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Topic: Does Google have Bitcoin by the balls? (Read 3367 times)

sr. member
Activity: 280
Merit: 257
bluemeanie
November 23, 2013, 05:29:53 PM
#29
Btw just noticed today a new feature on my tablet...

Android want to let Google check for problematic software...

It does let you opt out though.
sr. member
Activity: 280
Merit: 257
bluemeanie
November 23, 2013, 12:28:13 PM
#28
Does google have Bitcoin by the balls? 

Google does not have the same control over application development in Android as Apple has for Iphones.

You can develop an Android app on your own PC and upload it to your phone without Google knowing anything about it.  There are apps for just about anything considered 'edgy' including Bitcoin and Bittorrent.

So the answer is no.  To alter the Android app-sphere in such a way to put Google in control would require some very serious changes to the architecture.  Google does have an 'App Store' type thing, but this only factors into how much exposure your app gets, it does not reflect on whether it's actually available to Android device owners.  There are for instance many apps with clearly violate Google's user agreements(such as Youtube video downloaders).

Android is safe for now...
legendary
Activity: 1623
Merit: 1608
November 23, 2013, 06:49:45 AM
#27
But what would be the ramifications if Google also followed suit?  This would essentially be the end of mobile phone wallets, requiring people to use hardware like the Trezor or paper wallets if they wanted carry their coins around with them.  This would be a huge blow to the bitcoin economy, IMO. 

I don't see the problem. That is what the browser is for. HTML5 and Javascript is all you need.
legendary
Activity: 2618
Merit: 1105
November 23, 2013, 03:54:23 AM
#26
Hopefully they invest in it and the price skyrockets! Shocked
full member
Activity: 209
Merit: 100
November 23, 2013, 03:39:52 AM
#25
Would you carry cash in your wallet?
If so why not have a similar amount in bitcoin on your phone?
Either way if lost it is gone, although you could have a bitcoin wallet backup so if not spent it could be recovered.
full member
Activity: 182
Merit: 100
Fourth richest fictional character
November 23, 2013, 02:11:08 AM
#24
Google isn't stupid.

They will be making big moves to adopt Bitcoin into their current payment and services model.

When this happens, BTC will hit $2,000 plus.
legendary
Activity: 2282
Merit: 1050
Monero Core Team
November 23, 2013, 02:08:45 AM
#23
I won't let my coins touch windows

+1 Ok I do admit to backing up my wallet.dat encrypted and then encrypted again with Truecrypt on a Windows 3.1 computer (Pentium I) and also on a 286 running MS DOS

Now seriously DRM infected/locked devices and yes this includes an Android device that is not rooted do pose a very serious threat to Bitcoin. The only solutions for mobile I can see is a rooted Android device or a device running an Operating System that has GPL v3 code deep in the OS that it is impossible to use a locked bootloader without violating the copyright license. Ubuntu phone/mobile is the most promising here. The trouble with Android that is not rooted is that manufacturer can at any time disable the option of installing outside the Android market since they and not the owner control root.
Do any companies actually prohibit installing software outside the buggy Play store? (asked in earnest -- I honestly have no idea)

There is all sorts of censorship by carriers and / or manufacturers on Android phones that are not rooted.  For example: http://www.howtogeek.com/163558/how-carriers-and-manufacturers-make-your-android-phones-software-worse/ If one roots the phone this take control away from the manufacturer / carrier and breaks the DRM used to enforce the censorship.
legendary
Activity: 1008
Merit: 1001
Let the chips fall where they may.
November 23, 2013, 01:45:17 AM
#22
I thought this thread was going to be about Google Wallet.
I thought this thread was going to be about one of Google's floating data-centers packed with ASICs, towed to International waters, with solar and diesel power.

Edit: Nuclear power would be better.
sr. member
Activity: 378
Merit: 255
November 22, 2013, 10:56:23 PM
#21
The Coinbase app is apparently incredibly buggy on iOS and Android, to the point that sells show up as buys and stuff like that.  Apple doesn't allow apps of that bad of quality.

