Sure I have, and I said I agree with having more fine grained controls. But it's not that simple. There are downsides to that as well. Let me ask you this: how many applications have you downloaded to your computer that can access the hard drive?
This is unlikely all about permissions though. While I definitely agree with your point, this may very well be the same LogCat leak "uncovered" by lookout at DefCon of last year. Basicly what happens is lazy devs are writing personal info into the debug log. Other apps could read this with an innocous sounding "read logs" permission. It was a reader here at Slashdot who actually pointed it out to me (I write a guide for new users about Android permissions).
Of course, there may be more to it. And certainly part of it will be about companies "leaking" info to ad agencies -- but that isn't much of a "leak" when users agree to it. It's still a shady business, (especially the methodology used), but Android has a limit to what it can protect when a user agrees to give out personal details.
Anyways, here's the video of the lookout presentation:
I think maybe you're missing my point? I dont see where this idea comes from:"Rooting actually has nothing to do with replacing the ROM, kernel or OS." If they require root, then they are related, no? I know they are separate processes but rooting is the "enabler" -- akin to jailbreaking's enabling of non-App Store app installs.
I only threw in Dalvik because a rooted device can use apps that have su permissions beyond that of typical apps. Another one of the things it enables.
By kernel I mean people have flashed kernels that have been modded, often to allow overclocking the CPU. This was pretty popular with the Droid 1.
Anywho, you dont sound like a smartass or anything, that was a perfectly respectful post:) But I think maybe you're confused about what you're clearing up:)
The difference is Jailbreak an iPhone = install any app. Most Android phones already allow you to install any app. Root=replace the ROM/kernel/OS and get superuser permissions so you can work outside the normal Dalvik sandbox permissions.
Part of me wonders how much of the cash grab is coming from the content providers/movie studios though. Now that they see netflix is the path to the customer they decided to try and play a bit more hardball. That's just my speculation though, impossible to say for sure.
Yeah but this is EA we're talking about here. It's like saying "if only the big-evil-money-sucking-conglomerate would get in the game, we'd see some competition!"
Yeah I wondered that myself. If I was really worried about 1010ft flood I think it better to build a boat and try and get 2 of every animal on board. And Anna Torv. That should be a good enough safeguard
One company creates a phone system designed to encourage you to hang up to save them money. Another creates a phone system designed to make it easy to stay on hold indefinitely. I wonder where this ends.
A close-to-complete social map, for example, should be fairly doable to construct, just from observing who calls eachothers or send SMS to eachothers, you can even assign fairly accurate weights to the relationships based on frequency of call/sms and frequency and duration of being in the same spots.
Not "should be possible", "is happening."
I can tell you for certain this is taking place and they are collecting and already using this data to try and make more money. One of the things they look for is for who are the "influencers." For example, they have noted that certain people send short text messages and make short outgoing calls, but often get many responses that are much longer. Think of someone who just says "sup?" and 10 people respond with big stories about their day or offers to hang out, etc.
These people are often offered discounted phones or given excellent customer service or some other such special treatment. Mostly without ever even knowing.
Only on Slashdot can I read a comment like that and think, "yeah, that's a pretty cool idea!" While simultaneously thinking, "holy crap we all need to get outside and interact with real people more often."
Well, to be fair he just said they had a reason, not that it was a rational reason. People do tend to overreact due to the anxiety created by such things. So while I agree that it's important to keep a cool head and try not to do things like this, derriding them might not be the best bet at calming the nerves.
Anarchy Online did this recently too. And while they maintained that same ol' song that they aren't going to make it a pay to win game, they effectively created a loophole for someone to buy credits (currency in the game) with real life money.
I think evenitably they just cant hold back the bean counters who are asking why the new outfits aren't bringing in enough money. It's like feature creep but with power/value to purchased items.
I think their subscriber numbers took a huge nosedive as the players saw through it all. But that's just biased speculation on my part. I think it's sad to see the industry innovating more ways to extract money with in game purchases and DLCs rather than creating good products. But I guess that's a sure sign the Gaming industry has really become mature and lucrative.
It could go the other way too, where the data is just showing what people felt they needed to do in order to get to play the content they liked. Say an achievement was "Thirsty! - drank a health potion" (oversimplfying here) you might see 99.99% of players did that. Does that mean they love health potions?
I think using data and listening to feedback and using common sense about what rational conclusions can be drawn is all helpful, but each has bias.
Thanks, - I should have been more specific though, I meant a specific route with waypoints that adjust the route. And then syncing that with the GPS navigation map. This never seemed to work for me. But I havent tried it in a few months.
Slashdot Mirror
Sure I have, and I said I agree with having more fine grained controls. But it's not that simple. There are downsides to that as well. Let me ask you this: how many applications have you downloaded to your computer that can access the hard drive?
This is unlikely all about permissions though. While I definitely agree with your point, this may very well be the same LogCat leak "uncovered" by lookout at DefCon of last year. Basicly what happens is lazy devs are writing personal info into the debug log. Other apps could read this with an innocous sounding "read logs" permission. It was a reader here at Slashdot who actually pointed it out to me (I write a guide for new users about Android permissions).
