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Steve Jobs on iOS Location Issue: 'We Don't Track Anyone'

JD914 said:
Anyone that defends Apple actions and Steve Jobs are people in same the mental state of mind that acquitted OJ Simpson......in complete denial.

Now because Apple got caught with their filthy hands in the cookie jar, fanboys seem to think it's ok :rolleyes:
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Well until actual evidence comes out otherwise, I'm chalking the issue up to programmer error by not including a periodic truncation function. Android stores the same data but truncates it. I'm guessing other phones store lists of towers to also help with tower switching.

The problem here is Apples usual problem of not addressing an issue immediately and head on. Their lack of communication instead allows rampant speculation.
 
thisisahughes said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)

“If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” - Eric Schmidt
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Just because I don't want strangers to know when I leave my home to go to work, that doesn't mean I shouldn't go to work. Tell Eric Schmidt that I have all his transcripts right here - he will know what I mean.
 
Timestamp

tbrinkma said:
Ok, here's the information that's actually known about the consolidated.db file:
1) It records the locations of nearby wi-fi access points and cell towers.
2) When location services were originally added to the iPhone, the file had a different name and was stored in a different location. (It was moved as part of the multi-tasking updates.)
3) The purpose of the file has been explicitly spelled out by Apple *from the beginning*. It is used *by* location services to calculate your current position in order to be able to display your position faster than would be possible solely using GPS. (It's part of the Assisted GPS process.)
4) There is absolutely no evidence that the file's contents are ever transmitted to anyone. It exists on the iPhone, and in the backup(s) of said iPhone.
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This may be it. I acknowledge kdarling's info as well.

I looked at this file about a month ago in my personal backups. I was looking for IM data that wasn't encrypted. It wasn't. I didn't have the handy tool. So I used an SQL viewer.

I've seen the "timestamp" thrown around a lot (WSJ). This bit concerned me the most. My conclusion at the time was that the field in the database was called timestamp but it didn't contain time data. I remember looking it up and it is just a unique record number in SQL. Has anyone actually used the tool and found the locations are timestamped (as in calendar time)?
 
mdatwood said:
Well until actual evidence comes out otherwise, I'm chalking the issue up to programmer error by not including a periodic truncation function. Android stores the same data but truncates it. I'm guessing other phones store lists of towers to also help with tower switching.

The problem here is Apples usual problem of not addressing an issue immediately and head on. Their lack of communication instead allows rampant speculation.
Click to expand...

Who cares about Android? Apple's alleged "tracking" of it's users is the issue at hand. Funny how Android is being used as a smoke screen to justify Apples actions or skirt the issue all together by pointing the finger at others.
 
If and when Steve changes his 80's black polo-sweater and blue denim workers jeans, then I'll believe whatever he says. How do we know he is not an alien underneath sent from a mothership in outer space? He will destroy the Earth with overload of technology and diminish human life.
 
tigress666 said:
Wow, some one who pointed out a realistic, not paranoid theory, reason why this is not a good thing (not that I don't think some people being paranoid have a point.
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I can't take credit for the thought though. I heard Patrick Norton make that point on yesterday's TWiT. It was something I had not thought of before.

AllGaussian said:
This may be it. I acknowledge kdarling's info as well.

I looked at this file about a month ago in my personal backups. I was looking for IM data that wasn't encrypted. It wasn't. I didn't have the handy tool. So I used an SQL viewer.

I've seen the "timestamp" thrown around a lot (WSJ). This bit concerned me the most. My conclusion at the time was that the field in the database was called timestamp but it didn't contain time data. I remember looking it up and it is just a unique record number in SQL. Has anyone actually used the tool and found the locations are timestamped (as in calendar time)?
Click to expand...
They are. The tool has a play button on the bottom and shows you where you were (in a relative distance around a tower) at that exact moment. Watch the video on the tool's page to give you an idea of how accurate it is with just cell tower info (no GPS tracking).
 
Why do things always turn into an iPhone vs Android peeing contest around here? From both sides that is... not just blaming one side over the other.

I just cruised by AndroidCentral.com (a site similar to MacRumors but for Android devices), and read a post on this very topic; http://www.androidcentral.com/editorial-if-you-want-know-where-ive-been-all-you-have-do-ask

Rather than seeing any kind of bashing, finger pointing or other calling out of competing companies, it's a nice helpful article about this single issue and how it applies to the android user. Not one bash or attack on Apple or the loyalty of their fans. In fact I don't think Apple or iPhone is directly mentioned. If anything, it defends apple's general collection of such data. The user comments reflect the same level of respect.

Why the difference? Is it because of rogue android trolls on Macrumors? Overzealous apple fans? Maybe a combination of both? Not a bash, I'm just legitimately curious over the sharp contrast.

