We knew Google had the power to remotely remove Android apps — Microsoft and Apple have backdoors into their mobile operating systems, too — but it’s always a little disconcerting to see a kill switch used. Such is the case today, as we’ve just heard Google unleashed the hounds this week, siccing bits and bytes of remote deletion power on a pair of “practically useless” but still Terms of Service-infringing apps. Curiously enough, Google admits that most who’d downloaded these programs had deleted them already, and that this “exercise” of the remote application removal feature was a “cleanup” operation. Google says users will get a notification beamed to their phone if an app is removed, however — so as Big Brother as that all sounds, at least the company’s being nice and transparent about the whole matter, eh?
[Thanks, Matt]
Google flexes biceps, flicks Android remote kill switch for the first time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Related News
Microsoft and Apple still in talks for Bing iPhone search option, Google is not on notice- Google setting up music store later this year, looking for search and Android synergy
Nokia completes its N8 video tour with media player and HDMI demo
Financial Times: US antitrust regulators plan to investigate Apple’s mobile advertising practices
Sound ID’s 510 Bluetooth headset has iPhone app to match