minowz |
08-22-2012 01:38 AM |
Quote:
Rather it should be driven by the knowledge that neither of them care about your privacy and both will use all of this data.
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Google and Apple have different business models. With one, you pay your cash and get your stuff. It's an exchange. Here's my cash, where is my stuff... with the other, you get something for 'free', only it's not. With Apple, you're a consumer. With Google, you're a product.
There seems to be a belief amongst people of a certain age (or below a certain age) that everything is the same. All politicians are equally evil, all news corporations are biased, all companies are equally bad. There seems to be an inability to differentiate.
Whenever you are confronted with the message that your personal information will be used by an app, do you feel better with it asking before you click ok anyway (even though both companies do this, but that is besides the point)? I usually deny the application. I launched Batman Arkham Asylum yesterday for a quick play, and it asked me for access to my Address Book (this is Mountain Lion finally getting iOS controls). I said no... but I bet YOU didn't get that message and I bet Warner took the information anyway. It didn't stop me playing the game though.
Unless you restrict yourself to using almost no apps at all, you will be passing on all of this information without knowing what it will be used for. No, I can use all the apps I want to use without them knowing where I am or who I am and I might only want an app to know where I am at certain times, like Yelp when I am looking for something nearby, but not when I am writing a review.
I personally loathe and fear both companies alike, saying that one is better than the other is silly as they're both horrible with privacy. Unfortunately as long as you think this is true, bad companies will not be punished for being bad, and good companies will not be rewarded for their efforts. Total cynicism is no more effective that blank naivety.
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