Friday, December 30, 2011

CamGun: Game available to download on the Kindle Fire requires a camera to run


Description:

“CamGun”, a game available for download on the Kindle Fire, requires a camera to function.

If the user downloads “CamGun”, as I did, wasting a dollar.  The application returns the user the marketplace, with a tiny error message on screen.

This error message states: “Cannot start camera.  Restart Camera service or restart phone.”

This seems to go against Amazon’s own guidelines for the Kindle Fire, which states that apps available on the Kindle Fire, “Cannot require a gyroscope, camera”, etc.


Repro Steps:

1.     On a Kindle Fire, download a game called “CamGun
2.     On a Kindle Fire, launch the game “CamGun
3.     Note the error message of: “Cannot start camera.  Restart Camera service or restart phone.”
4.     Read Amazon’s Kindle Fire terms of service which prohibit applications from requiring a camera

Result:  There’s an app which is currently available for download on the Kindle Fire called “CamGun”.  This app requires a camera to use, and won’t function on a Kindle Fire.  This appears to go against Amazon’s Kindle Fire TOS

Expected:  “CamGun” shouldn’t be available on the Kindle Fire, if it is in violation of the Kindle Fire’s terms of service.  

I know, I know, the Amazon Appstore doesn't know if it's a supported device or not.  Then why write something like that in Terms of Service?

Amazon's Terms of Service for the Kindle Fire say that a Kindle Fire app must not require the use of a camera...

Purchase CamGun for a dollar, if you dare.


Application will kick user out, with this error message.

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