Alex_V

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Alex_V
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  • Cryptocurrency platform Poly Network hack steals $600 million [u]

    Alex_VAlex_V
    The problem (with my limited understanding) is that crypto can’t make up its mind—is it currency or is it an investment? If the value of a crypto is stable it can be used as currency. If it keeps rising like Bitcoin does, you can’t use it for exchange because everyone holds on to theirs in the hopes of getting rich. In that case it’s tulips—a bubble. 
    GeorgeBMacsconosciuto

  • Google teases Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro with new Tensor AI chip

    Alex_VAlex_V
    I agree that it is different and distinct. But, cCamera bar is a pretty significant protrusion. I have reservations about the wisdom of that solution which was, no doubt done to buy more space for lenses and components. I think the phone is going to get stuck on the way in and on the way out of pockets. 
    watto_cobra

  • Facebook reports record ad revenue after grousing about iOS privacy features

    Alex_VAlex_V
    gatorguy said:

    It's more YOUR little semantics game, and a very misleading one played by a few others. There's no advertiser access to user data, especially not YOUR OWN personal data. 
    User data is not for sale, tho there are companies that do, even ones you inherently trust (perhaps because you don't know any better?)

    Google places ads for companies based on baskets of ANONYMISED USERS WITH SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS in much the same way Apple creates baskets of users for delivering targeted ads in certain Apple services. Baby steps. You know why Apple treats that as OK to do? Because they aren't selling that data or even giving it away, and neither is Google. The intellectual dishonesty is pretending they do.

    Is maintaining a talking point so important to you that using half-truths to do so is acceptable? Don't work that FUD. Be better than that. 

    Whatever. Google snoops on us. They monitor us online, they scan our emails, etc. They want to know as much as they can about each of us to build up a detailed psychographic profile of us: Demography, socio-economic status, political beliefs, sexuality, etc. Etc.  In the long run, like the NSA, they want to know everything about everyone. Google then sells that knowledge to advertisers. I’m not so comforted that it is anonymous. Because Google knows. Plus, they did this surreptitiously, without informing us. Apple's big offence was to insist that we are informed. 

    As far as I know, the only adverts that Apple presents to me are on the App Store. When I search for a word processor, it says: “Here’s another word processor, have a look.”
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Facebook reports record ad revenue after grousing about iOS privacy features

    Alex_VAlex_V
    igorsky said:
    Sorry but saying "the poor consumer doesn't know what's really going on" is no longer a good excuse.  This business model has been around for a while now and there have been a myriad of articles explaining what companies like Facebook do with their data.  
    You would think so, but… When people go into a store to buy a cell phone, they see an iPhone, which for a thousand dollars they get ‘hardware’ (handset) and ‘software’ (iOS); and they can pay extra for ‘services’ (iCloud). Then there is a Samsung for a thousand bucks, which they assume is the same thing. Because everyone says it’s the same. But it ain’t. You pay for the hardware, the software comes free because Google wants your detailed profile to target for advertising. It looks the same, but they’re being sold something else entirely. It’s an entirely different business model. 
    williamlondonwatto_cobra

  • Israel investigates Pegasus developer NSO over spyware abuse allegations

    Alex_VAlex_V
    The fox investigating the break-in at the hen house. 
    GeorgeBMacwatto_cobra