Question:
What are the application permissions to my Android device used for?
Answer:
The My Movies for Android application have various permissions it requires when being installed on your device. These permissions with good reason is a concern to many users, as it is not possible for us in the Google Play Store, or the Amazon App Store to explain the usage of these.
At the same time, some of the permissions gives the application a wider access than what we would like, but the permissions either is given to the full functionality or none at all. Similar, it would have been ideal for the user to be prompted for these permissions when attempting to use the functionality that required the permission, to avoid all users to have to accept the permission, but the Android system unfortunately does not allow for such implementation.
Below is a specific outline of the reasons the application requires these permissions:
HARDWARE CONTROLS
TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS - Allows the app to take pictures and videos with the camera. This permission allows the app to use the camera at any time without your confirmation.
This permission is required for barcode scanning operation. The barcode scanner opens your camera, and uses the camera as a live photo stream, to scan barcodes.
NETWORK COMMUNICATION
FULL NETWORK ACCESS - Allows the app to create network sockets and use custom network protocols. The browser and other applications provide means to send data to the internet, so this permission is not required to send data to the internet.
This permission is required to communicate with the My Movies Online Service, where your collection is synchronized to and from.
YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
READ YOUR CONTACTS - Allows the app to read data about your contacts stored on your tablet, including the frequency with which you've called, emailed, or communicated in other ways with specific individuals. This permission allows apps to save your contact data, and malicious apps may share contact data without your knowledge.
This permission is used through the "Lend to" functionality, where you can lend your titles to family or friends. In this function, you can input who you are lending the title to, and when it is due. Through this function, you can also select a contact from your contacts library, which is what requires this permission. The permission unfortunately gives the option of a lot more information than what the application needs, but this data is not read or used in any way.
STORAGE
MODIFY OR DELETE THE CONTENTS OF YOUR USB STORAGE MODIFY OR DELETE THE CONTENTS OF YOUR SD CARD - Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.
The application stores your movie collection by default on your primary SD card, and requires this permission to do so.
SYSTEM TOOLS
ALLOW WI-FI MULTICAST RECEPTION - Allows the app to receive packets sent to all devices on a Wi-Fi network using multicast addresses, not just your tablet. It uses more power than the non-multicast mode.
The application includes a functionality to operate as a remote control for My Movies for Windows within Windows Media Center. To support easy configuration of this, a technology called ZeroConfig is used, also knows as Bonjour in the Apple world. It allows the application to listen to specific network packages, allowing it to detect available Windows Media Center devices without user configuration. This permission is required for this functionality to operate.
CHANGE NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
Allows the app to change the state of network connectivity.
The application includes a functionality to operate as a remote control for My Movies for Windows within Windows Media Center. To support easy configuration of this, a technology called ZeroConfig is used, also knows as Bonjour in the Apple world. It allows the application to listen to specific network packages, allowing it to detect available Windows Media Center devices without user configuration. This permission is required for this functionality to operate.
In relation to this topic, we also would like to refer to our privacy policy:
http://www.mymovies.dk/about/privacy-policy.aspx