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Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

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Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#131

Post by hhjinks »

babuskov wrote: post #126
hellosputnik wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. Your data is collected but is used purely to improve the iPhone. Your data is intentionally obfuscated for privacy. For an example of Apple's strict policy, check out this article on Apple Maps: https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-f...

> You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Not really. https://www.apple.com/lae/iphone-battery-and-performance/ > Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. I fail to see how ad revenue and data collection has anything to do with battery saving mode.

> I fail to see how ad revenue and data collection has anything to do with battery saving mode.

The implication is clearly that someone whose revenue is based on prying on your personal information has more incentive to do things like this than someone whose revenue is not affected by how much they know about you.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#132

Post by SmallDeadGuy »

babuskov wrote: post #126
hellosputnik wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. Your data is collected but is used purely to improve the iPhone. Your data is intentionally obfuscated for privacy. For an example of Apple's strict policy, check out this article on Apple Maps: https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-f...

> You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Not really. https://www.apple.com/lae/iphone-battery-and-performance/ > Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. I fail to see how ad revenue and data collection has anything to do with battery saving mode.

It doesn't, monitoring and configuring battery saving is relatively harmless to the majority of consumers. The point that the OP made is that there is nothing stopping them from doing more harmful tests like experimenting with web traffic, running benchmarks or something, tracking app usage in terms of direct relationships (e.g. this person always reads emails, then hacker news, then checks snapchat, then browses these kinds of shopping apps), etc. I'm not saying that these are likely, but when information about specific users drives ad revenue up then it's not much of a leap to suggest they'll collect a bunch of information that people don't want them to collect.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#133

Post by Kalium »

amelius wrote: post #129
mbrumlow wrote: post #4

This happened to me today! I was using my phone and then it went all weird with no haptic feedback when typing. I finally figured out that battery saver was on and disabled it... This really bothers me... I am starting to think we need a truly open source phone. That is hardware and software. like GNU/phone or something. We must have full control over our hardware and software! Viva La Gnu! (no clue what this actuall…

Totally agree. I'd even buy one if the hardware was 5x thicker and heavier. But I think what we really need is the smartphone-equivalent of the IBM PC. It would allow anybody to develop a nice OS. And with emulators you could still run Android/iOS apps.

In that case, I have amazing news for you! The thing you seek is such a good idea that someone's already gone and created it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox_OS#Devices

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on how good it is or isn't.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#134

Post by xg15 »

hellosputnik wrote: post #118
lalos wrote: post #65

We need more transparency from companies, this time it was a 'bug' that was visible to the end user (hey! who turned on power saving?). Would Google go public if they also develop a 'bug' that is not visible easily by the user or if it was not discovered by anybody but them? Like a 'bug' that changes certs temporarily to intercept your encrypted traffic or uploads random data elsewhere, etc?

You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. Your data is collected but is used purely to improve the iPhone. Your data is intentionally obfuscated for privacy. For an example of Apple's strict policy, check out this article on Apple Maps: https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-f...

Except this is not really about data collection, but about the other direction: Who can send data to my phone (or other device) I ostensibly own and make it do all kinds of things without my permission - or restrict what I can do with it.

I don't see how Apple is better than anyone else in that regard.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#135

Post by krn »

A2017U1 wrote: post #93
krn wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Xiaomi temporarily locks the bootloader to prevent third-party Chinese retailers from bundling malware and adware with its phones sold on the international market[1]. [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-anti-rollback-protecti...

Which is hilariously dumb because now 3rd party retailers are the go to source if you want to buy a Xiaomi with unlocked bootloader rather than waiting a month . It's creating more business for the people they are supposedly trying to stop. Also none of the stock Android phones they sell have a wait time for bootloader unlocking, it's only the ones with their own os MIUI

Xiaomi doesn't give a shit about the bootloader itself. What it cares about, is people receiving a modified version of MIUI which it has no control over:

"The retailers would buy Xiaomi devices in bulk, unlock the bootloader, change the software themselves or flash a custom ROM like Xiaomi.eu (unofficial ROMs based on MIUI China but with more languages and features), and then sell the device. Most consumers would have no way of knowing they’re running unofficial/modified software, and would instead blame Xiaomi for a lack of updates or bugs they encounter."

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#136

Post by amelius »

Kalium wrote: post #133
amelius wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree. I'd even buy one if the hardware was 5x thicker and heavier. But I think what we really need is the smartphone-equivalent of the IBM PC. It would allow anybody to develop a nice OS. And with emulators you could still run Android/iOS apps.

In that case, I have amazing news for you! The thing you seek is such a good idea that someone's already gone and created it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox_OS#Devices I'm curious to hear your thoughts on how good it is or isn't.

From that wikipedia link:

> Firefox OS is a discontinued open-source operating system

(emphasis mine)

It only confirms that what we really need is a common hardware platform, like the IBM PC was in the old days.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#137

Post by anilgulecha »

A2017U1 wrote: post #93
krn wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Xiaomi temporarily locks the bootloader to prevent third-party Chinese retailers from bundling malware and adware with its phones sold on the international market[1]. [1] https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-anti-rollback-protecti...

Which is hilariously dumb because now 3rd party retailers are the go to source if you want to buy a Xiaomi with unlocked bootloader rather than waiting a month . It's creating more business for the people they are supposedly trying to stop. Also none of the stock Android phones they sell have a wait time for bootloader unlocking, it's only the ones with their own os MIUI

Accounts are limited (1 in 30 days) in unlock ability. This kills the business.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#138

Post by amelius »

jayd16 wrote: post #85

I'm taken aback by how many, even in this tech forum, seem surprised to learn that automatic os updates means settings can be updated automatically. Bugs are bad and all but I don't understand the "how could Google do this?!" questions. Am I missing something?

What mystifies me even more is that security-aware people (as found on this forum) use what essentially amounts to spyware.

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#139

Post by newnewpdro »

hellosputnik wrote: post #118
lalos wrote: post #65

We need more transparency from companies, this time it was a 'bug' that was visible to the end user (hey! who turned on power saving?). Would Google go public if they also develop a 'bug' that is not visible easily by the user or if it was not discovered by anybody but them? Like a 'bug' that changes certs temporarily to intercept your encrypted traffic or uploads random data elsewhere, etc?

You can avoid all of this by using an iPhone. Apple's business model does not involve ad revenue or data collection. Your data is collected but is used purely to improve the iPhone. Your data is intentionally obfuscated for privacy. For an example of Apple's strict policy, check out this article on Apple Maps: https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/apple-is-rebuilding-maps-f...

Err, perhaps you missed [0]. Both these ecosystems are proprietary dumpster fires, you are not in control.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17970197

Re: Google activated battery saving mode on multiple phones, then rolled it back

#140

Post by amelius »

enriquto wrote: post #100
jayd16 wrote: post #85

I'm taken aback by how many, even in this tech forum, seem surprised to learn that automatic os updates means settings can be updated automatically. Bugs are bad and all but I don't understand the "how could Google do this?!" questions. Am I missing something?

This happens in ubuntu linux actually. Every now and then, an update changes my configuration of systemd without asking.

To all software companies I'd like to say: make updates revertible!
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