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iPhone Tracking Ruckus Ongoing
Trailrunner7 writes "A pair of Apple customers has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that Apple is invading their privacy by collecting location data about iPhone and iPad users without their knowledge." and theodp noted that the iPhone tracking 'Bug' is actually patent pending... which makes it harder to buy the mistake argument. As if that's not enough fun, South Korea, Italy, Germany and other countries are all looking into it.
it's not a bug, it's a feature!
root@127.0.0.1
The "mistake argument" isn't claiming that the whole location history implementation is a mistake, it's claiming that it's intended to be a cache, not a permanent archive. Nothing in the patent has anything to do with this.
I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
Apple Patent Application #54955959938734
Mobile Phone - A device that makes and receives telephone calls. The device sends and receives data wirelessly, and is powered by an internal battery.
Everybody take a deep breath. The log does not go to Apple, it stays on the phone. Apple is not tracking anybody, your phone is...but its your phone so where is the problem.
Worst case, maybe they should have encrypted the file.
Big Deal.
to becoming Big Brother, they've come a long way.
by (1706743)?
Name GET fail.
Apple gets free advertising.
Except they aren't tracking anyone. I understand that countries are investigating to protect their citizens, the other two sound like typical litigious americans.
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
why one might want to hide from being surveiled, profitsized, unchosen, defunctdead etc... is anyone's guess. after interpreting the genuine native elders leadership initiative sponsored teepeeleaks etchings, one immediately realizes that there's really no where to hide, but the reasoning behind wanting to is sound.
Umm isn't this pretty much what the telcos store anyways already in their own databases? The';ve used this info already on the First 48 hours show.
Ohh my I just noticed this in the patent write up "A computer-implemented method" Damn how silly of me its different because a computer is now doing it.
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
From the Home Office in Cupertino:
9."So...you don't want us doing that?"
7."Who doesn't like to be tracked like a wild animal?"
6."I just wanted to know where you were 24 hours a day because I love you"
3."Relax, we were just taking your private information and selling it"
1."That's nothing -- we also take photos of you in the shower
Isn't having a cell phone (especially one with apps that can access the GPS location) always track able by someone? Don't get me wrong I don't like the idea of being tracked, but the only way your going to achieve this, is to leave your cell phone at home.
AHAHAHAHA
Tracking the locations of cell towers != tracking a user
http://p8ste.com - Web based Clipboard
Take it as you will but this dude seems to think this data isn't actually a log of where an iPhone user has been. He claims it is actually location data of the cell towers the iPhone has seen. Obviously that kind of data could give rough location data but not with any granularity or meaningful accuracy.
I do have an iPhone and have looked at my own data with the Tracker app. On the surface I would have to say there is some validity to this guy's claim because the location data on my phone included places I haven't been within 10 or 20 miles of ever. With that said I still installed the untrack app on my phone to dump the tables in the database where this data is stored, but that's mainly because my Tinfoil Hat Wearer's Club membership agreement required me to do so.
1. A computer-implemented method performed by a location aware device, the method comprising: configuring a processor of the location aware device to collect network information broadcast from a number of network transmitters over a time span; and storing the network information and corresponding timestamps in a database as location history data."
I can generate that kind of patents as fast as I can type. Let's see...
1.A computer implemented mechanism to count from computer-defined 0 to an arbitrary computer number in an efficient way.
3. The method of claim 1, where the result is stored in a database.
4. The method of claim 1, where count begins from an arbitrary number.
5. The method of claim 1, where the counter is incremented by a computer-defined step that is not an integer 1.
... Should start building my "portfolio" asap.
This whole thing is incredibly bizarre. People are complaining that their GPS knows where it's been. Think about that. Next they will be complaining that their phone keeps track of their calls. The horror!
The information doesn't even get sent anywhere. It is collected by the phone for its own use. Sure, when you back the phone up to your computer this gets moved along with everything else. Darn Apple for backing up your phone when you tell it to back up your phone. How thoughtless. You'd think they would at least include an option to encrypt it so that no one could... oh, wait they did. With a single easy-to-use checkbox option.
