you hit the download button. The full list of permissions for Windows Phone can be found here, but the main ones to keep in mind are.
Location services – Allows an app access to your approximate location.
Camera – Allows an app access to the phone’s camera.
Data services – Allow an app access to your WiFi or data connection.
Microphone – Allows an app to record audio when prompted.
Owner identity – Allows an app to distinguish one phone from another, but provides no personal info.
SD card – Allows an app limited access to a person’s SD card.
Proximity – Allows access to the phone’s Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC capabilities.
If you’re downloading apps that aren’t entirely familiar, it’s worth checking it out first, especially since there are a number of third-party apps out there (same advice applies to iOS and Android too).
Probably the most overwhelming of the three, Google Play offers you the entire list of permissions from the word go before you hit download.
This can come across as overwhelming and isn’t helped by how Google phrases them, but there is a logic behind each one. Here are the main ones you will encounter.
Identity - So they know who’s using the phone, in case you have more than one profile set up on your tablet (and maybe phone if user profiles are introduced in the next Android update).
Contacts/Calendar - Allows an app to access contacts and/or calendar. Both gives you access to contacts using the app and/or reminds you of events that are happening. Location - Allows an app to access your approximate location. This is to say where you’re based if you want to use geolocation features.
SMS - Allows an app access to send and receive SMS. The charges may apply are basically what you pay whenever you send an SMS.
Photos/Media/Files - If you want to send photos or files through an app, or edit them, it will need access to them.
Camera/Microphone - If you can send photos or record voice messages, it will need access to these features.
WiFi connection – Most apps requires internet connectivity of some kind, this just allows it to avail of that.
Access to SD card - If you want to save files/articles/photos and you use an SD card, then it can use the free space here to store them.
As mentioned before, it’s best to think of these app permission in the context of the app itself.
An app that focuses on photo editing shouldn’t need access to your SMS or calendar and a game shouldn’t need permission to access your contacts or calendar. Instead, look at what each app offers and compare the permissions to them.
The description they provide usually gives a clue as to what features they’ll need access to so provided you take a moment or two to compare the permissions with everything else, it should be fine.
And if your gut feeling suggests that the app you want to download isn’t being entirely honest, don’t download it.
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Enough about Kenny, what do you think about Trump John?
@Andrew Corcoran: You stole my punchline.
A few variations in the comments on this obvious joke here, delivery may leave a bit to be desired though. I was thinking along the lines of “…and Trump is no great shakes either.” Boom, boom.
@Andrew Corcoran:
BREAKING: Irish PM drops hand.
@Andrew Corcoran:
A “misogynist, sexual predator, liar”, sounds a lot like your friend Conor Cruise O’Brien.
I’m no fan of Trump, but he seems to be a target for the Irish political fraud class.
Get lost Halligan.
What type of people will Halliday meet with in Brazil ? Saints?
He’ll be smiling and shaking hands and getting pictures with people he won’t have a clue of. Moron. Jumping on the anti-Trump train purely for populist reasons when in actuality he couldn’t give a sh|t.
Halligan with his porno moustache !
Dyed..porno misstache
@Andrew Corcoran: He will kiss the bishops ring….go figure !!!!!
Halligan as always left out the most important part. …US president who has the power to make life very very difficult for the US based undocumented, and the documented and the many US corporations who reside here and employ tens of thousands of Irish people… so, No, Enda and his team need to tread extremely carefully. And I would imagine the 40 million Americans who claim some level of Irishness expect him to handle himself like a proper statesman
So we better just let him grab our pussy and be grateful he didn’t want a golden shower!
Daisy .. over dramatics as usual ..
@Lisa Callanan: Probably the most ignorant comment on The Journal for 2017 so far, well done. Firstly, they are not ‘undocumented’, they are ILLEGAL immigrants, are you defending their criminal activities?
Secondly, US corporations in Ireland couldn’t give a flying fcuk what Donald Trump thinks, or if Enda Kenny spat in his face, they’re here in Ireland to make MONEY, not as some kind of patriotic experiment.
Thirdly, cop on.
Good manners cost nothing OpenBorders.
they let you grab them by the pussy when your famous says more about the woman who let it happen than trump in fairness.
Seems like John Halligan can never open his mouth these days without mentioning Shane Ross.
What’s with these two amigos?
Bromance
A clown and a nobody – Halligan, elected by us…
@Fank Pulman:
He’s a minister. He should not be coming out and making statements asking others to do this and that. he should be telling/demanding/commanding from the cabinet table.
This rant is for his own ego and PR to look good in the eyes of his voters.
100% Alan. He’s in election mode.
It’s almost like projection, as in it takes one to know one.
