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I don't like installing any Apps?

V

VincentAnoid

Android Enthusiast
I'm scared to install any apps on my Galaxy Nexus because I don't want to mess up the phone. Well I know that Google Play has a virus kicker so that's not likely but I don't want apps making their own directories/folders in my phones storage space and when I uninstall them they don't delete.

I want to take advantage of the 25p apps with the 25 Billion App downloads offer :)
 
Apps don't tend to do anything to the phone if their downloaded from third party sites then possibly but not off the Play Store :)
 
But how can I know this after I've uninstalled it? I've found empty folders and small files after I've uninstalled before :S
 
Yes some apps create directories to store data and such nothing harmful I've downloaded probably 1000+ apps and no harm done I delete the folder after I unistall the app :)
 
But that's a lot of trouble though? Deleting folders after uninstalling an App, I beleieve everything should be removed after an installation. And that means god knows how many folders one app could put on my phone and mess with my original directories
 
Theres nothing stopping it from doing that though? And I'm kind of thinking ahead to what if I download an App, uninstall and then forget to delete folder. And give my phone away, someone will find what i've installed xD
 
No if you give your phone away you wipe all data clearing EVERYTHING off the phone and you take your SD card :) when you go to install apps you will see what the app does like adding directories keeping backlight on stuff like that :)
 
I suppose a factory reset will fix that privacy concern. I know what you mean by the permissions but once I have allowed it to install it can place as many folders etc as it pleases.
 
No it won't just keep making folders it'll make one for example I Download an app call gnomes it places a folder on my SD called gnomes the cache from the app could be placed there or anything from that app
Here's a better example
Chrome browser makes a folder called chrome inside it makes downloads and anything I download with that browser will be placed in there
 
hhhmm... i get what you are saying..
kind of like .. to make an omlette you got to break a few eggs. and there will be a mess to clean up after it. but you want a clean kitchen.

NORMALLY.. apps only create 1 director in the MAIN root directory.
it is part of the process.. nothing can be done about it.
not that hard for you to delete afterwards.. if you choose.. if it is still there.



you want to take advantage:
of your smartphone
of your android market
of apps
of the 25 play store promotion
then you got to just get over it and do it.

do it
do it
DO IT!!!!

:D
 
Oh right I see, but will an App always create a folder in the /root directory? Because some Apps I've downloaded before have went into the /root/android directory :S

EDIT: Yeah I know I'm stressing a little. But won't all these directories slow my phone down when I turn it on. Because theres some media scanner thing.
 
Free apps have more garbage on them. Get the paid version if a big concern.

An empty folder or one with a few KB in it will not slow down your system unless malicious code.
 
i think you give yourself too much stress of the little things in life!

millions and millions of users do it all the time...
come join in on the fun!
 
Yeah haha, I have a tablet which I use to install endless number of games/apps on, I usually keep my phone free from any third party apps that aren't Google because I find that's where I do most of my imporant things.
 
It's funny that you are sooo worried about malware yet you download, install, and play scores if not hundreds of games! One of the black hats' favorite malware vehicles...

Good luck, my friend.
 
I see so many people doing this. If you don't want apps etc don't wast your money on a smart phone, there are plenty good phones out there that will text and make calls. If you want a small computer in your pocket get a smart phone. However in order for that smart phone to do its stuff it requires Apps. Just chill and go with it, if you carried your thinking over you would never put bookmarks on your PC, visit Web sites or install software. Enjoy your Smartphone, I certainly do :-)
 
Sommelier said:
It's funny that you are sooo worried about malware yet you download, install, and play scores if not hundreds of games! One of the black hats' favorite malware vehicles...

Good luck, my friend.
Click to expand...
Yes but that's only on my tablet which is isolated from my phone
 
True there are many phones out there that do that, but they just aren't as smooth or desirable you know ;)

And your quite right about the PC thing, infact the only times when I install things on my laptop which I am not 100% certain of I do it through a sandbox. No registry files, no nothing when I delete that sandbox :P

PS: I have installed an App :) BTW can you get sandbox for Android :O (So I can do what I do on PC?) xD
 
Sommelier said:
It's funny that you are sooo worried about malware yet you download, install, and play scores if not hundreds of games! One of the black hats' favorite malware vehicles...

Good luck, my friend.
Click to expand...

If you read permissions and know what they mean, you have nothing to fear. People who download every available app may have reason to be worried, but the average user doesn't do that. This fear is way off base.
 
I can kind of guess what the permissions mean by reading the small description next to them. But some apps could have a way of convincing the need for this permission to operate.
 
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