Seriously, if anyone out there is this paranoid about anyone going through their backups or phones then a smart-phone is probably not the tool for them. If anyone really is going through your backups they have physical access to your computer and phone and your position history is probably the least of your worries. Grow up. Yes, the iPhone (and every other smartphone) keeps more information then phones (or anything else) did twenty years ago. They also do more things than anything did twenty years ago. That's the selling point.
That people are surprised by this.
What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
>>>I've a special place in my heart for 'em.
Ditto. Apple lost my loyalty when they stopped using the superior Motorola 68000/powerpc and switched to Intel. That's almost as bad as if they decided to switch to Windows OS, or install MS-IE as their default browser.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
fiction comes true again. some of the most lethal theater ever sciptdead. we must focus, on the images, of our right to serve god, given by god, to the chosen ones, to distribute to our rulers, who in turn assign us our right to serve god, in the most effective way, which is destroying god's (& in turn, our owned) enemies. on to mebotuh, weather permitting.
Leave him alone !! He just wants to be Steve in the time he has left !! Why won't you just leave Steve alone !!
Reading your comment would make one think that location tracking and location history is part of being a "smart" phone. There's nothing in the smartphone that requires this behaviour.
The problem with this data is that
1) A user cannot erase it analogous to clearing cache/cookines on a PC
2) It is purposely hidden from the user
3) Law enforcement in states like Michigan can download this information WITHOUT a warrant
4) Potential for abuse by apps and / or people who will stalk you/spy on you unbeknown to you.
Not to mention, that this is just wrong. There are certain inalienable rights (or at least they are supposed to be there), and a right to privacy is one of them.
Any such system should be opt-in ONLY.
Whatever is good for companies is good for society. The Magic Invisible Hand of the Free market will eventually give everyone what they want. Why are you against free markets? Why are you against freedom? Why are you against the Best Economic System On Earth (TM)? Why *can't* Apple do what it wants with its own phone operating system and phones? You don't own iOS - you only have the temporary right to operate it. It's a license agreement, not a bill of sale. If the phone collects data on you, that's because it was designed that way. Page 25, subsection c, footnote 1 of the iOS license agreement allows this and you consented when you acquired the phone.
This is being used to track terrorists! If you are against this, you are for the terrorists!
Seriously people, THINK.
abj V arrq gb tb gnxr n sevttva' fubjre nsgre glcvat gung.
V srry qvegl.
--
BMO
What do you think the cell phone providers do? They store cell phone location information all the time and give it to law enforcement when needed!
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but Apple switched over to the Dark Side when they ditched Motorola 680x0 and formed an alliance with the mortal enemy, IBM, to forge the PowerPC. THAT was earth-shattering. The switch to Intel has been nothing but positive for them - and us, as users. Also, Apple actually did pre-install MS-IE as their default browser for about five years, from 1998 up until Safari was released, whenever that was.
Dude, the fact that apple doesn't collect that information by default at the present time doesn't help _you_ or any other member of the Reality Distortion Field...
(1) Any app at any time including IOS updates has that information at its disposal, so iFarmville now knows where you spend most of your time and when you are not home. So maybe does any active advertisement ware and those free-but-buy-stuff games your kid is playing.
(2) Your phone is PRE-tapped as far as law enforcement is concerned. If I put a GPS anklet on you now "just in case do do something later" would you be fine with that? If I say it also "does iTunes" does it make it retroactively okay?
(3) I can "give you" an app and that app can now tell me how much time you spend shopping and where you shop down to the department of the store (couple meters).
(4) God save you if you get divorced or become subject to any legal fishing exiditions.
