Posted on 10/17/2012 6:05:41 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
Apple's launch of the iPhone 5 in September came with a bunch of new commercials to promote the device.
But Apple didn't shout quite so loud about an enhancement to its new mobile operating system, iOS 6, which also occurred in September: The company has started tracking users so that advertisers can target them again, through a new tracking technology called IFA or IDFA.
Previously, Apple had all but disabled tracking of iPhone users by advertisers when it stopped app developers from utilizing Apple mobile device data via UDID, the unique, permanent, non-deletable serial number that previously identified every Apple device.
For the last few months, iPhone users have enjoyed an unusual environment in which advertisers have been largely unable to track and target them in any meaningful way.
In iOS 6, however, tracking is most definitely back on, and it's more effective than ever, multiple mobile advertising executives familiar with IFA tell us. (Note that Apple doesn't mention IFA in its iOS 6 launch page).
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
ping
I really hope windows phone 8 does well...this crap from Apple just isn’t cutting it. They are the new Microsoft.
This odious tracking can - and should - be turned off by the user.
If they were the new Microsoft, the tracking would not be able to be turned off at all, and the code to do it would cause the phone to crash 4 times a day.
Microsoft hasn't been a driving technology company in over a decade, they sealed their fate the day they put Balmer in charge. They used to be a leader, now they are a joke.
Read the following Downfall of Microsoft and other articles stating the same. They all tell exactly what happened at MS... Apple is nowhere near there, and hopefully it won't stupidly follow MS's lead.
No company is perfect, but Apple clearly is the technology leader, and has been run by business leaders savvy enough to know you don't stifle innovation, you encourage it, and NOTHING BEATS CASH IN THE BANK.
Apple is not a technology leader. They are a profit leader and a massive money making machine, but that’s not the same thing. I beta tested OS X 10.8 last winter and it became immediately apparent to me that the only “innovation” in the new OS were gimmicks to sell more phones. That’s Apple’s cash cow. They don’t give a rip about computers or innovations in their OS or UI or UX anymore. Just get the sheep to upgrade to the latest, “magical” iPhone year after year. Part of their money making machine is selling their customer’s data.
I am typing this on a ThinkPad running the Windows 8 RTM. This OS is innovative. Its beautiful. It takes risks that Apple isn’t willing to take anymore because it doesn’t want to jeopardize its profits. Microsoft demonstrates technology leadership. I think Windows 8 will be a hit, but we’ll know in a few weeks.
I know many Freepers are deeply into the Apple cult, and can’t bear to hear any criticism of Apple, so I’m sure these comments will start a flame war. Flame on!
How do you turn it off, or is it the same as turning off location??
You must be from Bizzaro world, where the facts are lies, and lies are facts, and up is down, and left is right.
Somehow, you believe your own lies.
Microsoft is the one with the browser with comes with tracking turned off, and the user has to enable it, whereas, all the other browsers have it the opposite way.
And, if any of what you believe were to be true, then, Microsoft ceased to exist some 10-15 years ago, because, the same pronouncements of their death have been around for a couple of decades.
But, Microsoft is became and STILL IS, the most powerful software company around, with at least one or two of their products or software or services existing in some form or another in billions of devices around the world.
Apple may be more profitable, but that does not equate to power or to market-place penetration. Mercedes Benz could sell one car for $100,000, while Hyundai might sell 7 or 8 for a total of $80,000-$90,000. Which car maker would have the most penetration and most effect on the overall economy?
Ballmer may not be to your liking, but, he’s the brains that made Microsoft what it is, and Gates needed him in order to turn it into the most powerful software company in history. And now, under Ballmar, Microsoft is expanding into the hardware side of computing. When it comes to size and importance, Apple can’t even come close. Microsoft is a company with many times the number of products as Apple, and Apple is riding high right now, but mostly on the strength of one product, the iPhone, and in due time, that product will begin to lose it’s glare and people will begin to turn elsewhere, and in fact, they already are, where Samsung and Android have been outselling the iPhone many times over.
And lately, the technology that Apple has been introducing with each updated release of its products, is just “adequate” and not even keeping up with the competition, which has superior technology internally. What Apple has is their logo, which, if they put it on a load of crap, and called it iCrap, there would be hundreds of people waiting in line for a week or more, wanting a piece of that crap.
Apple’s days are numbered, and in about 2 years, it will be back to where it was 10 years ago, because, they’re not “innovating” anymore, and they’re just barely keeping up with technology.
Cash in the bank was the old microsoft. Thanks for makign my point.
Also I said the OLD microsoft not the Microsoft of today.
