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Location tracking has been in the news since the revelation that iOS keeps tabs on where the users are on a regular basis. While Apple is not alone in this (Android does this also), it is disturbing that they refuse to admit any wrong doing on their part. Now Apple is being sued for this, and Washington is asking questions as well. Really, no one knows how long companies have been doing this type of tracking, since most OS’s are not open to third party developers to go digging through. There have been reports that this tracking feature still works while the iPhone/iPad is powered off, since the device really isn’t powered off (unless you run the battery all the way down and do not recharge, but why would you do that) and you cannot remove the battery, additionally there is rumors that access to the device is available to retrieve this information as long as the battery has power to supply the system. My curiosity is: why are they just now figuring this out?

Really this information has been being gathered for quite a while, carriers keep track of what cell sites that you attach to for an undisclosed period of time and given a request that data will give them a picture of the subjects travels. Truly, this is just one more development that is behind getting public attention. Do you complain about the information that the grocery store gathers about you (and then sells to advertisers and credit companies)? Do you worry about the information that Google has compiled about your search and surfing habits? Or that Facebook sells advertising based on the information you post, your likes and dislikes, and any other information that you don’t think they have? Credit companies have been data mining for years and not many complain about their privacy being harmed. So why now?

Why should we be worried? Well, the information could fall into the wrong hands or already has. But that could be said for any data warehousing operation, data security is breached with more regularity and your sensitive information is then in the hands of hackers who sell it for profit (or use it for personal gain or both). You could argue that your privacy has been compromised. But I would argue that if you have ever used a credit/debit card, gotten a loan, signed a contract for services, registered a car, or paid taxes that your privacy has been compromised. This is just one more instance of data for profit. Sure you get some benefits, but are they worth it?

Don’t get me wrong, I have a phone, cars, and credit/debit cards, but I don’t have the illusion that I have any privacy.

Remember when an android was just a robot?

I do (yes I am old). Now when you say android everyone thinks Operating System. Google has done a good job (opinions may vary) on this OS, and of all the OSes I have used over the years for phones and tablets alike, this one is by far the best. Yes, I have use the iOS, but I have been around a while and it takes more than pretty pictures to impress me. Sure everyone has their favorite and this one is mine for now.

While I understand Apple keeping the iOS close to the hip (like it has done with all of it’s OSes), there is something to be said about being able to look deeper into the code that makes it work (or breaks it). Sure there is extra vulnerabilities in this approach, but security hole get found and fixed faster this way (and exploited). Nothing is perfect for sure, but I like the functionality that Android has, and it’s potential for the future. Hope they don’t screw it up. There are those that would say that we don’t need an ‘open’ OS, that people just want to pick up a device and just have it work. This is true… as a society we are getting lazy. We still have a large group of curious people that want to know how it works, how can it be improved, and how can it be used best. While I don’t currently have time to do that type of geeking, I still think about it from time to time. It’s nice to know that if I had the time, I could do just that without having to worry that someone was going to sue me for doing it.