Suppose some legal person gets a hard on for the legal pursuit of you. I decide you are a child predator because that helps me get reelected. I take your phone log, makes excerpts of it, and "notice" in front of the Grand Jury and the actual Jury that you spend an awful lot of time near a preschool. Now _you_ never noticed that your coffee stand of choice is right next to some kinder-care place in the same strip mall, or if you did, you didn't care at all. But _there_ _you_ _are_ spending every morning watching the kiddies come and go "according to your phone" and the way someone has chosen to take data and "reimagine" your intent.
Less Obviously: If I took the iPhone you have in your hot little hands, and computed all the time-distance values "near" roads, how often would you "be speeding"... lets just use that to set your car and health insurance rates shall we? Do you have an app from your insurance company on your phone right now? Will you never have such an app? Are you _sure_?
The question isn't who is getting the data by default, its a question of where the data _might_ go and what it says about your past to some creative mind somewhere.
Don't paint me as "all hysterical" though. I have latatude on my Android devices. I know about the _actual_ cache in Android as opposed to the full journal in iPhones. Every day I walk into a number of places where cell phones are forbidden for security reasons. I have been fully briefed about the background cost in lost privacy to having a hot phone in my hands for more than ten years.
IOS _has_ stepped over a very bright line, but we are boiling frogs here, and the Reality Distortion Field is just letting the iFrogs cook faster.
Innocent people shouldn't be forced to pay for inferior software development.
--"Code Complete" Microsoft Press
when you claimed the powerpc was superior.
I bet your partner hears you murmuring 'Altivec' at night when you're asleep.
Has Untrackerd the "fix" caused problems for anyone else? My phone (3gs 4.0.1 8A306) randomly dies and refuses to boot unless I'm plugged into a computer or am holding the home button down while it boots. I'll admit it could be a coincidence but this foolishness started within 8 hours after installing this.
The Apple FanBoys are certainly gathering to defend this round in their ever expanding customer abuse portfolio.
Phones track YOU...ermm wait!
Microsoft has no on-device location tracking but sends the location to MS together with the Unique Device ID.
Great, just great.
Android does this also, so I wonder if apple gets their patent does this mean android will have to stop? It seems like something obvious that the government would want, oh wait there was a movie about this, sort of, Eagle Eye. Very big brotherish IMO and I'm sure there will be more suits to come.
Only 'flamers' flame!
As many have stated for days now to no avail, the iPhone consolidated.db log does not store and user location data. Even the patent indicates this. To understand this better, consider how both iOS and Android devices estimate user location when GPS is not available. They triangulate based on position relative to cell towers and wi-fi APs, which, in turn, requires the phone to know the location of these reference points. Since towers and APs don't transmit their own coordinates, phones need access to a position database. There are two ways this access can happen. The phone can either access the info over the internet, with all attendant delays, or it can maintain a local database and go off-phone only when there is no hit in this cache. But how can one keep this local database from becoming too large? Limit it to those cell towers that the user has connected with in the past, since those are the ones the user is more likely to be near in the future. This leads to a file on the phone containing location coordinates of towers and APs to which the phone has connected. Not user location data ... reference point data. And not in linear time, but only the most recent encounter with each reference point.
In other words, the consolidated.db file. The Apple patent claims exactly this.
Google is doing exactly the same thing with android.
What a long way Apple has come.
I find it rather sad really...I used to be a Mac-guy (before Linux stole my heart), so I've a special place in my heart for 'em.
Listen to the "Big Brother" character talking. For the first time, I heard him say, "... a garden of information..." I wonder if that garden is walled.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
I kinda dig it. I'm keeping it turned on because (a) I like to see a history of where i've been, it's like a photo album of sorts, and (b) if it turns out I do get screwed on a privacy issue, it'll be a great historic lawsuit!
https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
Not tracking my butt.
Every government's lapdog.
Yours In Miami,
Kilgore Trout, C.I.O.
