cropr

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cropr
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  • Dozens of iOS apps secretly collect location history for data monetization, analysis says

    croprcropr
    GuardianApp only detects cases where the app is directly connecting to the monetization companies.  Sadly, that is the only the tip of iceberg.

    Using any app that connects to any server makes you vulnerable.  Based on your IP address, the server can get a pretty good idea where you are located.  It is even quite accurate if you are connected via a 3G or 4G network.   And if the app needs some kind of sign in, your full details (name, email, ...) are available at the server, which can leak these details to a monetization firm.  GardianApp does not detect this scheme, but your data is sent.   And even worse, in such a schema the app is fully compliant to the App Store rules, so Apple has no means to intervene.   App developers don't have to ask permission for a connection to a server. (@Nunzy: ; so don't be so naive)

    The GDPR rules in the EU forbid such a scheme, so in the EU (and currently only there) this way of working is no longer allowed without explicit consent of the user.   How the EU would enforce this GDPR policy is another discussion.





    nunzy

  • A 5G iPhone will cost Apple about $21 in licensing fees to Nokia, Qualcomm, and others

    croprcropr
    rob53 said:
    The way around the 5G licensing is for Apple to develop a 6G standard that isn't based on existing cellular standards but is able to be used on existing cellular transceivers. At the same time, Apple could come out with their own cellular service, effectively getting rid of all current services in the US.

    Yea, not going to happen but I'm tired of FRAND patents costing so much. $21 doesn't sound like a lot but that's only for cellular patents, their are a lot of other royalties Apple has to pay for.
    That is much easier said then done.   The big chunk of 4G, 5G or 6G is done at network side, where companies like Ericsson, Nokia and Huawei sell their network equipment & software to telecom operators.  The phone part is very limited.  Apple is basically a Business to Consumer company with no experience in the network equipment business. To come up with a better standard for 6G without fully understanding the technical challenges at the network side seems utopia to me.

    On top of that, you cannot sell a phone with only 6G.  It stills need to support the older standards as well, because telecom operators around the world never do a nation wide roll-out of new technology. A device with only coverage in the center of big cities is not an option
    muthuk_vanalingam

  • Comparing the 2018 15-inch 2018 MacBook Pro with the Dell XPS 15 9570

    croprcropr
    GeorgeBMac said:
    A good comparison -- but:
    Why would you compare a high quality machine to a Dell?   They're junk.

    But, far more importantly:
    Simply comparing hardware is essentially meaningless to most users:  Actually, the OS has a far bigger impact for "the average user" than does the hardware -- particularly since the internals are all just off-the-shelf stuff anyway.

    And then we get to to services and support.  ai published another article right above this one talking about "value added" products from Apple.   A comparison of Apple hardware to another's hardware ignores the services, support and ecosystem that make that chunk of hardware stand above the rest.

    This, as usual, was a good review by ai.   But, it was also like comparing the skin of one apple to the skin of another.   Incomplete.
    In my software company I've standardized on 2 machines: Dell XPS and MacbookPro.  The Dell XPS machine run Ubuntu.  I have not bought a new MBP 2018, but otherwise I have a very good view on the laptop of both suppliers.

    The Dell XPS has an excellent build quality, great screen, superb keyboard.  The MPB has a better trackpad , better webcam, roughly equal screen, but worse keyboard.   MacOS is better for my graphical designers (Sketch and  Adoba CC suite). Ubuntu is better for my backend developers (running multiple containers). 

    Both Dell XPS and Apple MBP are great machines, nicely engineered with high quality components.  If there is one thing  comes in neighbourhood of the term "junk", it is the butterfly keyboard on the MBP.

    Apple has indeed a better service than Dell.  But if there is a relevant difference between both ecosystems, it can only be the price
    muthuk_vanalingam

  • Apple wants iPhone to be proof of identity and replace passports

    croprcropr
    cropr said:

     - How can a government disable a passport? Can this be done remotely?  If it can, how can we avoid abuse?
     - What would happen if a government gets a serious dispute with the manufacturer? 
     - What would happen if the secured environment would be hacked and the manufacturer "forgot" to tell the government in time?
     - How does a foreign country can put in a stamp in the passport? 
     - How do we cope with multiple passports (one for Israel and one for the Arab countries)?
    1: By not verifying when the credentials are requested. 

    2: I’m not sure why this is an issue. 

    3: That remains to be seen. What happens if someone forges a passport now?

    4: It doesn’t need to be “stamped”, instead can list where you have been approved to enter, time and date noted. 

    5: Same as we cope with multiple credit cards. 
    Apparently you have not done a lot of international travel with passport controls
    1) You answer is exactly the issue.  This would require that any country anywhere on the world should agree to this way of working.  Good luck with that.
    2) It is Apple has denied until now to unlock iPhones on request of the police. For passport verification this cannot be sustained.  What if the government declares because of this that the electronic passport is no longer valid and you are abroad while this happens?
    3) A hacked electronic passport is a very big issue. It takes a well trained border police about 2 seconds to detect a fraudulent paper passport. There is no way a border police officer of a foreign country can detect the difference between a hacked and genuine electronic passport (that is the big danger of professional hacking, it can wipe out all traces of the hacking).
    4) This is another big issue. Stamps are used to put a visas in passports and to register in and out movements.   Bear in mind that a lot of countries are used to work with stamps and they don't have the money nor the will to change a working, cost effective solution.  Why should these countries make an investment because a foreigner of another country has an electronic passport?
    5) Your solution just fails.  If an Arab country detects that there is a 2nd passport (used for Israel) on your iPhone, you are not allowed to enter the country.  The nice thing about paper passports is that you can have 2 of them, fully separated from each other.  Having 2 iPhones seems a bit overkill.

    muthuk_vanalingammacplusplus

  • Slow progress on common smartphone charger initiative may get extra EU push

    croprcropr
    frantisek said:
    Not sure other producers will be willing to raise standard for their chargers and Apple wont be willing to lower them.
    Apple uses USB-C for the Macbook, I don't consider the USB-C as a lowering standard if Apple would use it for the iPhone and iPad as well
    caladanianmuthuk_vanalingamigohmmmpascal007