Android features kill-switch - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 17th Oct 2008, 12:48

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/10...-kill-switch/1

Google's Android mobile platform features a remote application kill-switch similar to the one found in Apple's iPhone - but the company is remarkably up-front about the functionality.

liratheal · 17th Oct 2008, 12:51

Not shocked. At all.

With application stores, either as closed as Apple or as open as Android, there needs to be an option like this. More so with Google than Apple, but hey.

At least they're being more up front than Apple about the whole thing.

[USRF]Obiwan · 17th Oct 2008, 12:54

wtf?

obi talking dirty over the phone to his girly...

GOOGLE: (in a android like simulated voice) "MDK! MDK! your phone will be disabled for 5 minutes for violating rule 36"

Rule 36: Your repeated violation of the Verbal Morality Statute

shigllgetcha · 17th Oct 2008, 13:03

you can do whatever you want as long as we agree with it

BioSniper · 17th Oct 2008, 13:19

What irks me is peopling saying "oh well, it's probably a good idea". Yet when apple does it people cry foul.

liratheal · 17th Oct 2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

What irks me is peopling saying "oh well, it's probably a good idea". Yet when apple does it people cry foul.

There is a difference between the two, though. Apple control their store very, very strictly. However, Google are running a much more open store, so the chance for malicious apps is much, much higher.

It also helps that Google have got this pretty up front, where as Apple didn't tell anyone until someone stumbled across the black list in the phones firmware.

Doing something like this with no explaination gives people a reason to cry foul, and yet, doing the exact same thing, but telling the users, and providing a fairly sound reason, isn't really giving people a leg to stand on to complain about it. As a side note, I wasn't fussed about Apple doing it either, but hey.

quack · 17th Oct 2008, 13:32

Wasn't fussed about the Apple kill-switch, not fussed about this one either.

Tomm · 17th Oct 2008, 13:45

I think the interesting thing will be how they choose to exercise their right to use the killswitch. Will it just be used to help users rid their phones of malicious programs, or will they block other programs that Google or T-mobile just disagree with?

I know that a few iphone apps to allow using the iPhone as a modem have been pulled from the app store, presumably because AT&T (and the other major carriers) didn't like the sound of it (although I don't believe Apple have used the killswitch to remove programs from your device yet?). I don't really see how this news can be interpreted as being good for the consumer, but I'm not going to get too upset by it.

liratheal · 17th Oct 2008, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomm

I know that a few iphone apps to allow using the iPhone as a modem have been pulled from the app store, presumably because AT&T (and the other major carriers) didn't like the sound of it (although I don't believe Apple have used the killswitch to remove programs from your device yet?). I don't really see how this news can be interpreted as being good for the consumer, but I'm not going to get too upset by it.

Yeah, AT&T (Not sure about O2, but I expect they're the same. More than likely driven by Apple, to be honest) don't want the iPhone (Unsure about their other 3G phones) being 'tethered' (Used as a modem), which is a real kick in the junk.

War-Rasta · 17th Oct 2008, 17:49

I don't know how anybody could not be upset by this. I don't own an iphone and don't plan on ever getting one and as for google's phone I don't think I'll get one any time soon IF i ever do get one, but giving google, apple or any company for that matter the power t odecide what goes on your phone just seems like a stupid concept to me. I wouldn't want Microsoft or Intel deciding which apps I can install on my computer just because my CPU or OS come from them! If I paid for the thing I have the right to do as I please with it and if I Install something that breaks my phone in two after it sent my passwords and credit card information to a terrorist organization that drives over baby cats in the Philippines that's my problem! Do you go crying to MS when you catch a virus on your computer? What they have to do is make sure that whatever they sell is not gonna do any kind of nasty things in the first place, but once I have an app on my phone it should stay there. If they find something they missed and want to pull the app off the should send me some kind of notice and I'll choose what to do.

Lepermessiah · 17th Oct 2008, 19:16

I wants me an Android.

Tulatin · 17th Oct 2008, 23:10

Short of for rifling malware, I don't see the ethical grounds for this.

It would be akin to Microsoft being able to parse your list of installed applications, and remove them at will.

D B · 18th Oct 2008, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tulatin

Short of for rifling malware, I don't see the ethical grounds for this.

It would be akin to Microsoft being able to parse your list of installed applications, and remove them at will.

That's pretty much what I think of the whole thing

p3n · 18th Oct 2008, 12:21

They have to have a killswitch for mobile networks to agree to have it on their network, its simple people.

