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iOS 11 Users to Gain More Control Over Apps' Use of Location Services

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Apr 12, 2001
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Users of iOS 11 will be able to restrict the gathering of location data by any third-party app so that it can only access the device's location status when the app is in use.

Previously the security setting only applied to certain apps that chose to offer it - as well as to developers wanting to test their own app's use of location data - but it appears Apple is extending the setting for any installed app in iOS 11, potentially handing an additional element of privacy back to the end user.

DBpaoPQUIAAKqbt-800x443.jpg
All apps have While Using the App option for location access in iOS 11! Nicely done @apple. pic.twitter.com/f3Z3WTKGur - Chengyin Liu (@chengyinliu) 6 June 2017
Click to expand...

The new setting in iOS 11 should come as a welcome change for many, given that the use of device location data by some apps has been a point of controversy. For example, Uber has been criticized for forcing users to grant its app full access to location services whether it is open or not, which has been construed by some as creepy or invasive location gathering.

The new setting should also improve the battery life of devices that update to iOS 11, since it puts a limit on the amount of time GPS is activated by apps in the background.

(Via TechCrunch.)

Article Link: iOS 11 Users to Gain More Control Over Apps' Use of Location Services
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/ios-11-restrict-location-services-any-app/
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Good news. I think location services can be a bit of a blind spot for even many people who are otherwise sensibly concerned about the privacy of their data. I tend to have it turned off entirely but I realise many people need to use it for various apps.

So this further granularity will be very welcome, and also makes it much more likely I will turn location services back on for those times and apps where even I find it useful (maps apps are the obvious ones!).
 
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Hopefully Apple will do something about those pesky apps that continue to use your location in the background even when set to "while using"? You know the ones that cause the blue warning bar saying "ABC is Using Your Location" until the app is force closed. I usually just delete the app completely if I notice this behavior, but I've got a couple that are fairly useful on a daily basis that I can't bring myself to get rid of.
 
Two things...

1) Why wasn't this an option for all apps from the start of Location Services?
2) Will there be a way to set a "batch" setting for all apps, then tweak individually from there? For instance, just set all apps to "While Using App" and go through and set a few to "Always" or "Never". That would be much easier than going through app by app. Also, make that the setting the default for newly installed apps unless you go in and change it.
 
KazKam said:
Two things...

1) Why wasn't this an option for all apps from the start of Location Services?
2) Will there be a way to set a "batch" setting for all apps, then tweak individually from there? For instance, just set all apps to "While Using App" and go through and set a few to "Always" or "Never". That would be much easier than going through app by app. Also, make that the setting the default for newly installed apps unless you go in and change it.
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Agreed

and as for 2: Apple designs iOS in such a way that it assumes that you don't have more than a handful of apps.

It shows in many ways, like the same old very limited home screen, settings like these not being able to be edited in batches, not being able to group apps or put them in folders in iTunes, not being able to put folders into folders on the home screen, etc...

tl;dr: Don't expect anything that goes beyond the bare minimum. "if it's achievable using a lot of manual repetitive work, it'll probably do!"

Something something simplicity (design) vs. ease of use (actual usage)
 
Outstanding. Such a small change that will be a huge improvement to privacy. Keeps the user in control.
 
MacRumors said:



Users of iOS 11 will be able to restrict the gathering of location data by any third-party app so that it can only access the device's location status when the app is in use.

Previously the security setting only applied to certain apps that chose to offer it - as well as to developers wanting to test their own app's use of location data - but it appears Apple is extending the setting for any installed app in iOS 11, potentially handing an additional element of privacy back to the end user.

DBpaoPQUIAAKqbt-800x443.jpg

​

The new setting in iOS 11 should come as a welcome change for many, given that the use of device location data by some apps has been a point of controversy. For example, Uber has been criticized for forcing users to grant its app full access to location services whether it is open or not, which has been construed by some as creepy or invasive location gathering.

The new setting should also improve the battery life of devices that update to iOS 11, since it puts a limit on the amount of time GPS is activated by apps in the background.

(Via TechCrunch.)

Article Link: iOS 11 Users to Gain More Control Over Apps' Use of Location Services
Click to expand...
This is great. I am so amazed how much power Facebook and Uber suck up when they run in the background. If I forget to quit these apps, it's like having a phone with half of the battery capacity of normal phones.
 
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