Is Google Play Services a problem or isn't it?

[nickdalzell]

Even if the requirement involved using Google Wallet (which depends on Play Services) isn't Wallet used for in-app purchases? What bank app would need in-app purchases? They usually work only to view account balance and recent transactions...

The only thing that I can see is that this requirement only applies to apps downloaded/purchased through Play Store itself. Try downloading it from Amazon or 1Mobile and see if it works then?

 

[John Bean]

The only thing that I can see is that this requirement only applies to apps downloaded/purchased through Play Store itself. Try downloading it from Amazon or 1Mobile and see if it works then?

That thought occurred to me as well, although it's possible that the bank have only made their app available on the Play Store. If that's the case I would try disabling all the offending Google apps like Play Services after downloading/updating the banking app and see if anything breaks.

 

[mikedt]

"1Mobile" ...something to be aware of, if your banking app comes via Beijing it may not be 100% trustworthy. Particularly if you're in the US. You do have two factor authentication?

 

[tommo47]

Both banking apps I use are only available from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Having read the description of the Google Play Services app :-

Spoiler

Description
Google Play services is used to update Google apps and apps from Google Play.
This component provides core functionality like authentication to your Google services, synchronised contacts, access to all the latest user privacy settings and higher quality, lower-powered location based services.
Google Play services also enhances your app experience. It speeds up offline searches, provides more immersive maps and improves gaming experiences.
Apps may not work if you uninstall Google Play services.

it may well have something to do with the reference to 'access to all the latest user privacy settings', whatever that may mean.

One of my banking apps also strongly recommends not using it on a rooted phone. The Case Against Root: Why Android Devices Don’t Come Rooted

I'm also inclined to say that as Google acquired Android in 2005, just two years after it's appearance, and have been responsible for the development ever since, if you have Android, you have Google (apart from a few exceptions).

I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Hadron]

It sounds more like in this case the banking app is using part of Google's services. HH33 says it won't *open* without the update.

I don't have a banking app on my phone. The one time I had to use it in an emergency I just used a browser for that single session (with no form data or password saving).

 

[tommo47]

That could be because the malware and app verification function introduced with Android 4.2 is now part of Google Play Services.

App verification

 

[tommo47]

Hi, chanchan05,

Thanks for your informative post. I don't use any of the Google apps you mentioned, but when my bank's mobile app suddenly refused to work unless I updated Google Play Services (GPS), it suddenly became more than a "Google-related" matter for me.

Perhaps it would help if I were to restate my questions better:

A) Is GPS in fact unduly large, or is that merely the complaint of those with limited storage space on their phones?

B) Whether large or small, can it be moved to my external SD card, where I have loads of room, thus making its size (relatively) irrelevant?

C) Are the multiple reports of GPS causing rapid battery drain correct, and if so, has this problem been corrected in the latest version of GPS, or does it still exist?

D) Is GPS removable after installation, or is its installation an irreversible step?

Many thanks to any and all who can answer those questions.

Cheers,

HH33

Hi HH33,

Perhaps the following info will help to explain how important the Google Play Service app is, and also why it seems to affect battery drain - it performs work for a lot of other Google and other apps thus reducing the battery drain of those apps/other parts of the OS.

Google Play Services

More

 

[HealingHands33]

Hi HH33,

Perhaps the following info will help to explain how important the Google Play Service app is, and also why it seems to affect battery drain - it performs work for a lot of other Google and other apps thus reducing the battery drain of those apps/other parts of the OS.

Google Play Services

More

Hi, Tommo47,

Many thanks for your incredibly informative and helpful links. The information they provided has given me a much clearer picture of what is going on with Google Play Services.

That's not to say, however, that I'm comfortable with the idea of a program that can actually give itself extra permissions without my consent: Say what?!? As one person commented in one of those links:

"Given how aggressive that Google is becoming about demanding location info from users and either nagging the user or turning off services which don't directly rely on locations, I find a Google app that can do anything it wants at any time disturbing."

Amen. Another expressed my concerns more succinctly:

"Is there going to be a way to opt out of this or is Google going to completely take over my phone against my will?

If someone technical who actually gave a damn about privacy were to come up with a non-invasive, privacy-protecting alternative mobile platform to compete with Google, Apple, and Micro$oft, he or she would probably make a real pile of money. In the meantime, welcome to Big Brother.

Thanks again for your excellent post.

Cheers,
HH33

 

[nickdalzell]

Actually Android is separate from Google. As evidenced by the many budget Android devices without a single Google App on them. Amazon Kindle Fire is a good example. I'd fully de-google all my devices if it didn't break Google+. There was a version often found on old FroYo devices that didn't depend on Play Services but trying to sideload it onto any device running version 4 and higher results in a connection error.

1mobile has never had issues in my use. Play Store probably works 50 percent of the time which doesn't cut it. It also never saves the APK after an install where you can back it up without rooting either. Delete the app, you use data to reinstall again later (not all of us are blessed with home broadband internet). 1Mobile has all the free apps from Google Play as well. So long as you download only apps which are also available on Google Play and none of the rest you should be fine.

 

[mikedt]

Actually Android is separate from Google. As evidenced by the many budget Android devices without a single Google App on them. Amazon Kindle Fire is a good example. I'd fully de-google all my devices if it didn't break Google+. There was a version often found on old FroYo devices that didn't depend on Play Services but trying to sideload it onto any device running version 4 and higher results in a connection error.

1mobile has never had issues in my use. Play Store probably works 50 percent of the time which doesn't cut it. It also never saves the APK after an install where you can back it up without rooting either. Delete the app, you use data to reinstall again later (not all of us are blessed with home broadband internet). 1Mobile has all the free apps from Google Play as well. So long as you download only apps which are also available on Google Play and none of the rest you should be fine.

Have you seen the errors that say "License is invalid.", "Unable to connect to download server.", "Application not installed." or "身份验证错误"?

BTW Welcome to China.

 

[Slug]

So long as you download only apps which are also available on Google Play and none of the rest you should be fine.

How do you know that apps are the ones available on Play, or haven't been tampered with to include malware etc? It's not as if they're mirrored links to Play - these are all hosted by 1Mobile and could be anything.

 

[nickdalzell]

i am speaking of apps i know exist on Google Play (such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Maps, etc).

As for errors, the only thing that 1Mobile did was just hang at the 'preparing to download' part. but the later versions have fixed that bug. i have never had any of the many Play Store's errors with it (cannot be downloaded due to an error 927, no connection retry, etc)

'Package file is invalid' is exclusive to Play Store, often on apps that break 50MB--that is why Google recently added 'additional file' as part of the download--at least i think that is why. it only happened when updating large-sized apps.

As for malware, i've had enough older devices filled with Airpush and ad crap to know how it manifests itself. devices with wakelock issues, random reboots, etc also are indicators. but Play Store is not ever going to be fixed, Android Market, which worked fine until the rebranding is not coming back, and i am sick of their crap compatibility filter to go back to it. currently the only time i fire up Google Play Store is to buy movies, books, or download a previously purchased app that does not exist on Amazon, where i'd gladly buy it again to use a better app store if possible.

 

[mikedt]

Thing is now do I know that these two banking apps that are also on Google Play, but in this case come from Beijing, are actually secure and haven't been tampered with.

 

[nickdalzell]

i don't even know which app the OP uses. Old National Bank has no app for Android that i know of and the website does all i need it to without the need for a redundant app. certainly one dependent on Google Play for no legitimate reason.

 

[Hirsch]

I turned off Google play services tonight, should have done it long ago, everything on my phone is so much faster now.