D B · 18th Oct 2008, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by p3n

They have to have a killswitch for mobile networks to agree to have it on their network, its simple people.

?
please expand on this for us simple people

... this is true for all phones? ... all networks

17th Oct 2008, 12:48	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 8,011	Android features kill-switch http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/10...-kill-switch/1 Google's Android mobile platform features a remote application kill-switch similar to the one found in Apple's iPhone - but the company is remarkably up-front about the functionality. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

17th Oct 2008, 12:51	#2
liratheal Just got a great book on tape Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 3,652	Not shocked. At all. With application stores, either as closed as Apple or as open as Android, there needs to be an option like this. More so with Google than Apple, but hey. At least they're being more up front than Apple about the whole thing. __________________ Gigabyte MA790FX, X4 9950 Black Edition, 8gb Geil Black Dragon, 2x4870 512mb, Antec TruePower Quattro 850w I game, Do you?

17th Oct 2008, 12:54	#3
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,220	wtf? obi talking dirty over the phone to his girly... GOOGLE: (in a android like simulated voice) "MDK! MDK! your phone will be disabled for 5 minutes for violating rule 36" Rule 36: Your repeated violation of the Verbal Morality Statute __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

17th Oct 2008, 13:03	#4
shigllgetcha Hypermodder Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ireland Posts: 854	you can do whatever you want as long as we agree with it __________________ xbox live id: shigllgetcha ¦ I dont trust anything I hear on QI PC: some dell

17th Oct 2008, 13:19	#5
BioSniper I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere in the south Posts: 3,462	What irks me is peopling saying "oh well, it's probably a good idea". Yet when apple does it people cry foul. __________________ My Flickr :: Bit-tech Flickr Wii: 1792 1527 2926 7945 :: Xbox Live: BioSnipr :: PSN: Biosnipr

17th Oct 2008, 13:32	#7
quack \o/ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Posts: 5,222	Wasn't fussed about the Apple kill-switch, not fussed about this one either. __________________ Denying Rights to Music lovers. Denying Rights to Movie lovers.

17th Oct 2008, 13:45	#8
Tomm I also ride trials :¬) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fallowfield, Manchester Posts: 2,233	I think the interesting thing will be how they choose to exercise their right to use the killswitch. Will it just be used to help users rid their phones of malicious programs, or will they block other programs that Google or T-mobile just disagree with? I know that a few iphone apps to allow using the iPhone as a modem have been pulled from the app store, presumably because AT&T (and the other major carriers) didn't like the sound of it (although I don't believe Apple have used the killswitch to remove programs from your device yet?). I don't really see how this news can be interpreted as being good for the consumer, but I'm not going to get too upset by it. __________________ Carrot cake cheesecake Shuttle SN85G4V2 \| A64 3200+ / Apple PowerBook 12

17th Oct 2008, 17:49	#10
War-Rasta Supermodder Join Date: May 2002 Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. Posts: 380	I don't know how anybody could not be upset by this. I don't own an iphone and don't plan on ever getting one and as for google's phone I don't think I'll get one any time soon IF i ever do get one, but giving google, apple or any company for that matter the power t odecide what goes on your phone just seems like a stupid concept to me. I wouldn't want Microsoft or Intel deciding which apps I can install on my computer just because my CPU or OS come from them! If I paid for the thing I have the right to do as I please with it and if I Install something that breaks my phone in two after it sent my passwords and credit card information to a terrorist organization that drives over baby cats in the Philippines that's my problem! Do you go crying to MS when you catch a virus on your computer? What they have to do is make sure that whatever they sell is not gonna do any kind of nasty things in the first place, but once I have an app on my phone it should stay there. If they find something they missed and want to pull the app off the should send me some kind of notice and I'll choose what to do. __________________ Proud member of WarNet Inc. WarNet Rulez!!

17th Oct 2008, 19:16	#11
Lepermessiah Banned Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 566	I wants me an Android.

17th Oct 2008, 23:10	#12
Tulatin The Froggy Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 2,942	Short of for rifling malware, I don't see the ethical grounds for this. It would be akin to Microsoft being able to parse your list of installed applications, and remove them at will. __________________ Desky E8400 @ 4.0 1.42v; P5K-E WiFi; 4x1 Kingmax Mars 1066 @ 1129 CAS 5; 2x [TOO CHEAP TO SPONSOR] 4850 @ 675/1050; Enermax Liberty; WCing in a CM690

18th Oct 2008, 12:21	#14
p3n Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 737	They have to have a killswitch for mobile networks to agree to have it on their network, its simple people.