Looking for free publicity – total fool – parish pump politician
Trump is democratically elected American president not some nobody milking the taxpayer and looking for attention
P.s. No one gives a damn what you think John – newsflash
@Fank Pulman:
Well, living in Waterford I have to take some responsibility in that regard having voted for John. He’s a great politician on local issues and his clinic does a huge amount of good work for ordinary people on a daily basis. But I certainly did not vote for him to prop up Fine Tory and he’ll have to start re-evaluating his social priorities if he’s to earn my vote again next time round.
Alan he is a politician first and for most and we know Irish politicians only really interested in next election
@Shane Cormican: Irish politicians? What? Unlike other politicians? Don’t be silly, that’s all they all think about. That’s democracy at work
There are very few people that will please everyone so should we have a national vote on who Kenny should meet and who he shouldn’t because of their views? If Le Pen gets elected or Wilders should we blank France and Holland as well? Diplomacy isn’t about having a laugh with your buddies it’s about doing business with those you dislike because you are putting your country before your personal feelings.
@Brian Ward: Keep your friends close and enemies ………..
Calm down, calm down, calm down John.
I hate Trump and all he stands for but I think it’s hilarious how people think our incredibly valuable diplomatic channels with the US should be shut down because Trump is in power. America is an ally of ours, let’s not damage decades of good relations just because there’s an idiot in the White House
@Tweety McTweeter:
Or another idiot at the cabinet table from Waterford.
Ahhh but Trump will tickle his belly… You can’t expect the man to turn down a belly tickling.
Maybe he’ll grab him by the pussy.
“‘He’s a misogynist, he’s a liar, he’s a sexual predator’: John Halligan not happy with Kenny meeting Trump”
I’m sure Trump will be able to cope with him.
It was the acceptance of FG dominance in Cabinet that finished Labour. It’s an easy win for FG every time. No doubt the threat to bring down the Govt on these points of principle has a cost in personal monetary terms and we know their principles do not stand up against cash in the now and the pot of gold in the future. So whinge and whine is what we get instead and hand wringing.
Being complete traitors to the people of ireland…getting into bed with fg …Alan kelly. …that’s what finished labour …
Ahh John wtf cares what you think about anything. You sold your constituents out for a pension for yourself. And why can’t you stay home instead of going to Brazil. Ohh of course it’s because over their you will be wined dined and saluted.
Jaysis.. I thought it was Gaddafi in the photo for a sec. Anyway with Brexit being triggered this Tuesday or Wednesday and possible emergency meetings of European leaders in the following days is it really the best time for Enda to be swanning off to Washington?
Well Mr Halligan we can’t all have cushy little ministerial jobs can we. Some of us have jobs in multinationals from the US. Would you rather if we made use of your social welfare system? Didn’t think so now shut your little beak
How do you know you Muppet haligan
Halligan is just miffed that he’s not going instead, tool
Trump’s advisers are probably asking him not to meet with a spineless treasonous idiot…
Enda a sexual predator? Well I never
Trump has something that neither Halligan nor Kenny have, BALLS
He’s rich and old, won’t have to deal with the consequences of his actions…
Enda is planning to go out with a bang by ripping Trump a new one. Don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret.
Abort Kenny’s ‘free’ holiday? Never. You’d have a better chance of getting a kiss off Mother Theresa.
How dare you speak about the President of the united states like that And you with the hair dyed off you..
Misogynist, liar, sexual predator…. But what does Halligan think about Trump?
@David Mac Shite: Doesn’t Halligan believe in fairies? Tw@t.
Don’t be ridiculous Snuff. It’s leprechauns.
Halligan is the worst kind of politician.
Pure ar$e hole.
So John Halligan labels somebody else a liar. We really have entered the twilight zone/
Look folks a hypocrite , all bark no bite halligan.
he not so quick to pass the same comment for priests and nuns,,,,,,,,,,too clever for that!
Enjoy the state sponsored junket in Brazil Mr. Halligan’s ball.I stepped out and I stepped in again learning how to do the samba in San Paulo after avoiding the aliens around the Bermuda Triangle.I don’t like that man said the state sponsored strictly come dancining Waterford waster.
Holy s**t, can’t believe Kenny is maintaining diplomatic relations with the most powerful country in the world and our biggest source of FDI. What a madman!
What a stupid wild statement a lot of Irish illegals are in the hands of the President and here is this dope attracting all the wrong press.
I once got help from a minister in his position to tell FAS to deliver a training course. Manager in FAS centre said “Nah, I don’t care” These ministers have bugger all power. Waste of time. Fire them and public servants. Interview to apply for a job back. Why do we support these morons every election? Shameful.
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