Fake Siri apps hit Android Market, highlight Google problem
updated 08:30 am EST, Fri December 30, 2011
Google lets dummy Siri apps slip through
Google has let through a pair of fake Siri apps. Both Siri for Android (Android Market) and Speerit (Android Market) both steal Apple's icon and, in the case of Speerit, try to clone Siri's interface. The currently Korean-only app claims to have "real" Siri, although the differing results on the weather widget suggest it's not actually asking Apple's servers.
Siri for Android, meanwhile, is blunt in the description and reveals that it's just a shortcut for Google's Voice Actions, with the same much more constrained syntax. At least some have been taken by the app, however, including one who unintentionally commented on the limited state of Google's voice commands on the assumption the 'app' was an unfinished Siri port.
"Surprisingly decent," said the reviewer, Cody. "Needs some work but a awesome [sic] start!"
The presences both emphasize a mounting problem with Google's attitude towards app approvals. Its policy has usually been to apply very few if any checks to apps before they go live, allowing apps that clearly copy someone else's work. Android Market has recently been home to scam game developers and occasional malware apps that stayed active for days before Google took them down, possibly leading to thousands of frauds and infections.
Apple so far has no intention of officially porting Siri to other platforms and itself has a much more active approval process that so far has kept out clearly imitative material. Its policies are sometimes considered over-aggressive but have kept app risks mostly to those using jailbreaks and bypassing Apple's usual security. [via The Next Web]
Siri for Android
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2010
fear-mongering
Wow. I'm impressed. An anti-Android hit piece before 9 AM. Someone's been drinking their coffee!
In reality, this article is just more of the same baseless noise that's become far too common on this site recently (witness the "twittergate" non-story). The Siri name and icon are registered trademarks of Apple. If Apple wants these apps removed, they can contact Google and have them pulled. This process has been in place for quite some time; contrary to the article, it's not mounting evidence of anything.
The bit about malware is just pure fearmongering. There is no evidence presented in this article or the source that leads one to think these apps have malware. According to reports, approximately 0.04% of apps in the Market are malware[1]. But, of course, Apple fanboys have to keep people afraid of using Android by hyping up the malware fear factor, and so we see insipid prattle like this article baselessly trying to scare people.
Have you no shame at all?
[1] http://www.nirdvana.com/2011/11/17/android-472-malware-increase-scare-sensationalist/