Probably has NOTHING to do with bitcoin and everything to do with crappy code.

And I don't see what's wrong with putting less than $200 on an Android Wallet for spending money.
sr. member
Activity: 616
Merit: 250
November 22, 2013, 10:51:24 PM
#20
We all know that Apple has been hostile toward accepting bitcoin-related apps for use on their devices.  Last week, they gave Coinbase the axe.

The Blockchain app on iOS still works really well, no axing going on there Smiley
sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 253
November 22, 2013, 10:30:37 PM
#19
I thought this thread was going to be about Google Wallet.
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1015
November 22, 2013, 10:27:27 PM
#18
I won't let my coins touch windows

+1 Ok I do admit to backing up my wallet.dat encrypted and then encrypted again with Truecrypt on a Windows 3.1 computer (Pentium I) and also on a 286 running MS DOS

Now seriously DRM infected/locked devices and yes this includes an Android device that is not rooted do pose a very serious threat to Bitcoin. The only solutions for mobile I can see is a rooted Android device or a device running an Operating System that has GPL v3 code deep in the OS that it is impossible to use a locked bootloader without violating the copyright license. Ubuntu phone/mobile is the most promising here. The trouble with Android that is not rooted is that manufacturer can at any time disable the option of installing outside the Android market since they and not the owner control root.
Do any companies actually prohibit installing software outside the buggy Play store? (asked in earnest -- I honestly have no idea)
legendary
Activity: 2282
Merit: 1050
Monero Core Team
November 22, 2013, 10:10:31 PM
#17
I won't let my coins touch windows

+1 Ok I do admit to backing up my wallet.dat encrypted and then encrypted again with Truecrypt on a Windows 3.1 computer (Pentium I) and also on a 286 running MS DOS

Now seriously DRM infected/locked devices and yes this includes an Android device that is not rooted do pose a very serious threat to Bitcoin. The only solutions for mobile I can see is a rooted Android device or a device running an Operating System that has GPL v3 code deep in the OS that it is impossible to use a locked bootloader without violating the copyright license. Ubuntu phone/mobile is the most promising here. The trouble with Android that is not rooted is that manufacturer can at any time disable the option of installing outside the Android market since they and not the owner control root.
hero member
Activity: 503
Merit: 501
November 22, 2013, 09:26:49 PM
#16
We need a 100% open source phone that's repairable with standard case and screen sizes.

This?

https://phonebloks.com/

Thanks for the link!
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
November 22, 2013, 09:21:57 PM
#15
I wouldn't let any of my bitcoins touch my phone with a 40 foot pole, I imagine there are plenty like me too. At this point are situations when you would actually need access to bitcoins on your phone while on the go not clearly in the minority? If so, that kind of answers your question right?

Plus what Kludge already mentioned...

i wouldn't either. smartphones are easily lost and people eye them as targets to steal. the "convenience" is not worth it.
legendary
Activity: 3374
Merit: 4738
diamond-handed zealot
November 22, 2013, 09:19:18 PM
#14
We need a 100% open source phone that's repairable with standard case and screen sizes.

This?

https://phonebloks.com/

I don't think so, read the reddit thread and the hackaday writeup, that particular implementation is doomed IMO
legendary
Activity: 2786
Merit: 1031
November 22, 2013, 09:16:07 PM
#13
We need a 100% open source phone that's repairable with standard case and screen sizes.

This?

https://phonebloks.com/
legendary
Activity: 3374
Merit: 4738
diamond-handed zealot
November 22, 2013, 08:41:07 PM
#12
We need a 100% open source phone that's repairable with standard case and screen sizes.

easy there buddy

plenty of room for you in Guantanamo
full member
Activity: 173
Merit: 100
November 22, 2013, 08:38:05 PM
#11
What blow? I never use a mobile wallet or any other kind of Bitcoin apps in my smartphone.

Have you ever spent coins in real life?  How exactly would you plan on paying for groceries with BTC?
hero member
Activity: 503
Merit: 501
November 22, 2013, 08:35:36 PM
#10
We need a 100% open source phone that's repairable with standard case and screen sizes.
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