...that things like this are addressed and properly I hope. I remember a day way back when when our outfit used sendmail as the organizations e-mail platform. I recall, not necessarily looking mind you, finding the /var/spool/mail and "cat"ing my own mail box. I was astonished to see that my mail box was right there in clear text for anyone to see that had rights to do so, or a want/need. This is when I clearly understood where things were headed. Log everything and keep it forever, just in case there was a failure in something, right? The caveat is that this information can and is used to build profiles against people. I've been on the investigation side of things so I know a bit about it. The more we touch in the electronic world the more control we lose individually. Handy for law enforcement, someone in the know, someone with the connections, and someone with the money. I would welcome an electronic, internet, privacy bill of rights that would guarantee individuals some very clear level of protection from this kind of thing, even if people opt in to tracking/caching/monitoring. Data collection is only a piece of a given puzzle but can be very dangerous to anyone who has attracted the wrong kind of attention. But then again, a case will be made for national security or the need to protect the women and children that will eventually wind up killing such a landmark piece of legislation. Only my 2c.
Android based phones have this feature also, so if apple patents it I guess it will either have to be removed or licensed. Kind of obvious 'feature' to me, but too big brother-ish IMO.
Only 'flamers' flame!
1. The Cell phone companies have had this data since 1998 for e911, any claims of privacy being invaded is completely void by this alone. So the lawsuit is frivolous.
2. Caching the data on the cell phone (eg that's what the patent is describing) and what Apple asserts is a bug (not purging the cache at all) is easily solved by not storing the cache to RAM (so it's effectively lost when the device runs out of power) or only storing it to NAND when the device actively engages the location-aware abilities (because then it makes logical sense to.) In case you are a complete moron and never go outside to get a proper GPS fix, the cellular network and other fixed WiFi access points is how the iPhone is able to engage A-GPS.
There is nothing to see here, there is nothing new. Storing the data on the phone is just common sense for location-aware, and I'd sooner believe this is a bug than some crazy "apple is tracking us" because apple never requests the data be sent to them. No it's the other way around, the phone goes "where is tower X located" and triangulates it's position based on the signal strengths of the surrounding towers.
Phones that have a real GPS in them take several minutes to download to get a fix on the GPS satellites, which means you have to burn several minutes of battery life every time you go inside and outside again. Caching the last state of the GPS makes getting a fix on the satellite much faster. If the phone doesn't have a real GPS in it, then it gets virtual GPS coordinates by triangulating the towers, exactly the same way e911 does.
Anyone who "would never have bought it had I know it tracks my location" needs to promptly sell their devices and never touch another cell phone. Because ALL cell phones track your location.
Even devices that aren't "phones" but still engage 3G data track your location. So no Nooks or Kindles for you either.
why is this still such a huge story?
i mean if you had a customer base that are as easily impressed by and as ignorant of technology as Apples', then wouldn't you want to know exactly where they were?
from a moral perspective it's obviously quite nasty to treat your customers so badly - but then again, if you're sad and foolish enough to buy Apple kit then you certainly deserve everything you get.
good luck to both parties!
You people that are defending this need to realize that the problem isn't when the government or other legal body requires data on you. As you've all mentioned cell phone towers have basically the same data available to them and they are easier to subpoena than using your phone. The problem comes when this file gets dumped on every computer that you plug your phone into. What happens when you sync your phone onto a computer that has been compromised by *pick your favorite mal-ware/trojan*. The person that compromised that computer can suddenly have access to that file and then they have all that information. And don't say that it doesn't matter because cell phone companies have that data, because their version of the data is encrypted and protected and not easily accessible. The un-encrypted data from your phone does not enjoy those protections. The big deal about this whole thing is the fact that the file is not encrypted and there can be any number of copies on any number of computers. If apple had simply encrypted this data, and/or left it on the phone (not have it sync to your computer) then this whole problem would have been much smaller.
i like being tracked where ever i go with no privacy.
