Recidere il cordone ombelicale

Jun 072011
 

Da questa mattina il Financial Times è accessibile – da iPhone e iPad – anche attraverso un'applicazione web in HTML5 che rende inutile usara l'app scaricata dall'app store di mamma Apple. E' l'inizio della rivolta degli editori?

The FT Web App can be accessed directly at app.ft.com and has been built using HTML5 web standards, which replicate the features of mobile apps within the browsers of devices such as Apple’s iPhone and iPad, Android phones and the Motorola Xoom tablet. Rob Grimshaw, managing director of FT.com, said the FT had no plans to pull out of any apps store, but that it would encourage users to adopt the web app with a marketing campaign, including a week’s free access. Analysts said the FT’s move could encourage other publishers to follow suit but that some would hold back because of the simplicity of iTunes, which has credit card details for 225m people and allows downloads with a click or two.

 

Financial Times

Aspettate un po’ prima di scegliere Android

Apr 222011
 

Secondo il Wall Street Journal – che sta pubblicando una bellissima serie di articoli sulla privacy online – sia Apple che Google raccolgono dati sulla localizzazione dagli smartphone. Servono a costruire database adeguati per il prossimo business: i location-based service.

In the case of Google, according to new research by security analyst Samy Kamkar, an HTC Android phone collected its location every few seconds and transmitted the data to Google at least several times an hour. It also transmitted the name, location and signal strength of any nearby Wi-Fi networks, as well as a unique phone identifier. [...] Apple, meanwhile, says it "intermittently" collects location data, including GPS coordinates, of many iPhone users and nearby Wi-Fi networks and transmits that data to itself every 12 hours, according to a letter the company sent to U.S. Reps. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Joe Barton (R-Texas) last year.

Wall Street Journal

Nove domande

Apr 212011
 

In tutta 'sta storia del file con le coordinate degli spostamenti – salvate da iPhone, iPad, iPod non si sa perché e senza dirlo ai proprietari – le uniche domande sensate le ha fatte Al Franken, cioè uno dei più improbabili senatori degli Stati Uniti che – a quanto pare – ci battono anche riguardo alla serietà dei beppegrilli. Ora speriamo che  al quartier generale di Apple – una volta smaltita la sbornia per i conti stratosferici dell'ultima trimestrale – qualcuno si prenda la briga di rispondere.

  1. Why does Apple collect and compile this location data? Why did Apple choose to initiate tracking this data in its iOS 4 operating system?
  2. Does Apple collect and compile this location data for laptops?
  3. How is this data generated? (GPS, cell tower triangulation, Wi-Fi triangulation, etc.)
  4. How frequently is a user's location recorded? What triggers the creation of a record of someone's location?
  5. How precise is this location data? Can it track the users location to 50 m, 100 m, etc.?
  6. Why is this data not encrypted? What steps will Apple take to encrypt the data?
  7. Why were Apple consumers never affirmatively informed of the collection and retention of their location data in this manner? Why did Apple not seek affirmative consent before doing so?
  8. Does Apple believe that this conduct is permissible under the terms of its privacy policy?
  9. To whom, if anyone, including Apple, has this data been disclosed? When and why were these disclosures made?

Ars Technica, Financial Times