It looks like the search giant was forced to remove a couple less than honest apps from Android devices after they discovered that the mobile programs did not perform the function detailed by their creators.
Recently, we became aware of two free applications built by a security researcher for research purposes. These applications intentionally misrepresented their purpose in order to encourage user downloads, but they were not designed to be used maliciously, and did not have permission to access private data — or system resources beyond permission.INTERNET. As the applications were practically useless, most users uninstalled the applications shortly after downloading them.
After the researcher voluntarily removed these applications from Android Market, we decided, per the Android Market Terms of Service, to exercise our remote application removal feature on the remaining installed copies to complete the cleanup. (Android Developers Blog)
Unlike iOS where apps must survive a tribunal in order to appear on the app store, Android Apps are automatically uploaded as soon as they are submitted (which might explain why the software is gaining market share despite iPhone 4).
While the Android apps removed were not dangerous (which is a good thing), this latest episode does give credence to Apple’s reasoning for approving every app that appears in their store (even if frustrates developers).
Despite the incident, Google remains committed to keeping the Android Market open and tribunal free, although fans of the green robot need to be careful about apps that they choose to download upon their Android smartphones.
(via Android Central)
Originally posted on June 24, 2010 @ 7:03 pm