I am iPhone user. My wife is an Android user. She admits to being somewhat jealous of some of my apps, but doesn't want to give up the functionality of her droid. I admit to being jealous over seamless functionality of her phone, but am unwilling to give up my iphone app addiction. Somehow we make it work. ;)
 
Legion93 said:
If and when Steve changes his 80's black polo-sweater and blue denim workers jeans, then I'll believe whatever he says. How do we know he is not an alien underneath sent from a mothership in outer space? He will destroy the Earth with overload of technology and diminish human life.
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Like Mr Bean??
 
Apple, move to the front

Poor PR on Apple's part (again). Regardless of whether the issue is a problem or just another media fart, just deal with it. Silence is not the preferred mode of action. This should have been put to rest within 24 hours of the first story in this news cycle.
 
aliensporebomb said:
If the Android phones are being tracked at every minute, then why couldn't they find my friends' phone that was stolen out of her desk at her workplace?
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Because Google does not yet have a program in place for targeted ads for "found" phones. Give them time.

"We've successfully located your phone! Perhaps you would be interested in this book on asset management?"
 
dgree03 said:
Android is funded by target advertising? I didnt know that, can you provide a link that backs this up?
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Google's only source of revenue is from advertising (except a few corporate services they provide for a fee). Everything they do is funded by advertising. Search, Docs, Maps, Mail, Google Earth, Android, even the driverless cars are funded by advertising. "If you are not paying for it, you're not the customer; you're the product being sold."
 
aliensporebomb said:
If the Android phones are being tracked at every minute, then why couldn't they find my friends' phone that was stolen out of her desk at her workplace?
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Because all this information is just cell tower pings. It can put you close, sometimes and way off in others. You'd need to use GPS to find a more precise position. Besides, the police are not going to go through hoops to recover a cell phone. It would be a low priority thing.

However, if your friend had an iPhone and the "Find my iPhone" app installed and turned on, they could have found the location themselves and had the cops go there and recover it. Android doesn't have such an App?
 
QuarterSwede said:
The issue is more being concerned about those in abusive relationships and the like. You definitely don't want a physically abusive spouse to have access to your location information.
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Anyone who has a physically abusive spouse has my total sympathy, but that spouse being able to get information from an iPhone is really _not_ the problem.
 
chrono1081 said:
Posts like this need banned. I am so sick of people with their "Steve jobs is God and anyone who buys apple worships him" BS.
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MacRumors must like the page hits. Otherwise they would do something about the chronic troll problem.
 
rhuber said:
Why the difference? Is it because of rogue android trolls on Macrumors? Overzealous apple fans? Maybe a combination of both? Not a bash, I'm just legitimately curious over the sharp contrast.
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Yes. But mainly the first one. This is an Apple-centric site, if there were no haters, there wouldn't be a war.

Apparently the Apple lovers don't become haters on Android sites.
 
Before saying un-encrypted information like this will not harm anyone, it would serve some people well to FIRST think like a criminal.

Sure there is an infinite number of cases where the information is harmless. But the criminal only needs one possible case where the information becomes useful.

If you can rule out ALL those cases, then you are right and there is no need to encrypt or ask the user permission to store this information.

Until then, and as you will learn in your security class: Protect and secure personal information by default. It's one of the very first things they teach.

Maybe a few people at Apple are in need a security refresher.
 
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JAT said:
Yes. But mainly the first one. This is an Apple-centric site, if there were no haters, there wouldn't be a war.

Apparently the Apple lovers don't become haters on Android sites.
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That could be true...
 
rhuber said:
Why do things always turn into an iPhone vs Android peeing contest around here? From both sides that is... not just blaming one side over the other.

I just cruised by AndroidCentral.com (a site similar to MacRumors but for Android devices), and read a post on this very topic; http://www.androidcentral.com/editorial-if-you-want-know-where-ive-been-all-you-have-do-ask

Rather than seeing any kind of bashing, finger pointing or other calling out of competing companies, it's a nice helpful article about this single issue and how it applies to the android user. Not one bash or attack on Apple or the loyalty of their fans. In fact I don't think Apple or iPhone is directly mentioned. If anything, it defends apple's general collection of such data. The user comments reflect the same level of respect.

Why the difference? Is it because of rogue android trolls on Macrumors? Overzealous apple fans? Maybe a combination of both? Not a bash, I'm just legitimately curious over the sharp contrast.

I am iPhone user. My wife is an Android user. She admits to being somewhat jealous of some of my apps, but doesn't want to give up the functionality of her droid. I admit to being jealous over seamless functionality of her phone, but am unwilling to give up my iphone app addiction. Somehow we make it work. ;)
Click to expand...

i think it's both. some people get too invested in what they purchase that they need to defend it no matter what. some are just immature, and instead of putting in the time to discuss and provide legitimate points, they resort to silly internet phrases and name calling, as they are unable to intelligently get their thoughts across properly.
 
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