Of course, there may be more to it. And certainly part of it will be about companies "leaking" info to ad agencies -- but that isn't much of a "leak" when users agree to it. It's still a shady business, (especially the methodology used), but Android has a limit to what it can protect when a user agrees to give out personal details.
Anyways, here's the video of the lookout presentation:
Video from DefCon (need to login/download):
http://vimeo.com/14980971
And a simple work-around for devs not wanting to leak data.
And got GoogFace.com or FoogleBook.com I think that would be.... um
beca
I think maybe you're missing my point? I dont see where this idea comes from:"Rooting actually has nothing to do with replacing the ROM, kernel or OS." If they require root, then they are related, no? I know they are separate processes but rooting is the "enabler" -- akin to jailbreaking's enabling of non-App Store app installs.
I only threw in Dalvik because a rooted device can use apps that have su permissions beyond that of typical apps. Another one of the things it enables.
By kernel I mean people have flashed kernels that have been modded, often to allow overclocking the CPU. This was pretty popular with the Droid 1.
Anywho, you dont sound like a smartass or anything, that was a perfectly respectful post :) But I think maybe you're confused about what you're clearing up :)
The difference is Jailbreak an iPhone = install any app. Most Android phones already allow you to install any app. Root=replace the ROM/kernel/OS and get superuser permissions so you can work outside the normal Dalvik sandbox permissions.
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(I'm Amrecian)
Part of me wonders how much of the cash grab is coming from the content providers/movie studios though. Now that they see netflix is the path to the customer they decided to try and play a bit more hardball. That's just my speculation though, impossible to say for sure.
Yeah but this is EA we're talking about here. It's like saying "if only the big-evil-money-sucking-conglomerate would get in the game, we'd see some competition!"
What does this have to do with developers?
Endless re-runs of the "Don't taze me Bro" video :(
Yeah I wondered that myself. If I was really worried about 1010ft flood I think it better to build a boat and try and get 2 of every animal on board. And Anna Torv. That should be a good enough safeguard
Jeeze dude, way to kill levity. I think you need a trip outside more than most. :)
I think you misread my post as serious! Seriously!
One company creates a phone system designed to encourage you to hang up to save them money. Another creates a phone system designed to make it easy to stay on hold indefinitely. I wonder where this ends.
Dueling banjos
With all due respect, its irregardless of all things Holy.
A close-to-complete social map, for example, should be fairly doable to construct, just from observing who calls eachothers or send SMS to eachothers, you can even assign fairly accurate weights to the relationships based on frequency of call/sms and frequency and duration of being in the same spots.
Not "should be possible", "is happening."
I can tell you for certain this is taking place and they are collecting and already using this data to try and make more money. One of the things they look for is for who are the "influencers." For example, they have noted that certain people send short text messages and make short outgoing calls, but often get many responses that are much longer. Think of someone who just says "sup?" and 10 people respond with big stories about their day or offers to hang out, etc.
These people are often offered discounted phones or given excellent customer service or some other such special treatment. Mostly without ever even knowing.
The Economist has an excellent article on it all: http://www.economist.com/node/16910031
Only on Slashdot can I read a comment like that and think, "yeah, that's a pretty cool idea!" While simultaneously thinking, "holy crap we all need to get outside and interact with real people more often."
Well, to be fair he just said they had a reason, not that it was a rational reason. People do tend to overreact due to the anxiety created by such things. So while I agree that it's important to keep a cool head and try not to do things like this, derriding them might not be the best bet at calming the nerves.
Anarchy Online did this recently too. And while they maintained that same ol' song that they aren't going to make it a pay to win game, they effectively created a loophole for someone to buy credits (currency in the game) with real life money.
I think evenitably they just cant hold back the bean counters who are asking why the new outfits aren't bringing in enough money. It's like feature creep but with power/value to purchased items.
I think their subscriber numbers took a huge nosedive as the players saw through it all. But that's just biased speculation on my part. I think it's sad to see the industry innovating more ways to extract money with in game purchases and DLCs rather than creating good products. But I guess that's a sure sign the Gaming industry has really become mature and lucrative.
How long 'til what I wanted yesterday no longer represent an interest today?
Uh, one day? :)
It could go the other way too, where the data is just showing what people felt they needed to do in order to get to play the content they liked. Say an achievement was "Thirsty! - drank a health potion" (oversimplfying here) you might see 99.99% of players did that. Does that mean they love health potions?
I think using data and listening to feedback and using common sense about what rational conclusions can be drawn is all helpful, but each has bias.
Buffering...
Alright fine. Time to move on to using "red shoes" vs "fuzzy car dice"
That should make it more clear.
Thanks, - I should have been more specific though, I meant a specific route with waypoints that adjust the route. And then syncing that with the GPS navigation map. This never seemed to work for me. But I havent tried it in a few months.