Will the New 10.3 feature app Ops with Selective Android App Permissions?
- OmnitechDragon SlayerThis is something I have been waiting for for a LONG time.
One of my main gripes about the Android platform is the fact that while there is a large list of specific app permissions, users are given no choice in what an installed app can have access to. You can see the permissions an app wants before you install it, but it's all or nothing: all you can do is install it, or not install it. BlackBerry devices, of course, have offered selective app permissions for years.
So when reports surfaced last year about a secret/undocumented feature in the latest version Android JellyBean version 4.3 that allowed users to selectively revoke app permissions, I thought that was quite an interesting development. But the joy didn't last long: 4.3 JellyBean was released on July 24th, and by December 9th with the release of 4.4 KitKat 4 months later, Google removed the feature, claiming it was "only an experiment". What a buzz kill!
Fast forward to May 2014, and I discover that BlackBerry has decided to include Android JellyBean 4.3 in the BlackBerry 10 Android runtime in version 10.3. Whoah! Would it include the infamous and highly sought-after "App Ops" feature??? Well, yes - yes it does!
So for those users and developers who are running a test/beta/SDK version of 10.3, here's how to gain access to "App Ops".
Basically it's a hidden app and not normally visible in the filesystem, so gaining access once you know how is fairly straightforward. Even simpler because a variety of apps have been released to make that shortcut for you.
Unsurprisingly, Google seems to be playing games with the search engine in Google Play and while I could find various "App Ops enabler" apps on the regular Play website, the only one that would show up when searching from RedLightOfLove's "Snap" Google Play app for BB10 was a poorly-designed one with poor reviews. So I got the APK via a 3rd-party Google Play search site. The app I chose is only 6 Kb, has no advertisements and requires no permissions. It has also been checked and verified OK by 2 different anti-malware checkers - important whenever you install Android apps from unknown sources.
All you need to do is download this APK file, open it and follow the install instructions. Your device needs to be set to allow installation of non-BlackBerry World apps if not already set. (Settings/App Manager/Installing Apps/Allow Apps from Other Sources to be Installed)
Below is the download link - just download it in your device browser. (Don't copy the link text and paste in - CrackBerry truncates long link text display in posts. Either click on it directly on your BlackBerry or use the "Copy link" or "Copy shortcut" feature in your browser if you need to)
http://apk-dl.com/store/apps/details...appopslauncher
Here's the Google Play web link, if you want to check out more details:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...appopslauncher
Once you install it, it creates a blue icon named "Permission Manager", which launches App Ops.
Below are some of the screens available - as you can see, you can sort by each category of permissions, check on an app-by-app basis, and a really cool feature - it will tell you if and when that specific app has ever used that particular permission in the past, and when. Very handy for determining whether revoking a permission will have a noticeable impact or not. (Apparently what this tool does is "proxy" the permission - basically fooling an app that it has permissions that it does not have. This is because Android apps were never designed to expect permissions to be selectively revoked.)
Bear in mind - the screenshots below are from the shortcut app, don't start thinking you can install Google Play, Gmail and Google Maps on a BB10 device just like that. There are still certain limits with the BB10 Android Runtime.
More info on "App Ops":
App Ops Brings Granular Permissions Control to Android 4.3 – xda-developers
Android 4.3 Includes Hidden App Permissions Manager That Could Bolster Privacy & Security | TechCrunch
How to Enable and Use Android 4.3 Permissions Manager - Guiding TechLast edited by Omnitech; 05-18-14 at 08:13 PM. Reason: Break up paragraph
05-18-14 04:32 PMLike 25 - Brilliant! This will be the first thing I do when I eventually load 10.3!
Channel for BlackBerry users in India05-18-14 04:43 PMLike 0 -
- This is something I have been waiting for for a LONG time.
One of my main gripes about the Android platform is the fact that while there is a large list of specific app permissions, users are given no choice in what an installed app can have access to. You can see the permissions an app wants before you install it, but it's all or nothing: all you can do is install it, or not install it. BlackBerry devices, of course, have offered selective app permissions for years.
So when reports surfaced last year about a secret/undocumented feature in the latest version Android JellyBean version 4.3 that allowed users to selectively revoke app permissions, I thought that was quite an interesting development. But the joy didn't last long: 4.3 JellyBean was released on July 24th, and by December 9th with the release of 4.4 KitKat 4 months later, Google removed the feature, claiming it was "only an experiment". What a buzz kill!
Fast forward to May 2014, and I discover that BlackBerry has decided to include Android JellyBean 4.3 in the BlackBerry 10 Android runtime in version 10.3. Whoah! Would it include the infamous and highly sought-after "App Ops" feature??? Well, yes - yes it does!
So for those users and developers who are running a test/beta/SDK version of 10.3, here's how to gain access to "App Ops".
Basically it's a hidden app and not normally visible in the filesystem, so gaining access once you know how is fairly straightforward. Even simpler because a variety of apps have been released to make that shortcut for you.