Does this simply seem like an opportunistic lawsuit to anyone else? Anyone with half a technical brain should realize that EVERY cell phone sold since shortly after 9/11 tracks your location, and that you're carriers retain this data... yet another legacy of George W. Bush. The only thing that's different about the iPhone case is that Apple was dumb not to obtain user consent, plus they stored the data in an unencrypted and easily obtainable format. I'm not saying it's right, but if you don't want to be tracked, leave your cell phone, passport, and possibly driver's license (depending upon where you live) at home... and that doesn't even consider the possibility of tracking via city CCTV or other means. What I'd like to see is some actual investigative journalism in the iPhone\Android case, and then watch the panic ensue. If you want to spawn true paranoia, consider that your precious iPhone / Android device might potentially be used to record everything you audibly say or do, text, post to Facebook, etc., and if desired, for those phones that support video conferencing, video of said events... and yes, I own an iPhone 4. If you're truly worried about privacy and the smartphone cases have your stomach in knots, then you're only scratching the surface. This is a systemic problem, not just an iPhone problem.
Why are other countries looking into it but not the US? Isn't the true problem behind this, that information privacy isn't taken seriously in the US and that therefore companies can spy on their customers without having to fear any legal consequences? Who can blame US companies for doing what is legal in their own country? The solution has to be that information privacy in the US is taken as seriously as in those 'other' countries that are now looking into this 'locationgate'.
If it's without their knowledge, Ummm, facepalm, like,
how do they know?
There is no problem in getting location data for making a phone call. There is a problem when that data is STORED for as long as you have that device.
>WRONG. LE needs a warrant for anything on your phone. And if LE wants the locations of the cell towers you've used, along with direct triangulation of your position, they can serve a warrant to your provider.
You are flat out wrong on this, Grasshopper. At least in California, the police can search your mobile phone device without a warrant, according to a recent California Supreme Court decision. Anything on your phone is fair game for the cops without a warrant. I imagine that this will get appealed to the US Supreme Court, but if the rather liberal California court doesn't see a Fourth or Fifth Amendment right here, I can just imagine what Scalia et al.will do.
Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
Wow, all the hysteria and misinformation about this from supposedly well-informed Slashdot readers. I guess you don't need to actually know anything about the subject except what you read on huffington or ars before posting. This entire topic is just flamebait here.
My god people! Let's fear shark attacks and struck by lightning while we're at it. While we're at it, let's get Cheney to run for president in 2012.
I believe cell tracking happened in the 90s and continues today. I remember reading about some legal case where they caught the murder from her cell phone (otherwise it was a perfect crime) and I think the data they used was gathered in the late 90s. Back then it may have only been logged for a short time but now they likely keep it forever.
I have no issue with the Location framework's tracking system which by design makes it work as well as it does - I'd actually like it if apple published all the wifi data out there -- if you didn't know, there are already services and communities gathering wifi location info. Would be nice to pull up some site and get a google map with all the open wifi networks marked on it. One just can't compete against a dataset generated from iphones and macs moving about.
I do however firewall apple from sending location data out of my network. The desktops do not need to know where they are. Mac OS has been doing location tracking since they put in the location framework; I think its a cron because I used to notice it every night when it was being blocked.
I also seem to recall something in the legalese gave apple broad rights to anonymous data. If they missed something I'd think it would be more likely in the stuff for Mac OS X not in the iOS agreement.
Democracy Now! - uncensored, anti-establishment news
Remind us again how storing location information (no matter how crude and how irregularly sampled) for extended periods of time, is necessary in a smartphone?
Let's take what you're saying and apply it to the actual situation.
You use your phone to send your conversations with people over the air through a series of third party servers -and- your phone stores some of these conversations as 8kHz 8bit.wav files in a location that is not normally accessible and you are not made aware of, for a period no less than several months.
You wouldn't find that a little bit odd at the very least, apparently unnecessary and wasteful, and perhaps slightly - if not completely - wtf-worthy?
Your example for GPS specifically sucks because with GPS, there is no transmission of data to servers. The GPS module gets signals from the satellites and uses that to determine where it is just then. I can turn GPS on or off. I can -choose- to use it, or not use it. Typically, unless I instruct the device to do so, it also doesn't log the location information. I say typically because obviously there do exist devices that are specifically made for that purpose. I don't think the iPhone counts as one, though.
