Topic: Mycelium removed from Google Play (Read 4963 times)
this is great news. i am glad to see the ap back in market and know that google does care about technology and maintaining advancement, as long as it complies to their written rules.
And finally, thank you very much for all the support we have received from our users!
Glad to hear it is all sorted out and Mycelium is back in the Play Store!
Fans of Mycelium reading this thread, be sure to make yourself heard in the "Meta" thread asking for Mycelium's own sub-forum. https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/mycelium-getting-its-own-sub-forum-any-time-soon-923681
It's great news - I was surprised when I saw on my mobile that "Mycelium Wallet was updated".
Good job! I am a little shocked that it went so easy with Google to make it back again
(Google has kinda restricted policy about removing apps.)Best regards.
Mycelium is back! http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/2vro8y/mycelium_and_google_play_recap_of_what_happened/
-snip-
And finally, thank you very much for all the support we have received from our users!
-snip-
And finally, thank you very much for all the support we have received from our users!
I am glad it is back, but sad to hear you had to remove the donation button.
Yet I think it will be possible to redirect the donation request from app to your website and accept the donation via website?
Mycelium is back! http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/2vro8y/mycelium_and_google_play_recap_of_what_happened/
On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, we received a note from Google in regards to our app, stating:
That particular section states:
Since that text is a bit vague, we were not sure exactly what it applied to in our wallet, and were guessing it was one of three things:
* LocalTrader fees
* Addition of the option to choose your bitcoin transaction fee that Google may have thought we charge
* Donation button
We requested for a more detailed explanation, and were told we would hear back within 72 hours.
On Thursday, February 12, 2015 we received a follow-up that stated the following:
So, the issue turned out to be the donation button, which is the easiest thing to fix (we just remove the button), however, Google's stipulations of making us prove that we are a charity, "or else", made us think this would be very difficult to get out of. We replied with an explanation stating that
This morning, Google replied letting us know that they have accepted our appeal and have reinstated our app. We have removed the donation buttons from all our versions (beta and final), and just as a precaution set the LocalTrader fees to 0% as well. Our wallet app should be back up on Google Play by now, and we are glad to have this episode behind us. If you are a developer too, please keep this donation thing in mind as well.
And finally, thank you very much for all the support we have received from our users!
On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, we received a note from Google in regards to our app, stating:
Quote
This is a notification that your application, Mycelium Bitcoin Wallet, with package ID com.mycelium.wallet, has been removed from the Google Play Store.
REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Violation of the paid and free provision of the Content Policy and section 3.5 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. Please refer to the Third Party Payments help center article for more information.
REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Violation of the paid and free provision of the Content Policy and section 3.5 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. Please refer to the Third Party Payments help center article for more information.
That particular section states:
Quote
3.5 You may also choose to distribute Products for free. If the Product is free, you will not be charged a Transaction Fee. You may not start charging a user for a Product that was initially free unless the charge correlates with an alternative version of the Product. The Payment Processor must process all fees a Developer receives for any version of a Product distributed via the Store.
Since that text is a bit vague, we were not sure exactly what it applied to in our wallet, and were guessing it was one of three things:
* LocalTrader fees
* Addition of the option to choose your bitcoin transaction fee that Google may have thought we charge
* Donation button
We requested for a more detailed explanation, and were told we would hear back within 72 hours.
On Thursday, February 12, 2015 we received a follow-up that stated the following:
Quote
We appreciate the opportunity to review your appeal.
Donations may only be collected within an app under specific conditions. The donation must be facilitated via a web browser, and any collection made through a secure payment system. Donations are only permitted for validated non-profit charitable organizations (for example, a validated 501(c)(3) charitable organization or the local equivalent). After a regular review, your app has been administratively suspended pending verification that you are an eligible and currently certified charitable organization.
In order for us to process your appeal, please attach a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter or other acceptable proof in your reply to this notification. The provided information must indicate your status as a charitable organization.
Please be advised we will not be able to reinstate your application without the above documentation.
Donations may only be collected within an app under specific conditions. The donation must be facilitated via a web browser, and any collection made through a secure payment system. Donations are only permitted for validated non-profit charitable organizations (for example, a validated 501(c)(3) charitable organization or the local equivalent). After a regular review, your app has been administratively suspended pending verification that you are an eligible and currently certified charitable organization.
