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Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

therecord.media

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Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#91

Post by rurp »

clairity wrote: post #75
tchalla wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's similar to when Apple defended it's 30% store cut by claiming it's an "industry standard"... specifically, an industry standard that Apple established. Apple established a standard for the Apple app store. There was a lot of complaint about "Apple Tax" and Apple merely pointed out that it wasn't a "Apple Tax". Sure, Apple started it but others which are not even connected to the Apple ecosystem simply followed…

this is a classic example of how companies collude without direct communication. it's a type of game theoretic outcome that's actually taught in business school - how to read your competitor's intentions from public information (like pricing intentions) and legally act and counter-communicate publicly your own intentions to not compete (in many cases by not lowering price). this can practically only happen in oligarc…

This is a great comment. It drives me crazy how often people take concepts that apply to an idealized free market and apply them to an area that's controlled by a small number of entrenched behemoths. Very little of the tech industry these days operates like an Econ 101 free marketplace.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#92

Post by dralley »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

" Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service schedules to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways." -Google This is a beautiful quote because it is an example of one industry's bad behavior leading to another industry's bad behavior, upon which the first industry then users the second's similarity to justify themselves. Cars only started doin…

>Cars only started doing this because phones made it normal. It's wrong in both cases.

I don't know that this is true, planes have been doing it for quite some time now, although obviously they existing in a totally different bracket of price and complexity.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#93

Post by mustaflex »

I went to visit an apartment to rent with a friend. While waiting for the owner my friend was reading the names on the mailbox, and read the "x" out loud said "this person is probably Romanian". I when I was home I had notification if I knew this "x" person. All this time my phone was in my pocket. It is just creepy and I'm going to change my pixel 2 as soon as I can for an Iphone.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#94

Post by fapjacks »

davidkellis wrote: post #18

What are the best alternatives to iOS and Android? Is it reasonable to consider the hardware itself "safe", given that the software tracks and calls home about every single thing it does? What are the alternatives?

As mentioned in sibling comment, there are no alternative, but I use microG, which is an open source Google Play Services (the core vehicle of most of this fuckery) shim that allows you to use apps that require Google Play Services (like Uber or Tinder or whatever) without actually having to install any binary blobs from Google. The future is so stupid.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#95

Post by chasil »

fapjacks wrote: post #85
swiley wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>cars regularly send basic data My car doesn't and I absolutely would never buy one that does even if that meant walking/taking the bus.

Which makes it weird that we accept this bullshit from our phones, considering that you have your phone with you whether you're driving or walking or taking the bus.

I don't accept it on my phone either.

My Oneplus runs Lineage, and I explicitly omitted Google services.

I had previously run the MicroG rewrap of Lineage, but the maintainer dropped maintenance for six months, so I found ways to do without the GMS emulation.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#96

Post by Spooky23 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

" Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service schedules to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways." -Google This is a beautiful quote because it is an example of one industry's bad behavior leading to another industry's bad behavior, upon which the first industry then users the second's similarity to justify themselves. Cars only started doin…

It’s way worse. Google is the pioneer in that type of analytics.

Apple took the existing model and automated it. They didn’t invent it, it’s been around since RCA/Victor. Retail takes bigger cuts (Walmart used to get 60% from AV vendors). Enterprise software resellers and distributors take a similar share to Apple, and do other shenanigans as a financing mechanism. When you hear about “shipments” that’s what that means.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#97

Post by twobitshifter »

mankyd wrote: post #3

Not mentioned in the headline: When the user is _not_ logged in, iOS collects "location" whereas Android does not. I am actually a little surprised that iOS would gather this information. What use would it serve?

It doesn’t seem like they actually “collect” this information with any identifier and only use it for limited strict purposes. This is unlike google who can pop up a map of everywhere you’ve been minute by minute over the last 5 years. I guess that’s only when you’re logged in to your google account, but that’s 99% of Android phones.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#98

Post by mmacvicarprett »

Why do they need IMEI for? and mac addresses of close networks (besides location).

When the user gives consent for PII like IMEI, location, networks mac addresses?

I wonder if both companies might be breaching the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule ("COPPA").

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#99

Post by fapjacks »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #68
6gvONxR4sf7o wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That link is returning "429 Too Many Requests." What feature is it you're referring to?

There's an Ultra Wideband radio in the iPhone 11 and newer that isn't legal to use in all countries. Apple uses a location request sometimes just to determine if the device can legally run that radio or not.

It's nice of you to accept Apple's calling it "radio" but UWB is radar technology. Newer iPhones have radar built into them to make their location tracking more precise. Most people don't understand (or can't understand) the details, which is why the semantic load of calling UWB "radar" instead of "radio" is important for conveying its intended purpose.

Re: Google collects 20 times more telemetry from Android devices than Apple from iOS

#100

Post by retube »

grishka wrote: post #80
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #4

" Modern cars regularly send basic data about vehicle components, their safety status and service schedules to car manufacturers, and mobile phones work in very similar ways." -Google This is a beautiful quote because it is an example of one industry's bad behavior leading to another industry's bad behavior, upon which the first industry then users the second's similarity to justify themselves. Cars only started doin…

> cars regularly send basic data I'm still terrified by the fact that some cars now apparently have network interfaces for some reason.

Got a courtesy call from BMW the other day to let me know my brake fluid needed changing and would I like an appointment made at my nearest garage?

I get that there are privacy concerns, but also that's pretty cool. It also has GPS and will automatically alert BNW if air bags are deployed. Has saved lives.

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