On the podium of the most downloaded applications on Google Play there is an application that offers to determine the geolocation of all photos taken with the phone. marking places on the map. This feature is interesting but also useless: all Android cameras already do this. Of course, its uselessness did not diminish its success: the application has been downloaded more than a million times, no less.

It is impossible to keep track of everything a mobile phone can do because functions are constantly being added to it. Moreover, many of them are hidden under shortcuts or hidden menus, each firmware customizes it in its own way, with each Android update Google enriches the possibilities… And of course there are applications that take advantage of forgetfulness and offer the function: just one thing. With additional notable disadvantages.

Duplicate a camera function and get the opportunity to cover it with ads

When we open the camera of any Android mobile phone for the first time, the application asks us for permission to access the exact location of the phone. Granted, which is normal, every photo and video has the following sign: coordinates from which the content was received. Once in Google Photos, we can see a particular place on the map with the image. We even provide a map of all the places where we used the phone camera.

All of the above is a basic Android function that does not require any installation or permissions, they do not charge us for use, do not show us ads or ask us for subscriptions. Geotag Photos goes the other way (although it doesn’t charge any money).

Currently ranked sixth among the most downloaded apps in Spain, Geotag Photos, as its name suggests, geotags photos and videos taken with the phone and then places the shots on a map. Exactly the same as what comes standard on our Android. Maybe not, because it seizes the opportunity to flood app usage with ads. So much so that there are some cameras in advertising too.

What about the camera shutter button?

Geotag Photos displays full-screen ads that cannot be removed as soon as they are opened. The app tricks you with its ads and makes you install them by believing that you have enabled the settings, sneaks advertising banners even into the first use description, requests notifications to send more ads, shooting interface is advertising there are two small buttons for photo and video cameras, a third of the camera interface is made up of ads (and they hide the shutter button), when you save the photo, full-screen ads appear that cannot be advanced… And so on ad infinitum. .

To take a photo or video, you have to go through a penance-worthy ordeal. To the point where the app is almost useless: Taking a simple photo is almost impossible. Moreover, the image quality is much lower than what the native camera can do, Geotagging Photos is complete nonsense.

Knowing how our mobile phone works is the best prescription against abuse

Apps that present as QR readers, flashlight apps, PDF viewers, or camera apps that don’t add anything new to what we already have by default, like Geotag Photos They abuse our trust to enrich themselves. All because of ignorance.

The smartphone is a complex machine. And this becomes more so with each passing year: We have already said that it is almost impossible to remember everything he has done. So it’s worth the time Delve deeper into our Android: Not only will we find useful features, but we will also have fun along the way. And we will avoid getting scammed with something that the phone already offers us.

Cover image | Ivan Linares

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