Android Question Other permission list empty?

[stanmiller]

We just launched our first app on the Play Store.

Blue Max Calculator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.macthomasengineering.bluemaxcalculator

The app requires no special permissions, however when you view the permissions in the store listing the "Other" group shows with a ? mark.

Is this normal for permission-less apps?

If so, can anyone recommend a neutral or generic permission we could add such that we have at least one permission listed in other?

One option is to add the Google Play Licensing check but that may prevent the app from being side-loaded on AOSP editions of Android.

 

[Erel]

Is this normal for permission-less apps?

I don't think so.

Are you sure that there are no permission?
1. Click on the List Permissions button in the logs tag.
If it doesn't find any permission then check the generated AndroidManifest.xml file and see whether there are any permission entries.

 

[stanmiller]

I don't think so.

Are you sure that there are no permission?
1. Click on the List Permissions button in the logs tag.
If it doesn't find any permission then check the generated AndroidManifest.xml file and see whether there are any permission entries.

Puzzling. IDE reports no permissions.

App Manifest.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="com.macthomasengineering.bluemaxcalculator"
    android:versionCode="168"
    android:versionName="1.0.168"
    android:installLocation="internalOnly">
   
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="15" android:targetSdkVersion="23"/>
    <supports-screens android:largeScreens="true" 
       android:normalScreens="true" 
       android:smallScreens="true" 
       android:anyDensity="true"/>
    <application
        android:icon="@drawable/icon"
        android:label="Blue Max Calculator"
        android:theme="@style/MyAppTheme">
        <activity
            android:windowSoftInputMode="adjustResize|stateHidden"
            android:launchMode="singleTop"
            android:name=".main"
            android:label="Blue Max Calculator"
            android:screenOrientation="portrait">
            <intent-filter>
              <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
              <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
            </intent-filter>
           
        </activity>
        <activity
            android:windowSoftInputMode="stateHidden"
            android:launchMode="singleTop"
            android:name=".about"
            android:label="Blue Max Calculator"
            android:screenOrientation="portrait">
        </activity>
    </application>
</manifest>

 

[Erel]

There are no permissions here.

Check the permissions listed in the developer console. Click on APK and then on the latest version.

 

[stanmiller]

Doesn't appear the APK details report (or reveal) any permissions.

 

[stanmiller]

I also decompiled the .APK with apktool and the manifest was the same as the project.

Apktool
http://ibotpeaches.github.io/Apktool/

 

[stanmiller]

I checked a few store listings and it appears that "Other?" with an empty list is how permissions are reported for apps with no special permissions.

For example see this listing for a drum sequencer app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gk.sequencer&hl=en

 

[stanmiller]

Solved. I simply added the license check permission, but didn't implement anything. Now, no more ambiguous permission list.

AddPermission(com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE)

The empty list under "Other" is bad form on Google's behalf. If the app declares zero permissions then Google should report this status accurately. Otherwise users may mistake the blank "? Other" group as undisclosed permissions at the time of publishing.