Everybody saying 'Android does this too' (ignoring the differences) or saying it's not so bad because it's your own phone, it's inaccurate, and on the desktop you can enable encryption, are oblivious to the simple question: why log this at all? I've seen no reasonable answer to this as of yet - merely speculation for targeted advertising, but that's all it is; speculation.
We can't even use our "Find my iphone" feature here in Korea because the government had it disabled for privacy reasons. I can send a message to the phone, lock it and wipe it, but I can't track it down. There is no opt in for it either as far as I can tell. So collecting and recording this kind of info would certainly upset them.
Seems a bit greedy to me unless they actually have proof that it is sending that data out to anyone. I mean, the phone does have a GPS on it. It is able to connect to cellular and wifi networks which can help narrow down a location. It is obvious the phone knows where it is. Why would you think it doesn't store information. Heck, all cell phones store the last cell towers they were connected to. From that, I can tell you an approximate location as well.
Support a great indie game: http://www.abaddon360.com
Evil Aliens create an amazing app for the App Store and millions download it.
Unbeknownst to the iPhone users the aliens use the handy GPS tracking features that no one knows about to home in on the persons using the phone.
When the predetermined countdown reaches zero all humans within 1 meter of the iPhones are instantly teleported to Plant Z to become slaves of the Empire!
Bwahahahaha!
They can search it if it's unlocked. If I can grab your phone off the table and go through your text messages, so can the police. If it's passcoded, it's a locked container. Not plain sight.
Nope.
Android has a cache of recently used locations that is overwritten fairly regularly. This information stays on the device. You need root level access to read the data.
Apple is maintaining a database of locations that extends back for months. This information is transferred off the device. From here, anyone can read the data with a simple application.
Also, the services that Google uses to track you are opt-in. You have to expressly accept the terms and conditions when install/first use Google applications. Apple did not make it known that they were even doing this.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
But I'll correct you again. Android has a cache of recently used locations that is overwritten fairly regularly. This information stays on the device. You need root level access to read the data.
Apple is maintaining a database of locations that extends back for months. This information is transferred off the device. From here, anyone can read the data with a simple application.
Also, the services that Google uses to track you are opt-in. You have to expressly accept the terms and conditions when install/first use Google applications. Apple did not make it known that they were even doing this.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
If Google can get slammed for mearly collecting public view wifi info from open networks,
... and the only fear that works is if stock holders loose money because of some action.
and claim they did nothing to that info, I am guessing that Apple can and shoudl get slammed to teh 9th degree.
A buit of fear might help
You sure this isnt Sony? jeeze it smells so much like something Sony would do. I guess having a little itunes power rubs off and Apple now is getting Media Company Syndrome. An ailment giving a delusional feeling of importance and power with the desire to make everyone conform... Borgish isn't it....
"Computers are a lot like Air Conditioners" "They both work great until you start opening Windows"
I guess the little finger slide to unlock the phone doesn't count? Heck my android even has a little padlock symbol on it.
Events like this make me feel like I might be the only sane, rational, non-retarded person left on the face of the Earth. I see far too many people blowing this off like it's really no big deal at all for your phone to keep your location history for years at a time. The stupidity of this is beyond belief. People are acting like this information isn't dangerous to you because it isn't being stored anywhere except on your own phone.
What very few people seem to realize is that the biggest threat is not Apple or even the government. The danger comes from criminal elements who can far too easily use this information to make it far easier and safer for them to stalk, rob, murder or kidnap any individual who owns a smart phone. This data can be copied off your phone without your knowledge in a matter of seconds, so you may not even know the information has been stolen from you at any given time.
