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0 pointsSplendor11y ago0 comments

Just for the sake of clarity, do you mean that there are more apps that are sandboxed on iOS or that all apps have a higher level of sandboxing on iOS?

0 comments

9 comments · 2 top-level

noblethrasher11y ago· 7 in thread

More "sandboxed" in the sense that iOS apps start in a small sandbox that gets progressively and opportunistically larger. Instead of demanding all permissions upon installation, they demand them contemporaneously with attempted access to certain resources. The idea is that user consent is more informed.

In contrast, Android apps demand all of their permissions up front.

runeks11y ago

More importantly, if you ask me: iOS allows you to install an app, and deny it permission to something. Eg. I can deny the Facebook app access to my contact list, and the app still works.

With Android, you grant an app access to everything it asks for, or you aren't allowed to install it. This seems obviously inferior to me.

easytiger11y ago

With Ap Ops since 4.3 you can twiddle them individually.

theshrike7911y ago

But won't the apps still crash, because they are expecting the rights to be there?

vlunkr11y ago

Even beyond that though, if an iOS app requests ALL possible permissions, it doesn't have the same capabilities that an android app does.

kelnos11y ago

I consider that a weakness of iOS as a platform. There are some pretty cool and useful things you can do with an Android app that you just can't do on iOS, period.

Android's permission-granting model does leave much to be desired, though.

robmcm11y ago

This is the other edge of the privacy sword. Look at OSX applications distributed via the Mac App Store vs traditional methods. The Mac App Store is very limiting but far more secure.

I value my privacy and the privacy of those I have information about on my device over some "feature" that "could be cool" but will almost certainly be exploited. http://news.yahoo.com/android-malware-only-pretends-turn-185...

smokeyj11y ago

> There are some pretty cool and useful things you can do with an Android app that you just can't do on iOS, period.

Such as?

2 more replies

vlunkr11y ago

The second option, that all apps have a higher level of sandboxing. Until iOS 8 apps couldn't do anything to modify the OS besides adding push notifications and maybe a page in the settings.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

9 comments · 2 top-level

noblethrasher11y ago· 7 in thread

In contrast, Android apps demand all of their permissions up front.

runeks11y ago

More importantly, if you ask me: iOS allows you to install an app, and deny it permission to something. Eg. I can deny the Facebook app access to my contact list, and the app still works.

With Android, you grant an app access to everything it asks for, or you aren't allowed to install it. This seems obviously inferior to me.

easytiger11y ago

With Ap Ops since 4.3 you can twiddle them individually.

theshrike7911y ago

But won't the apps still crash, because they are expecting the rights to be there?

vlunkr11y ago

Even beyond that though, if an iOS app requests ALL possible permissions, it doesn't have the same capabilities that an android app does.

kelnos11y ago

I consider that a weakness of iOS as a platform. There are some pretty cool and useful things you can do with an Android app that you just can't do on iOS, period.

Android's permission-granting model does leave much to be desired, though.

robmcm11y ago

This is the other edge of the privacy sword. Look at OSX applications distributed via the Mac App Store vs traditional methods. The Mac App Store is very limiting but far more secure.

smokeyj11y ago

> There are some pretty cool and useful things you can do with an Android app that you just can't do on iOS, period.

Such as?

2 more replies

vlunkr11y ago

The second option, that all apps have a higher level of sandboxing. Until iOS 8 apps couldn't do anything to modify the OS besides adding push notifications and maybe a page in the settings.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse