It doesn't "feel" anything like Google's WiFi data collection, and it's not plausible that Google's WiFi data collection was an "oversight". (And the two are not analogous at all, in Google's case, they took information from people's homes, In Apple's case, they left information on your phone and computer.)
Completely plausible IMO that they didn't take notice of the superfluous threads of code that had nothing to do with what they were searching out: wi-fi locations for location enhancement and benefiting both Google and the users of it's services. And assuming someone at some level noticed, there's no indications that any "authority" at Google was notified. What's not plausible is that they had any interest in segment of an email you sent your Aunt Edna, nor the text your wife composed.
A poster here surmised that Apple just never thought to look at what might inadvertantly be stored in "consolidated.db". Apple simply overlooked what was gathering in the file. A bug that they'll fix at some point. Yet you're certain that Google had nefarious plans for all the tidbits and remnants their wi-fi sniffers logged?
Completely plausible IMO that they didn't take notice of the superfluous threads of code that had nothing to do with what they were searching out: wi-fi locations for location enhancement and benefiting both Google and the users of it's services. ...
What you describe is plausible. But, it's entirely implausible that they didn't notice they had all this data. In fact, it's entirely impossible they didn't realize, for years before it became public, what they were collecting. Anyone at Google stating otherwise is simply lying.
Shame on anyone who believes this "it's a bug" malarkey. Same as when Apple said "oops! we've been using the wrong code to display iphone signal strength." Bull.
Boy do many like to negatively speculate when they don't understand.
Or how about some that speculate simply because they don't know the facts?
Check the iTunes EULA, bro: it was recently amended to include that Apple reserves the right to 'share' user data with unspecified third parties, for unspecified purposes...! I.o.w. they reserver the right to do with your personal data whatever they like!
In response to the people who point out its just stored on your phone, how exactly do you know? I have a pay as you go iPhone, and I know that if I don't buy a data package each month it will burn through all its credit in a few hours, despite the fact it isn't set to sync anything. So all the time you phone must be sending some sort of data.
Personally I would say its just sloppy coding, but given how secretive Apple is they could have plans to sell the data in the future.
A file that stores a detailed history of the approximate location an iPhone or 3G-equipped iPad has been is a result of a bug in the iOS operating system,]
If so, it's a bug as big as Ballmer's "rounding error".
Oops, we accidentally created a very complex algorithm with very specific time stamped tracking data and concealed it in a hidden file on you iDevice...
It's not a complex algorithm, it's just noting down what's about.
The algorithm you refer to is used specifically calculate an approximate position based on nearby cell tower and wifi hotspot strength. This would make use of what should have been a recent history of locations, without having to spin-up the GPS, it would have been used when using Skyhook or Google's non-GPS database too (i.e. prior to the logging in iOS 4.0)
This explains why my iPhone is so damn quick to get my location pretty much spot on almost instantly when I'm somewhere I've been before.
Definitely a good feature, but Christ they need to encrypt the database on the device (SQLite has this provision). Then, only Apple's software may access the raw data.
I agree, this will be fixed shortly, and it certainly sounds like a bug.
Too those saying it's only a bug because someone found out. This is true, like most bugs the original creators are unaware of the bug. Seeing as the data isn't going anywhere outside of the phone and the syncing iTunes library, I fail to see how a conspiracy theory can be reached from this.
If any of you were actually developers, you might know that a lot of time is spent debugging and testing. This feature was most likely part of a test suite that someone forgot to remove from the final build.
Personally though, unless I'm a secret agent or cheating on my girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse who cares where I've been? There are all these "social" apps (which I still don't "get", BTW) where you report, along with Twitter, everywhere you're going and everything you're doing!
Now at home.
Later at work.
Then to the mall.
Maybe to a club at night (Oh noes! No, it's not a strip club, even then, so what)
Then back home.
Maybe I don't see my life as that exciting that I need to update everyone all the time where I'm going, where I've "checked into" and all that nonsense.
Maybe I'm getting old.
As for Apple, well, like I said, draw enough attention to it, and I think enough has been drawn, and they'll fix it, tighten their privacy policy, etc.
In the meantime, I'll go back to worrying about Google.
Personally though, unless I'm a secret agent or cheating on my girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse who cares where I've been?
The question is, how much do you cherish your privacy if you have unfettered access to your PC’s user account where this file is stored? How much do you cherish it if you still back up your iPhone data unencrypted? How is this data worse in the hands of someone who stole your phone than the data of your emails, contact, safari history, calendar, and all other info for apps?
I’d like an answer from Apple now that it’s out there and because their cache file seems to store more info than the other mobile OSes, but I’m expecting any such response to be underwhelming and this issue will fizzle out before the weekend is up.
Quote:
There are all these "social" apps (which I still don't "get", BTW) where you report, along with Twitter, everywhere you're going and everything you're doing!
Now at home.
Later at work.
Then to the mall.
Maybe to a club at night (Oh noes! No, it's not a strip club, even then, so what)
Then back home.
Maybe I don't see my life as that exciting that I need to update everyone all the time where I'm going, where I've "checked into" and all that nonsense.
Maybe I'm getting old.
As for Apple, well, like I said, draw enough attention to it, and I think enough has been drawn, and they'll fix it, tighten their privacy policy, etc.
Facebook and Twitter can be used for a lot more than that. I mostly use Twitter as a replacement to many RSS feeds and Google News emails I used to receive.
I also use it like an Im group chat among my friends on Twitter. I post links to articles I find interesting, either to everyone or specifically to a person. Things that don’t require much text.
I also have Facebook for staying connected to family members. These are people I don’t have much in common with to chat with on a regular basis over the phone and can’t see in person easily. I get to see pictures and here something interesting that keeps me up to speed with what’s going on while allowing myself to read, or comment, at my leisure and keeping them from having to personally contact everyone on the list.
I first made the mistake of having Facebook with friends and my siblings, all of which share common interests. But even is wide spread and I don’t interact with all groups of friends the same way. They I reluctantly agreed to allow other family members. Then my mother finally wanted to be my buddy on Facebook. I didn’t want to explain to my mom what this inside joke meant from a friend… so I closed it out and created a new one just for family.
Pros and cons.
Quote:
In the meantime, I'll go back to worrying about Google.
Google has every single email I’ve sent and received since the service opened. Just sayin’.
Comments
It doesn't "feel" anything like Google's WiFi data collection, and it's not plausible that Google's WiFi data collection was an "oversight". (And the two are not analogous at all, in Google's case, they took information from people's homes, In Apple's case, they left information on your phone and computer.)
Completely plausible IMO that they didn't take notice of the superfluous threads of code that had nothing to do with what they were searching out: wi-fi locations for location enhancement and benefiting both Google and the users of it's services. And assuming someone at some level noticed, there's no indications that any "authority" at Google was notified. What's not plausible is that they had any interest in segment of an email you sent your Aunt Edna, nor the text your wife composed.
A poster here surmised that Apple just never thought to look at what might inadvertantly be stored in "consolidated.db". Apple simply overlooked what was gathering in the file. A bug that they'll fix at some point. Yet you're certain that Google had nefarious plans for all the tidbits and remnants their wi-fi sniffers logged?
Completely plausible IMO that they didn't take notice of the superfluous threads of code that had nothing to do with what they were searching out: wi-fi locations for location enhancement and benefiting both Google and the users of it's services. ...
What you describe is plausible. But, it's entirely implausible that they didn't notice they had all this data. In fact, it's entirely impossible they didn't realize, for years before it became public, what they were collecting. Anyone at Google stating otherwise is simply lying.
Boy do many like to negatively speculate when they don't understand.
Or how about some that speculate simply because they don't know the facts?
Check the iTunes EULA, bro: it was recently amended to include that Apple reserves the right to 'share' user data with unspecified third parties, for unspecified purposes...! I.o.w. they reserver the right to do with your personal data whatever they like!
Very little speculation involved here, my friend.
Personally I would say its just sloppy coding, but given how secretive Apple is they could have plans to sell the data in the future.
A file that stores a detailed history of the approximate location an iPhone or 3G-equipped iPad has been is a result of a bug in the iOS operating system,]
If so, it's a bug as big as Ballmer's "rounding error".
Oops, we accidentally created a very complex algorithm with very specific time stamped tracking data and concealed it in a hidden file on you iDevice...
It's not a complex algorithm, it's just noting down what's about.
The algorithm you refer to is used specifically calculate an approximate position based on nearby cell tower and wifi hotspot strength. This would make use of what should have been a recent history of locations, without having to spin-up the GPS, it would have been used when using Skyhook or Google's non-GPS database too (i.e. prior to the logging in iOS 4.0)
Definitely a good feature, but Christ they need to encrypt the database on the device (SQLite has this provision). Then, only Apple's software may access the raw data.
I agree, this will be fixed shortly, and it certainly sounds like a bug.
Too those saying it's only a bug because someone found out. This is true, like most bugs the original creators are unaware of the bug. Seeing as the data isn't going anywhere outside of the phone and the syncing iTunes library, I fail to see how a conspiracy theory can be reached from this.
Either Gruber is an idiot or a liar or both... This is much more than a simple bug... Apple is not that lame...
Gruber must have been asleep when he wrote this.....
WHAT?
Either Gruber is an idiot or a liar or both... This is much more than a simple bug... Apple is not that lame...
Gruber must have been asleep when he wrote this.....
That means?
- David Pogue :: http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...g-you-so-what/
- Andy Ihnatko :: http://ihnatko.com/2011/04/20/hey-wo...-on-my-iphone/
- Watts Martin :: http://chipotle.tumblr.com/post/4781...little-nervous
- Alex Levinson :: https://alexlevinson.wordpress.com/2...ing-discovery/
- Google?s Android :: https://github.com/packetlss/android-locdump
?are all idiots or liars or both, and asleep.That means?
- David Pogue :: http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...g-you-so-what/
- Andy Ihnatko :: http://ihnatko.com/2011/04/20/hey-wo...-on-my-iphone/
- Watts Martin :: http://chipotle.tumblr.com/post/4781...little-nervous
- Alex Levinson :: https://alexlevinson.wordpress.com/2...ing-discovery/
- Google?s Android :: https://github.com/packetlss/android-locdump
?are all idiots or liars or both, and asleep.Yup...
How much crap are people willing to put up with to be seen as, (or to think that they are seen as) cool or 'cutting edge'?
See: Android, Google, "Do no evil", "Open".
Personally though, unless I'm a secret agent or cheating on my girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse who cares where I've been? There are all these "social" apps (which I still don't "get", BTW) where you report, along with Twitter, everywhere you're going and everything you're doing!
Now at home.
Later at work.
Then to the mall.
Maybe to a club at night (Oh noes! No, it's not a strip club, even then, so what)
Then back home.
Maybe I don't see my life as that exciting that I need to update everyone all the time where I'm going, where I've "checked into" and all that nonsense.
Maybe I'm getting old.
As for Apple, well, like I said, draw enough attention to it, and I think enough has been drawn, and they'll fix it, tighten their privacy policy, etc.
In the meantime, I'll go back to worrying about Google.
Privacy is important.
Personally though, unless I'm a secret agent or cheating on my girlfriend/ boyfriend/ spouse who cares where I've been?
The question is, how much do you cherish your privacy if you have unfettered access to your PC’s user account where this file is stored? How much do you cherish it if you still back up your iPhone data unencrypted? How is this data worse in the hands of someone who stole your phone than the data of your emails, contact, safari history, calendar, and all other info for apps?
I’d like an answer from Apple now that it’s out there and because their cache file seems to store more info than the other mobile OSes, but I’m expecting any such response to be underwhelming and this issue will fizzle out before the weekend is up.
There are all these "social" apps (which I still don't "get", BTW) where you report, along with Twitter, everywhere you're going and everything you're doing!
Now at home.
Later at work.
Then to the mall.
Maybe to a club at night (Oh noes! No, it's not a strip club, even then, so what)
Then back home.
Maybe I don't see my life as that exciting that I need to update everyone all the time where I'm going, where I've "checked into" and all that nonsense.
Maybe I'm getting old.
As for Apple, well, like I said, draw enough attention to it, and I think enough has been drawn, and they'll fix it, tighten their privacy policy, etc.
Facebook and Twitter can be used for a lot more than that. I mostly use Twitter as a replacement to many RSS feeds and Google News emails I used to receive.
I also use it like an Im group chat among my friends on Twitter. I post links to articles I find interesting, either to everyone or specifically to a person. Things that don’t require much text.
I also have Facebook for staying connected to family members. These are people I don’t have much in common with to chat with on a regular basis over the phone and can’t see in person easily. I get to see pictures and here something interesting that keeps me up to speed with what’s going on while allowing myself to read, or comment, at my leisure and keeping them from having to personally contact everyone on the list.
I first made the mistake of having Facebook with friends and my siblings, all of which share common interests. But even is wide spread and I don’t interact with all groups of friends the same way. They I reluctantly agreed to allow other family members. Then my mother finally wanted to be my buddy on Facebook. I didn’t want to explain to my mom what this inside joke meant from a friend… so I closed it out and created a new one just for family.
Pros and cons.
In the meantime, I'll go back to worrying about Google.
Google has every single email I’ve sent and received since the service opened. Just sayin’.
I know this:
When Google makes a mistake that involves privacy, folks here grab their pitchforks ready to storm the castle.
But when Apple makes a mistake that involves privacy, folks here stumble over each other to see who can apologize for them faster.
This forum is the embodiment of "double standard".
Sorry, I can't hear your indignation over the sound of the world's smallest violin
Please. Here's how you get people to join you on your Apple-haters pitchfork party:
Angry At Apple Pitchfork Party!!!
When: April 21, 2011
Where: AppleInsider Forums
Why: Because Apple is inside ur phonez stealing ur privacys!!!
Grab your pitchfork and torch and form an angry mob!
FREE DOOR PRIZES!
FREE PUNCH AND PIE!
OPEN BAR - DRINK SPECIALS!
Bug, my ass!
I'd rather not know what's up there, to be honest.
A bug!??? WTF??? That's almost as bad as an excuse as "your holding it wrong dude"...
It's a lot worse. It's a bald-faced lie!