The fact that this is only "relative" position information is another idiotic defense. Any fool should be able to take one look at the video posted by the recent researchers and see that a real time interpolation of the data points gives a remarkably accurate rendering of your activities over time. It is certainly more than accurate enough to tell any potential home invader when you are likely to be home, and just as important, when you are likely to NOT be within several miles of your home. Anyone who does not believe that this information is dangerous even to those who are not "high profile" targets is truly naive.
When I allow apps on my smart phone to track me, I am doing it for a specific purpose and I fully expect that tracking to stop immediately when I quit the app. Allowing tracking in real time is completely different from letting any person or app have access to information about where I was two flipping YEARS ago and every day in between. It is truly insane to have hundreds of millions of individuals carrying around an easily accessible long term cache of their whereabouts for years at a time. It could be beneficial to the user to keep a cache for a week at the most. Three days would be safer. Anything longer than that is simply crazy, and endangers the user.
Android supposedly has this same info. But my Android phone usually has the wrong location; when I'm at home it shows my location as at work, and vice versa. So if I commit a crime I'll have an iron-clad alibi!
At least two applications on the phone has access to the data, that would be the application making the log, first is the one making the log, the second is the one keeping it in sync with the desktop.
The main, public SDK may not publish an iCall for the iApp to real the iSpy database in a friendly widget *ahem* _YET_ *ahem*, but it is not in some walled secret garden of write-only-memory somewhere that is magically inaccessible from the CPU memory bus and file system logic.
So we _know_ that iOS can and does read that data, we (you) just seem to think it doesn't matter because the data is more easily read by the iSpy/iTunes desktop application and anything else on your main Mac (like, say, an internet music store that would _never_ be interested in your shopping habbits...)
So Apple has tried to patent/is patenting revealing the data THEY HAVE ALREADY COLLECTED as something that applications might be interested in... hrm... so apps cannot access that data *yet* but clearly Apple intends that they would have "some day soon" like maybe the next SDK update or two mayhaps?
I _do_ beleive the log file is "an error" as that frog was not supposed to boil yet. I don't think the existence of the code sprung into existence by itself, mind you, but there doesn't seem to be any sort of "log rotate" to limit the size of the file and digest it nicely, so the code probably wasn't supposed to be "on" *yet*.
Apple isn't afraid the RDF people are going to flee Apple, those guys never do because they are in the RDF and incapable of seeing iEvil as anything but progress.
But now all the competitors _know_ about iSpy, and the leak happened before the iSpy announcement so "it isn't a feature" they way it would have been when officially announced. Dang, lost the edge. It would have been so sweet to see the other guys scramble to put logs into their phones once Apple had made that "patented feature" an RDS default.
Besides, by the way, the Google Tracks application does this on Android on purpose, for user controllable and decided intervals, so Apple got caught spying 100% of the time, while Tracks only runs when I want to be tracked....
But apple filed a patent first even if any such code is now a disavowed mistake, so they'll probably end up "owning" what other people already do.
So yes, no app uses that data yet, but that's just "yet", meanwhile your phone has been tracking you for however long and the instant they turn it on, or you get a traffic stop, it will be like they turned it on years ago.
You phone is "pre-tapped", that is, a tap order woudln't "begin collecting the data when the court ordered a warrant", it _began_ (past tense) collecting the data when the batter was installed and the warrant can "peer into the past". Might as well be loggin 100% of your calls today in case someone gets a warrant tomorrow to see what you said yesterday.
Just like the carnivore email sniffer thing, just because nobody is looking at _your_ data _yet_, it doesn't mean that you should feel okay with the fact that it is already being collected without your knowledge.
Innocent people shouldn't be forced to pay for inferior software development.
--"Code Complete" Microsoft Press
A discussion about patents where nobody claims even the most absurd of "prior art".
Fandroids hate facts.
One could *maybe* buy Apple's "mistake" claim, if the company hadn't also applied for a patent on this privacy-invading technology. But the patent-pending status really demonstrates this to be a clear, deliberate, and blatant violation of Apple users' privacy. The company should be ashamed.