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Google Dev Phone 1 Banned From Paid Apps

Posted by timothy on from the please-contradict-this-claim dept.

ScrewMaster points out an short article according to which purchasers of the G1 Android phone's developer-oriented variant will be out of luck if they want to buy apps from Google's application store. "Google is not going to allow programmers who have purchased the Dev Phone 1 to purchase paid apps from the Android Market. I just signed up as a G1 developer, and was about to plunk down the $399 for a Dev Phone 1, but now I'm going to have to think about it. I know that Google is interested in preventing (cough) 'piracy,' but does this seem like the right way to go? I know the Dev Phone 1 is primarily a developer's tool, but I would like to actually use the thing, and not have to spend another $180 from T-Mobile for a regular G1 just for the privilege of buying software." I hope this isn't true; the unlocked G1 looked like a pretty cool phone, especially (being unlocked) for travel to countries where pre-paid SIM cards are the norm.

13 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Important points by L4t3r4lu5 · · Score: 4, Informative

    - Google allows you to return apps up to 24 hours after purchase for a refund.
    - The Dev phone allows total access to the restricted location where purchased programs are stored. It is restricted to prevent copying.
    - It is entirely possible to copy the contents of the restricted folder on the Dev phone once a program has been purcahsed, then return the app.
    - It can then be distributed and modified at the Dev's wish, against the licensing terms of the app.

    It is the wrong way to go about it, but let's be honest; The only thing which they can test with purchasing is the install mechanism, and they can do that anyway. They already have their app.

    --
    Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
    1. Re:Important points by tlhIngan · · Score: 2, Informative

      In the case of the G1 you can just buy the app using a non-dev phone with a root exploit installed, then copy the files off and install them on your dev phone. Viola - DRM bypassed. Sure, they could make it harder, but you could always patch the app. You could make the phone require signed apps, but then you could patch the firmware. There is always an expoit - even if it involves an electron microscope. The device is implemented in actual physical hardware, and if you have the means to take it apart you can do so. The only thing you can do is make it so hard that it isn't worth it for some $5 application.

      Actually, it's more a case of "Let's buy this app for $5, copy it off my phone, then return it." Voila, no breaking of DRM, and one free app!

      The issue is really the intersection of "24 hour return period" (pretty much unique to the Android Store) and users being able to basically get apps for free by buying them, copying them off, then returning them. DRM that protects copying the app from one phone to another won't work, since it runs on the same phone. Heck, if you properly diff the OS, even if the "return" removed the key, you can probably restore the key back. Or just grab the entire image off the device prior to returning, return, then restore the OS.

      It should be noted that this exact thing happened to iTunes as well - people deauthorized their computers, then restored their iTunes keys from a backup, and could listen to their DRM-protected music just fine.

  2. Re:Experience teaches... it does what?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    It's true, though. Disassembly and protocol analysis is more frustrating, holds less inherent information and takes much more time. Access to the source is a boon for any cracker.

  3. Re:Paid apps only by GooberToo · · Score: 3, Informative

    You're banned only from using apps where the apps are only available from the Google store, and which cost money.

    Wrong! Any application can be marked, "protected", including free applications. Some free applications are marked protected.

    The rest of your post is non-sense as it is based on incorrect assumptions.

  4. This isn't true! by albrnick · · Score: 3, Informative

    From what I can tell, this article isn't true! I have a developer phone and have purchased apps within the last week, and right after I read this, I went and purchased another app. So don't know why the guy thinks developer phones can't. Peace, -Nick

  5. Re:device not banned by BiggoronSword · · Score: 5, Informative

    I could be mistaken, I haven't tried this, but perhaps this is the firmware colonslash is referring to.

    --
    interactive hologram, or it didn't happen.
  6. Re:device not banned by colonslash · · Score: 4, Informative

    I could be mistaken, I haven't tried this, but perhaps this is the firmware colonslash is referring to.

    Yes - that's the link. I installed the no device checks version. For those not reading the entire thread, this lets me see paid apps on the Android Market with a developer g1.

  7. Re:Single-point Rebuttal by yincrash · · Score: 3, Informative

    Like it's been said before in the comments, it is only the default dev phone firmware that cannot download paid apps. the phone itself is not locked out from downloading.

    this firmware for example will allow paid app downloads. http://andblogs.net/2009/02/new-adp1-update-official-with-google-voice-and-more/

    google developers DO NOT need to spend more money than the average consumer

  8. You don't need a DevPhone for app development by powelly · · Score: 2, Informative

    Something worth mentioning is that you don't need a DevPhone to develop applications. You only need a DevPhone to be able to install non-Google OS images.

    So if you're "just" an application developer and not an OS hacker, then just get the normal phone.

    --
    --- I'm sure using a computer was fun back in the 80's. *sigh*
  9. Unlocking the phone by goaliemn · · Score: 4, Informative

    T-mobile will unlock the G1 for you. If you've been a customer for more than 90 days, they will provide the SIM unlock code for you. T-mobile is the best at doing this.

  10. Re:device not banned by alphamerik · · Score: 5, Informative

    I confirm this story is bunk, and anyone who is carrying this story should be ashamed (I am looking at you Engadget and Slashdot).

    Go and download "holiday_devphone-userdebug 1.1" image, paid apps will show up fine because it has the features of the Tmobile g33 firmware required to see paid apps. I shouldn't need to google that for you...

    The thing is, the ADP1 does not come with support, the original ADP1 firmware does not update automatically. As a developer and ADP1 owner one should be able to keep up with the news and figure this stuff out for oneself.

  11. Re:unlocked Android works in Canada? by kwark · · Score: 2, Informative

    The ADP1 is able to use both the TMobile US freq (1700MHz) and the 2100Mhz band (almost) everybody else uses:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#UMTS.2FHSDPA.2FHSUPA_frequency_bands_deployment

  12. This is not true by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    The holiday 1.1 firmware, which is the rc33 equivalent for the phones google gave to their employees, is also unable to see __protected__ apps on the market.

    The important part is protected, not paid. You will be able to see/buy unprotected paid applications, but not protected paid applications. So the holiday 1.1 adp firmware is 'banned' from purchasing protected apps as the news says.