Unsurprisingly, Google seems to be playing games with the search engine in Google Play and while I could find various "App Ops enabler" apps on the regular Play website, the only one that would show up when searching from RedLightOfLove's "Snap" Google Play app for BB10 was a poorly-designed one with poor reviews. So I got the APK via a 3rd-party Google Play search site. The app I chose is only 6 Kb, has no advertisements and requires no permissions. It has also been checked and verified OK by 2 different anti-malware checkers - important whenever you install Android apps from unknown sources. All you need to do is download this APK file, open it and follow the install instructions. Your device needs to be set to allow installation of non-BlackBerry World apps if not already set. (Settings/App Manager/Installing Apps/Allow Apps from Other Sources to be Installed)
Below is the download link - just download it in your device browser. (Don't copy the link text and paste in - CrackBerry truncates long link text display in posts. Either click on it directly on your BlackBerry or use the "Copy link" or "Copy shortcut" feature in your browser if you need to)
http://apk-dl.com/store/apps/details...appopslauncher
Here's the Google Play web link, if you want to check out more details:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...appopslauncher
Once you install it, it creates a blue icon named "Permission Manager", which launches App Ops.
Below are some of the screens available - as you can see, you can sort by each category of permissions, check on an app-by-app basis, and a really cool feature - it will tell you if and when that specific app has ever used that particular permission in the past, and when. Very handy for determining whether revoking a permission will have a noticeable impact or not. (Apparently what this tool does is "proxy" the permission - basically fooling an app that it has permissions that it does not have. This is because Android apps were never designed to expect permissions to be selectively revoked.)
Bear in mind - the screenshots below are from the shortcut app, don't start thinking you can install Google Play, Gmail and Google Maps on a BB10 device just like that. There are still certain limits with the BB10 Android Runtime.
More info on "App Ops":
App Ops Brings Granular Permissions Control to Android 4.3 � xda-developers
Android 4.3 Includes Hidden App Permissions Manager That Could Bolster Privacy & Security | TechCrunch
How to Enable and Use Android 4.3 Permissions Manager - Guiding Tech
Anyone else?
Posted via CB1005-18-14 05:58 PMLike 0 - OmnitechDragon Slayer
If I recall you're reasonably technically astute so don't take offense for me going through the due diligence but you're on 10.3 and you have the "install from other sources" thing enabled, yes?
The filename should be "com.ovmobile.appopslauncher.apk".05-18-14 06:51 PMLike 0 - OmnitechDragon SlayerFWIW, I did see some weirdness today with some apps - ie where they show in the general list as expecting certain perms but when you press on the app and go to the detailed page those perms are not in the detailed list where you can adjust them.
Well even if it's glitchy sometimes it's 1000% better than the usual scenario.05-18-14 06:55 PMLike 0 -
And "Allow Apps from Other Sources to be Installed" is verified already enabled.05-18-14 07:21 PMLike 0 -
BB10 - call blocking please, BBM - too many to list05-18-14 07:47 PMLike 0 -
Get some rest dude. Soon (hopefully) a whole bunch of Z3 owners will be needing your help!
BB10 - call blocking please, BBM - too many to list05-18-14 07:55 PMLike 0 -
-
- Cool find, Omnitech. AFAIK, App Ops is a (deeply buried) menu in the 4.3 OS, and these apps are essentially shortcuts to that system menu. So how did App Ops make it into 10.3? I may know the answer to this, but I'm wondering if/when the runtime is updated to 4.4.2, is there any possibility App Ops stays in BB10's Android runtime?05-18-14 10:31 PMLike 0
-
- I hope they don't remove the Call Blocking Stuff from the Final OS Branch. I need this so bad.
Now I'm still missing full PGP / GPG Support. Then I can finally read my encrypted eMails on my Z10 and throw that extra Android Device into the Bin. [Yes I know there is a App for it. But after having a bad experience in the past with stolen/misused Keys, I have a bad feeling by going that route again].
Well Developers, start creating call blocking Apps. I'm not good enough for such a Project yet. The demand is definitely high. Thanks
Via CB10 App / [email protected]+296 Hybrid05-19-14 01:29 AMLike 0 - OmnitechDragon Slayer
It's a standard (but hidden) part of Android 4.3. Google removed it in 4.4.2.
While I think it's part of AOSP, I don't know if it's practical or feasible to port it to 4.4.2+ without major surgery. It may just be that traditional vendors are more handicapped in that respect because of the contractual obligations imposed by the Open Handset Alliance and the "full fat" version of Android, which of course BlackBerry is not a member of. (Nor do I expect them to be any time soon as it contains several stipulations that I'd think are inimical to the vendor of a competitive platform.)
In any case, I'm prepared to hang onto this version for dear life if this feature gets removed in future runtimes without some sort of replacement.
(FWIW - You can accomplish something similiar if you have a rooted device/runtime - I assume with tactics like re-writing a target APK's manifest on the fly or something - but I don't expect we will ever see an intentionally-rootable runtime from BlackBerry. )05-19-14 01:40 AMLike 0 -
Via CB10 App / [email protected]+296 Hybrid05-19-14 01:49 AMLike 0
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