In order for us to process your appeal, please attach a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter or other acceptable proof in your reply to this notification. The provided information must indicate your status as a charitable organization.
Please be advised we will not be able to reinstate your application without the above documentation.
So, the issue turned out to be the donation button, which is the easiest thing to fix (we just remove the button), however, Google's stipulations of making us prove that we are a charity, "or else", made us think this would be very difficult to get out of. We replied with an explanation stating that
Quote
We were not aware of the fact that giving users an opportunity to donate to the developers is violating the agreement.
1) Bitcoin software is very sensitive to malware. If a software would imitate our brand and upload a backdoored version, users would unwillingly send money to it. This risk is partly mitigated by many links pointing to the existing package name https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet - if we would create a new app, users would not know that this is not a malicious version. If the application stays blocked, we might see someone taking advantage of the situation and uploading a fake version under a new ID, to trick users into thinking a it was provided by us.
2) Leaving users on old versions is a potential security risk for their bitcoins. We do need to provide security updates, like in the case of the SecureRandom bug. The Android Developers described the problem at. We are constantly in touch with the security community and were able to provide patched versions minutes after the disclosure of the 0-day exploit. If there would be a similar incident and we had users stuck on the old version, users on Android would be at risk.
1) Bitcoin software is very sensitive to malware. If a software would imitate our brand and upload a backdoored version, users would unwillingly send money to it. This risk is partly mitigated by many links pointing to the existing package name https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycelium.wallet - if we would create a new app, users would not know that this is not a malicious version. If the application stays blocked, we might see someone taking advantage of the situation and uploading a fake version under a new ID, to trick users into thinking a it was provided by us.
2) Leaving users on old versions is a potential security risk for their bitcoins. We do need to provide security updates, like in the case of the SecureRandom bug. The Android Developers described the problem at. We are constantly in touch with the security community and were able to provide patched versions minutes after the disclosure of the 0-day exploit. If there would be a similar incident and we had users stuck on the old version, users on Android would be at risk.
This morning, Google replied letting us know that they have accepted our appeal and have reinstated our app. We have removed the donation buttons from all our versions (beta and final), and just as a precaution set the LocalTrader fees to 0% as well. Our wallet app should be back up on Google Play by now, and we are glad to have this episode behind us. If you are a developer too, please keep this donation thing in mind as well.
And finally, thank you very much for all the support we have received from our users!
Google must support bitcoin!
In UK, Google has rolled out a feature that lets you attach money to email.
It works via Google Wallet of course, so Bitcoin is direct competition for them for now.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-05/17/google-wallet-payments
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2932850/Pay-friends-GMAIL-Google-rolls-feature-lets-attach-money-emails.html
google, wtf?
is there a way to get through to google? petition?
is there a way to get through to google? petition?
Google must support bitcoin!
The app already is and has always been available on our homepage.
But lets face it: many new users will probably rather install something else from playstore than go to website and download the apk. And its the same problem for updates, via google play, we can just upload new versions and users installs either auto-update or notify them, based on their settings. Forcing users to download a new version from the website and manually installing it to update is just annoying.
So we hope google answers soon and resolves this issue.
But lets face it: many new users will probably rather install something else from playstore than go to website and download the apk. And its the same problem for updates, via google play, we can just upload new versions and users installs either auto-update or notify them, based on their settings. Forcing users to download a new version from the website and manually installing it to update is just annoying.
So we hope google answers soon and resolves this issue.
Hey,
sorry to hear about what google did to your app on their store.
Thing is that there is really hard to negotiate with google after they 'remove/ban' something.
Only in rare cases they are changing their decision. I hope your case will be rare, but I think without some big changes this will be not possible at the moment.
I am really interested about what reason they will give to you about why they did it. This is really important if you want to have your app back there.
Let us know please about any news from them if possible. Thanks.
Best wishes.
Yep ... all specific android software must have an APK location.
I think we have to make our own app store like Google Store.
