Apple seeking to patent spyware
1–10 of 42 posts
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#2"traitorware"? Wow, that's not unnecessarily inflammatory at all!
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#3So as about a million comments on Slashdot -- about as Apple-hating a place as you'll find -- pointed out, this patent application is basically for the phone equivalent of OnStar's "someone stole my car, find it and shut it down" system, plus a couple extra features like taking a picture of the thief or detecting attempts to get through the passcode lock. The patent, if granted, will most likely be bogus, but the intent is perfectly reasonable.
Of course, reasonable things don't generate lots of pageviews and donations, so it has to be spun into some megalomaniacal complex Steve Jobs has which drives him to want to spy on you, you personally and take away all your freedoms to suit his nefarious purposes. Which is vicious lying stinking reeking bullshit FUD, which is what EFF has lately taken to using as a signature tactic, which is why I no longer donate to them.
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#4Answers the question: why do normal people, when they know the EFF exists at all, think it is a joke?
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#5"traitorware"? Wow, that's not unnecessarily inflammatory at all!
They're taking after the RMS school of linkbait PR — a mix of activism that's too earnest for all but their most strident supporters and neologisms so punny that even your dad would groan at them.
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#6"traitorware"? Wow, that's not unnecessarily inflammatory at all!
They're taking after the RMS school of linkbait PR — a mix of activism that's too earnest for all but their most strident supporters and neologisms so punny that even your dad would groan at them.
I know. I know. It isn't endearing when RMS or the FSF do it either. Turns me off from supporting them in the future.
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#7Talk about prior art, Google already does most of this.
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#8So as about a million comments on Slashdot -- about as Apple-hating a place as you'll find -- pointed out, this patent application is basically for the phone equivalent of OnStar's "someone stole my car, find it and shut it down" system, plus a couple extra features like taking a picture of the thief or detecting attempts to get through the passcode lock. The patent, if granted, will most likely be bogus, but the int…
Analogy problem: You can't steal your own car. This application, bogus or not, is targeted to the possibility that you steal your own phone.
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#9So as about a million comments on Slashdot -- about as Apple-hating a place as you'll find -- pointed out, this patent application is basically for the phone equivalent of OnStar's "someone stole my car, find it and shut it down" system, plus a couple extra features like taking a picture of the thief or detecting attempts to get through the passcode lock. The patent, if granted, will most likely be bogus, but the int…
One interesting thing about OnStar is that it actually has been used for exactly the sort of remote bugging that the EFF fears Apple's program will get used for.
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1029_3-5109435.html
And they've also done this with other cell phones:
http://www.zdnet.com/news/fbi-taps-cell-phone-mic-as-eavesdr...
Incidentally, I note that the reasoning given for why the OnStar case was reversed on appeal was that the bugging rendered the system unable to respond if there were an actual emergency. I'm not completely sure if this reasoning would also apply to a phone or not, but it might if using it as such would block 911 calls. It would be interesting, though, if they could activate the camera or something without blocking calls.
And there's still nothing that would stop them from subpoenaing all of the information in Apple's possession, though they can and already do this with other cell phones, as I already mentioned. I still wonder about some of the strange data points they're gathering. What's up with gathering the user's heart rate, for example?
Re: Apple seeking to patent spyware
#10"traitorware"? Wow, that's not unnecessarily inflammatory at all!
Well I would have to respectfully disagree. They are calling it what it is. I appreciate the simple and direct language.