Google blocks paid apps for unlocked G1 users
People who bought an unlocked version of the Android G1 phone are no longer allowed to download new paid applications from the Market, after a change Google made late last week.
Google is prohibiting users of the unlocked phones from viewing copy-protected applications, including those that cost to download.
The Developer version of the G1 comes unlocked to any particular mobile operator and is priced at US$400. Anyone who joins the Android developer program for $25 can buy the phone.
Last week, Google employees began replying to questions people posted on the Android Market Help Web site about being unable to see copy protected applications in the store. "If you're using an unlocked, developer phone, you'll be unable to view any copy-protected application," wrote Google employee Ash on the help site in reply to a user's question on Friday. "This is a change that was made recently."
While Google offered only slim details about why it made the change, it could be an attempt to close a loophole that reportedly allows users of the unlocked phone to download paid applications for free. "The Developer version of the G1 is designed to give developers complete flexibility," Google said in a statement. "These phones give developers of handset software full permissions to all aspects of the device... We aren't distributing copy protected applications to these phones in order to minimize unauthorized copy of the applications."
A couple of developers have theories about the issue behind the move. Tim at the Strazzere.com blog discovered that protected applications are automatically downloaded into a private folder on Android phones. Most phone users can't access that file but users of the Developer phone can.
That means a Developer phone user could buy an application, copy it from the private folder, return the application for a refund and then re-download the application to the phone, the developers say. The Android Market allows anyone to return an application within 24 hours.
The Phandroid blog and a few developers commenting on the blog said they were able to download and copy-protected applications. Some developers are surprised that assigning the application to a specific folder is the only copy protection given to applications.
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I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
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g1
That's real stupid after u pay all this damn money on this phone you would think that the apps should be free to download they already charge a arm'n leg for the service plus u have to get a data plan that's another 35$added to the plan...I'm just real upset I have some of the softwares already downloaded and they have new updates now and I can't. Even update less I pay 9.99 that's some straight b'sRidiculous
Google you need to come up with a better security framework than this.I have both a G1 and a Dev Phone.
I am WAY BEYOND annoyed from this news.
latanya...cupcake, you're
latanya...cupcake, you're missing the point. you're confusing Google and T-Mobile and a bunch of random developers. they are not one entity.Google's been suspect for a while now. they've been acting a lot like another big software company who shall remain nameless...