For apps that do well but get rejected/taken down from official Play Store, there's an alternative:
F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/
For example there's an app called AdAway that lets rooted android users remove all kind of ads by updating the HOSTS file.
Google removed all such ad-nemesis apps fro official Play Store more than a year ago, but they continue to grow and are available through F-Droid.
i would say this is risky, particularly for bitcoin users. there's no way to know if those aps haven't been modified prior to being posted. i was all about downloading "ad free paid" apps for my phone but now that i keep some btc on it, i only goto the official sources.
Any news yet from Google when we can have Mycelium back?
A particular app being available/unavailable on Google's Play Store has nothing to do with how that app handles Bitcoin private keys.
Mycelium, in particular, provides many different private key options.
As usual, it is ultimately up to the end user as to how they go about protecting their private keys. If the availability of an app on the Play Store somehow affects your private key storage solution, trust me, you are doing it wrong.
I hope that clears up any misunderstandings about what we are discussing here.
Mycelium, in particular, provides many different private key options.
Features:
- Cold storage spending: Spend directly from paper (demo)
- Import private keys using SIPA and mini private key format (Casascius private keys) from QR-codes or clipboard
- Export private keys as QR-codes, on clipboard, and directly to printer using external SD card (demo).
- Watch-only addresses
- Key control using Active and Archive key set.
- PIN protection
As usual, it is ultimately up to the end user as to how they go about protecting their private keys. If the availability of an app on the Play Store somehow affects your private key storage solution, trust me, you are doing it wrong.
I hope that clears up any misunderstandings about what we are discussing here.
For those who need a visual aid:
Seems like just another example of Google being confused.....this time about miner fees.
I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
They are fucking idiots. Just like when apple blocked the bitcoin wallet. Everyone that doesn't fully support Bitcoin deserves to go bankrupt. I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
Seems like just another example of Google being confused.....this time about miner fees.
I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
So they have inspected the app JUST NOW? Quite late no? Also why not ask developers what it has to mean or get educated about it prior to causing harm? I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
Seems like just another example of Google being confused.....this time about miner fees.
I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
I use MyCelium and have for a long time. The service has been great from day 1.
I really hope this doesnt scare new users or would be users from using this wallet...but based off the sentiment of this thread, it looks like some damage might be happening right now.
Unnecessary and unfortunate.
Damn! What happened to their BitCoin then?
As long as the app is already installed, you should be fine. Or, whenever you're able to reinstall it you can restore your backup. Personally, I don't trust any single wallet. I generate a private key using MultiBit, save it on a flash drive or paper, and import it into Mycelium. That way I have access to the same wallet on my PC and my phone. You just need to make extra sure that your PC is clean. so better be sent directly to another wallet?
afraid that something bad will happen, and choose a safer wallet
Read all the previous posts. Your coins are still with you where you can still access using the app. Removal from google play has no bearing whatsoever.
Thats why I only use Bitcoin-qt even if its annoying as hell. Im just too paranoid about anything else.
Damn! What happened to their BitCoin then?
As long as the app is already installed, you should be fine. Or, whenever you're able to reinstall it you can restore your backup. Personally, I don't trust any single wallet. I generate a private key using MultiBit, save it on a flash drive or paper, and import it into Mycelium. That way I have access to the same wallet on my PC and my phone. You just need to make extra sure that your PC is clean. so better be sent directly to another wallet?
afraid that something bad will happen, and choose a safer wallet
This has nothing to do with Mycelium's safety.
Damn! What happened to their BitCoin then?
As long as the app is already installed, you should be fine. Or, whenever you're able to reinstall it you can restore your backup. Personally, I don't trust any single wallet. I generate a private key using MultiBit, save it on a flash drive or paper, and import it into Mycelium. That way I have access to the same wallet on my PC and my phone. You just need to make extra sure that your PC is clean. so better be sent directly to another wallet?
afraid that something bad will happen, and choose a safer wallet
Quote
REASON FOR SUSPENSION: Violation of the paid and free provision of the Content Policy and section 3.5 of the Developer Distribution Agreement. Please refer to the Third Party Payments help center article for more information.
The app has always been a free version. I hope they don't confused with the ability to set the fee setting as a means of paying to mycelium.
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