[citation][nom]shaod[/nom]This is the same as claiming Windows or Linux are a cesspool of bad apps because you can install what you want on them.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but when you create an Android app you have to go into the manifest and explicitly state the permissions the app needs. If you don't set a permission that the app requires it won't load. The devs can't "not list a permission", or the app simple doesn't work.[/citation]
I am talking about the list on the web site for a customer to review. If you go look at Amazon's App Store at some apps and then to Google Play, you will see that the permission list on Amazon is not nearly as extensive. So if some permissions can be left off of Amazon's site for an app, how can someone know that the permission list is complete on the description on Google Play?
I'm not sure what this manifest is, but the way you describe it I assume it's something inside the app itself. Writing a description on a web site that leaves off a permission won't keep an app from installing or running on a phone/tablet. And Google does not police their app store the way Apple does. Apple may have many faults, but reviewing each app isn't one of them and honestly is something Google should do as well.
Also, Android is Linux. And Windows is a cesspool for bad applications and always has been. If it wasn't, there wouldn't be the need for strong security in the OS as well as strong security applications. That's not a knock on Windows, it's just the nature of something that anyone can develop for.
Android is a great platform, but Google needs to do tighter oversight on apps. I think this latest Angry Birds malware fiasco is a good example. It may not be on Google Play (yet), but Google could do a lot more about warning from 3rd party app stores. Yes, if someone sticks with Google Play they are a lot safer, but it's not guaranteed. Google has gone through and had to pull malicious apps before.