And yes iPhone 5 is really a big step forward in phone technology...I really like that it is pushing new features that have been around for a while—like NFC. Oh wait it doesnt’ even have that yet. Well at least they did take a giant step forward with maps—oh wait that didn’t really go forward did it?
Hmmmm...what did they get with the new iPhone 5? Oh I know a bigger screen (which has been around forever).
Settings > General > About > Advertising > Limit Tracking “On”
You are free to disagree, however, repectfully I will not agree with you.
Apple is not a technology driver? Really? Who first put the solid state drive into Laptops in a real way for the consumer? Retna displays? etc It wasn’t IBM, MS or anyone else.
I have been in technology professionally and as a hobby for 30 years.. and I have watched Apple go from a gimiccy little niche to a powerhouse, with a lot of missteps along the way.
Apple was a niche product, now its mainstream.. and not just for the computer illiterate, I was just at a technical conference last week, nothing but full time software developers, and MacBooks were easily 50% of the audience and 100% of the presenters. (and no the conference had no ties to MOBILE technology or Apple.) To write off Apple as simply a cash making machine and not a driver of technology is silly.
I am no apple cult member, in fact, I spend many years bashing Apple for a host of deserved reasons, but to argue the apple of today is not a technology or innovation company is silly.
Creating the smart phone market, creating the consumer tablet market, going from a niche 10% PC market player to one of the largers seller of laptops... Its silly to try to claim Apple Today does not innovate or lead.
actually that video really drives home that apple is marketing not innovation. thumb recognition has been around for decades. As is face scanning available on non-apple products first.
you have to reaaaaaaaly reach for any apple apple inovation (apple invented their logo if you don’t count chapter 1 in the Bible)
Apple is a patent suit company.
It is obviously clear you didn’t read the article cited, which is fine, ignorance is bliss.
MS is a company that isn’t going away, but they aren’t innovating anything. Balmer and his minions destroyed MS.. complete mismanagement of talent and losing sight of what makes a technological company great is directly responsible for MS’s decline. If you don’t think its a company in decline as far as influence there is no help for you.
Are they going away? Never said they were, but they are not the pre-eminent technology driver and player they used to be, and likely never will be.
While apple bashing might make you feel better, it doesn’t change fundamental facts.. the entire smart phone market was created by Apple... period. You don’t have to like their products, and I know I rightfully bashed the hell out of apple for over 20 years, and rightly so.
However, to try to present the argument that Apple isn’t one of the pre-eminent tech companies on the planet... and that MS’s influence has vastly declined since 2000 is flat out ignorant.
I have developed software for 30 years now, and have seen the industry go from the 8 bit home computer to the smart phone.. the 110 baud coupler modem to LTE wireless. I am not someone who just fawns over a product or company because of hype or anything else.. I had many a flame war in my youth with Apple owners who tried to convince me their Apple II’s were remotely on par with my C= 64 etc.
Apple has fanboys, and many of them deserve openly mocked, but to try to spin Apple of today as the apple of 1998 or 1984 is silly. They made pleanty of mistakes and misteps... Anyone remember the NEWTON?? However, to deny that Apple today is not one of the drivers of techonolgy is nonsense.
MS dropped the ball big time in the late 90s early 2000s. Those managerial mis-steps and lack of vision destroyed MS as a tech powerhouse. They will always be around, but they are not what they once were... was a time a job at MS was a guaranteed route to Millionaire and it really wasn’t all that long ago... now its a job. Apple & Google are the tech powerhouses today.. will that last forever? No, nothing ever does, but MS is nowhere near the top of the mountain anymore and likely never will be again.
I’m not sure what video you are referring too...
As to being a patent suit company that sort of defeats your argument... if you aren’t innovating you don’t have patents so you cannot sue to protect them.
So, not sure how you logically are trying to say, a company is a patent suit company, but doesn’t innovate, because innovation is what leads to patents.
How on earth are you turning this around to say I’m saying Microsoft hasn’t declined?
I’m trying to keep on topic and say that TODAY’s APPLE is like YESTERDAY’s Microsoft.
Quit being a politician and trying to change what I’m saying please.
Works for me, thank you!
We just dumped our iPhone 4 phones this past weekend. Yeah! The damned things never worked with Bluetooth or voice commands. They were terrible, and so is that crappy iTunes.
Quantum computing could change that and put MS back on top. Were pretty close now, and I know that MS is spending a lot on this stuff.
Fact is, the smartphone is OK, but I see a day where you carry around something like a fob that allows you to be seen by whatever computer happens to be nearby - whether that’s the car, the bathroom, work, etc.
We’re close with that too. Get into most modern cars and your phone links with the car’s phone and on board computer.
It’s still anybody’s game for operating systems at this point. I remember when everybody had a favorite DB. Now they are a commodity.
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