Live data from Hacker News

Google collects metadata from Android phones

borncity.com

201–210 of 263 posts

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#201
post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until very recently, Microsoft's business model had not been about profiting off collecting user information. They were one of the last remaining companies who didn't attempt to monetise the crap out of their users.

> who didn't attempt to monetise the crap out of their users. * By using and selling user data and profiles. There's a reason people still refer to them as M$.

Because they would eliminate all viable competition then jack up their prices knowing that customers were locked in. Microsoft is late to the monetization of data game.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#202
post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Viable platforms require viable ecosystems. I don't see how you can get around that fact. That's what sets the lower bound for scale. If you do not have a an ecosystem that's comparable or, alternatively, sufficiently non-overlapping then you can't compete. Amazon's OS crew is relatively small. Samsung can't compete because there is no viable Samsung ecosystem, and Samsung has not aligned with an ecosystem partner ot…

This is false if Android is an open platform. Because then it's "viable" by the very nature that tons of apps exist for it. The problem is that Google is creating a walled garden, to prevent competing app stores. Apps developed on Android could be easily listed, downloaded, and installed on any flavor of Android. Samsung, Amazon, etc. could all have their app stores, and developers could script a simple command to up…

Both Google-logo Android and AOSP Android OSs are open to alternative app stores, unlike Apple's products. Where are the garden walls? Conversely, most major apps are distributed through multiple app stores. Indeed that's the only way to sell in China. Only a narrow category of 3rd party apps need Play Services, and almost all of those can treat those APIs as optional.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#203
post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To disable it on Android go to: Settings -> Google -> Ads -> Opt out of interest-based ads But the surprise twist is that Apple does the same thing! To disable it on iPhones go to: Settings -> Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit Ad

That setting on iOS refers to iAd, a service that died because it respected your privacy too much, and was therefore not appealing to advertisers. It seems unfair to compare Apple and Google on user privacy. They are poles apart.

> That setting on iOS refers to iAd, a service that died because it respected your privacy too much

That is absurd revisionism: iAd died because Apple stipulated a minimum ad spend of $1 million. They later dropped the minimum spend to $50, but the damage was already done and the platform was in a death-spiral.

iAd died because Apple unsuccessful tried to capture the 'premium' end of the Ad Market, not because it "respected user privacy too much".

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That setting on iOS refers to iAd, a service that died because it respected your privacy too much, and was therefore not appealing to advertisers. It seems unfair to compare Apple and Google on user privacy. They are poles apart.

> That setting on iOS refers to iAd, a service that died because it respected your privacy too much That is absurd revisionism: iAd died because Apple stipulated a minimum ad spend of $1 million. They later dropped the minimum spend to $50, but the damage was already done and the platform was in a death-spiral. iAd died because Apple unsuccessful tried to capture the 'premium' end of the Ad Market, not because it "re…

I stand by what I said. Citation: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-encryption-privacy-i...

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#206
post #33

A Gooxit would be in order. From time to time I wonder why the EU accepts foreign companies stealing so much personal data. China did the right thing. We should learn from them. India, afaik, also has better protection.

I moved my e-mail off Google a few years ago after the PRISM leaks (which the world seems to have collectively forgotten about), but it's not easy. I've posted an article before on my struggles with running my own e-mail server and my messages going straight to spam (even with valid DMARC, DKIM and SPF records). I have a lot of friends internationally and I feel I can't exit FB, Google Hangouts, etc. The idea of fede…

Would you mind posting a link to your article? I'd like to read it.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#207
post #72

Half the enterprise apps I know stop working on cyanogen. Is there an alternative? Also is there a way to separate work and personal phone usage on a single device? Tools like mobile iron seem to demand all of my info be made available for whatever it deems fit for the corporate I work for.

Depending on your device, you may be able to multiboot. See https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tassadar.m...

Problem is when MobileIron/Corporate IT sees root activity has been done on a device, it refuses to load up anything else. So I am now stuck with checking for emails on the laptop.

It's 2016, device manufacturers should have gotten this right already instead of focusing on wallpaper.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#208
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depending on your device, you may be able to multiboot. See https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tassadar.m...

Problem is when MobileIron/Corporate IT sees root activity has been done on a device, it refuses to load up anything else. So I am now stuck with checking for emails on the laptop. It's 2016, device manufacturers should have gotten this right already instead of focusing on wallpaper.

You don't need root to multiboot. Or rather, you can multiboot something like Cyanogenmod with stock, and stock can be unrooted.

Re: Google collects metadata from Android phones

#209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I make the same assumption and the chilling effect is frustrating. I assume everything I type on the internet is able to be tied back to me if anyone at the NSA etc wanted to look at me specifically. Unless you always use a VPN (or Tor) for all of your accounts and go through the unreasonable efforts of preventing browser fingerprinting, chances are this is true for everyone. And even those efforts are thwarted if th…

It's dead if you use all these "free" services, "free" mobile os and services and "free" apps like Chrome browser, provided by Google,Facebook and co. By using these "freebies" you are willingly giving up data. People are effectively paying with their privacy, it is made completely clear. That's the model the "free" internet chose to go with. People don't seem to care about their privacy or don't understand the conse…

"It's dead if you use all these "free" services, "free" mobile os and services and "free" apps like Chrome browser, provided by Google,Facebook and co. "

Don't forget about all of your packets being sniffed at every hop as they go through all those telco routers you pay to use. Dead there to unless you use tor too, but then you just get flagged for using tor.

Post reply on HN