Actually, market does use several secret APIs - protected apps, install without multiple prompts, etc.
Overall I agree though, "google account info" is not (at least in 1.6) a "secret" api, its just something they did mostly-legitimately within the existing signing infrastructure, and something you could do (with or without root/system signing keys etc) for a different provider if you were motivated. On Wed, May 19, 2010 at 10:33 AM, a genius <[email protected]> wrote: > You have failed to understand the distinction between ANDROID and > GOOGLE APPS. > > These are quite different. > ANDROID, the PLATFORM, does not have google apps. Yes, Market/Maps/ > Signin/etc. are private closed source stuff. That doesn't mean that > ANDROID has private/hidden/inaccessible APIs. It means that some stuff > added in ON TOP of android does. > > I realize that it is difficult for one to rationalize the fact that > google is behind both sides, that doesn't mean that Android itself is > so disabled. > > In fact, ANDROID is OPEN SOURCE! You can't have a private/hidden API > in something that is open source! > That, of course, doesn't mean that everything there you can "just > use"... for some of the security sensitive things, you need to sign > your APK with the sake key as the rest of the platform. This is just > to ensure that malicious applications don't go stomping around with > what amounts to root access. > > If you want access to EVERYTHING, then you just need to get your hands > on the applicable signing key, or resign the whole platform with YOUR > key. > > On Apr 28, 12:22 pm, GodsMoon <[email protected]> wrote: > > The google account thing I was talking about is detailed here: > http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1073 > > > > 3rd party apps do not have permission to call that Intent but apps > > like Google Maps are. > > Sounds like a private API to me... > > > > David Shellabargerhttp://www.goldfishview.com > > > > On Apr 28, 7:05 am, Mark Murphy <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > GodsMoon wrote: > > > > I'm not saying that Google is malicious, but if this NY Times article > > > > is true that it is pure spin. > > > > > Most articles are. Heck, nowadays, most "news" is. In a world of blogs > > > and video and stuff, I take things that come from intermediaries with a > > > large grain of salt, maybe 12 inches (30.48cm) on a side... > > > > > And note, I used physical dimensions for my salt! Screen density > > > independence, FTW! > > > > > :-) > > > > > > Andy Rubin is VP of Engineering at Google and he started Android. > > > > > Like I said, he's an executive. > > > > > > I think this is much less a threat then allowing > > > > apps to send SMS messages. > > > > > Which is why there's a rate limiter on that API. One that others have > > > complained about, I might add. > > > > > > If timing is really the only issue here, then just let developers > know > > > > when the feature is coming in the interest of being "open". We can be > > > > patient; just let us know when. > > > > > No quibbles here on that point. OTOH, I wouldn't hold my breath if I > > > were you. :-( > > > > > > The fact that you can't turn the screen off based on the proximity > > > > sensor is ridiculous. This use-case is obvious and you should be able > > > > to do that the completely open system that Andy is describing. > > > > > Limiting the screen-off stuff to this -- say, a > > > setProximityScreenOffEnabled() method somewhere, perhaps PowerManager > -- > > > would help to clear up some of the security issues a well. It might > make > > > a useful first step towards making it more generally available. > > > > > > PS The Gmail account authentication API is private as well right? Did > > > > I just make that up? > > > > > Beats me -- I'm not sure what you're referring to. I haven't fussed > with > > > anything regarding Gmail on the device, largely because I don't use > Gmail. > > > > > -- > > > Mark Murphy (a Commons Guy)http://commonsware.com| > http://twitter.com/commonsguy > > > > > Android Training...At Your Office:http://commonsware.com/training > > > > > -- > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "Android Discuss" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<android-discuss%[email protected]> > . > > > For more options, visit this group athttp:// > groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en. > > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Android Discuss" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<android-discuss%[email protected]> > . > > For more options, visit this group athttp:// > groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Android Discuss" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<android-discuss%[email protected]> > . > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. 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