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New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

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Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But they build very good privacy and security into their products. And they structure their UI and defaults in such a way that the average user benefits with no effort or specialized knowledge. Sometimes they do, and I agree that they're much better than a lot of big tech companies. Still, their insistence on tying almost everything to iCloud and then not encrypting iCloud properly is a major black mark against them,…

Most app backups in icloud are end to end encrypted. If you choose to backup your entire device in icloud (rather than automatically on your local mac) that backup is not end to end encrypted. I agree it should be but that doesn’t seem like a huge deal especially considering the alternative platform (android) doesn’t even have a comprehensive backup solution (only individual apps via gdrive etc).

I agree it should be but that doesn’t seem like a huge deal

I respectfully disagree. Encouraging people to upload data that will probably be very personal in some cases, such as photos, videos or messages they store on their phone, without proper safeguards is at best negligent and/or abusive depending on your point of view. The fact that the other major mobile platform is even worse doesn't make the former situation any better.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really need to sync anything but photos because I don't create or edit documents on my phone. This is one of the key points. You can plug an iPhone into almost any modern PC, Apple or otherwise, and download the photos and videos. But you can't do the same for other types of data without using one or more of an Apple computer, specialist software or iCloud. The middle option, which is the only one not entirel…

What do you mean other types of data?

Almost anything else. iOS devices use the same protocols as things like DSLR cameras to allow plug-and-play access to download photos and videos (unless, ironically, you have iTunes software installed and it gets in the way). However, there is no equivalent to let you browse and locally download messages, notes, creative work, or any other type of data you might have on your phone with using one of the channels I mentioned before.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#354
post #110
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was a TV/print ad campaign with >$10mil budget, not some random YT videos.

They bought Nokia, and had a presence in every Att/Verizon/Sprint/T-Mobile store. Microsoft tried hard, and kept trying long after it was clear to most of the market that they didn’t have traction. The owners of Windows phones were some of the most vocal champions at the time too. They legitimately made good but unpopular products at the time.

I think people who talk up Microsoft's phone efforts must have been wearing blinders. I won't argue that Microsoft's phone was decent at one point, maybe even "Great" for a short while. But by the time they had a decent phone, they'd already burned out all the good will people had towards them on Mobile. Microsoft had... 4? Different mobile operating systems over the 15 years or so they were selling mobile OSs. I honestly lost count.

Microsoft had WinCE then Windows Mobile for quite a few years before the iPhone, then Apple released the iPhone, Windows Mobile started hemorrhaging market share... so Microsoft dropped WinMo like a bad habit, leaving developers and users out in the cold. STRIKE 1

Windows Phone 7 came out with piles of great press and hoopla, but notably, it didn't support older hardware so existing owners were left in the lurch. Developers were also screwed because WinPho7 wasn't compatible with older apps. It was a pretty interface with no software, no users, and no developers. It also had some serious shortcomings, ironically iPhone enterprise support was much better. WinPho didn't work well with Exchange server or Office. But that's OK because you didn't have long to be frustrated with WinPho 7 because 2 years later, they released Windows Phone 8 which dropped support for all old hardware. That's right, if you bought a brand new Windows Phone 1 year after launch, you couldn't run the next major release of the OS.

But the few people who managed to stick around after getting screwed over twice... boy did they love their Windows Phones.

After a certain point, there were just no developers, OEMs, or end users left around willing to be Charlie Brown to Microsoft's Lucy.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#355

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The downside is not having personalized ads. They will still see ads. I'm vehemently against invasive tracking for personalized ads, but more than happy to see clearly marked, clean context-based ads.

I will gladly take random, or geo-located ads over a system that listens to me and then makes creepy, preternatural recommendations based on something I just said. Hell, most of the context based ads were terrible. "Oh you just ordered a $THING? How about we spam you with recommendations for things you don't need since you already ordered $THING." Or how youtube now thinks I'm an arch-conservative because I listed to…

I meant context-based as in based on where the ad is displayed, not based on the user. Maybe "content-based" is a better term.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#356

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the other hand, tying everything to iCloud and then losing all your data because you replaced your sole device and forgot your password would be disastrous. This is the scenario that requires Apple to retain the keys to your iCloud, and as long as they have those keys, they can be compelled to decrypt it under lawful government order.

Yes, although this is hardly unique to Apple. Play mad-libs with this statement and it applies to the vast majority of cloud solutions. ___ have your ____, and as long as they have those ____, they can be compelled to ____ it under lawful government order.

That's true, and most cloud solutions also do the same thing as Apple and retain the keys necessary to regain access to the account.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#358
post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

actually you could go further and say: - Apple doesn't let you secure your OWN device. Apple does not give you permission to run a firewall or any other app to do your own security. - Apple doesn't allow you to see what your phone is doing. You cannot see what apps are running, when they are running or what data is being sent where. - Apple encumbers your data. It doesn't provide an alternative to icloud. Why not a p…

> Apple does not give you permission to run a firewall or any other app to do your own security. Apple does allow security products on the Mac, and I have analyzed popular ones such as SecureMac's MacScan 2, and others that were on the Mac App Store's bestseller list, and there are tons of scams. Users hear that it's good advice to install antivirus but don't know how to evaluate them. It is to Apple's discredit (and…

> They provide content blocking

the flaw there is that it is opt-out not opt-in, and you can only block web activity, not apps.

> You cannot see what apps are running.

Yes, the model is more complicated, but it abstracts away important ways apps can run even if you don't realize it, such as notifcations, "voip".

> > Why not even a time-machine backup of your phone? > You can easily back up an iPhone (encrypted, even) to a Mac or PC.

Kind of. You don't back up apps or app private data. In other words, restoring your phone is at the mercy of apple and the app folks. Will you get the same app? Will you get your audiobooks? no, you will have to download them again.

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#359

This is a big reason why I continue to use apple devices. They seem to be one of the few large tech companies that aligns themselves with users rights to privacy. Apple isn’t perfect. But they build very good privacy and security into their products. And they structure their UI and defaults in such a way that the average user benefits with no effort or specialized knowledge.

What I love about this move is that it's a double edged sword against google. ether google have to 1. cannibalize their main source of revenue and implement similar feature on Android and thus becoming a weaker competitor. 2. don't follow apple and let apple eat more of the smartphone market of people who worry about their privacy. Apple doesn't make money from Ads, so it's strange that they waited this long to do th…

> The company had the potential to raise revenue by a third every year, from an estimated $2 billion currently to $11 billion in 2025.

Source: https://in.reuters.com/article/apple-advertising/apple-could...

Re: New iOS privacy feature may end an era of personalized ads

#360
post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe so. In my country, having an iPhone was a sign of higher income. An average Android phone with a known brand is about 1K local currency, iPhone SE is around 5K and iPhone 11 Pro is around 11K. Average junior developer earns around 5K monthly. Nowadays, even people that can't afford proper food buy them second hand or with installments. I, as an Android user, keep reading stories about how iPhone respects pr…

If you get an iPhone, you will get Apple's compulsory apps. The difference is that on Android, you can replace Google's apps with other apps.

don't you just exchange that with apps your carrier forces on you?
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