Apple Has Quietly Started Tracking iPhone Users Again

Business Insider ^ | October 11, 2012 | Jim Edwards

[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).

[itsahoot]

And, the Microsoft stuff has been around for around 30 years, and their solutions are working TODAY

You buy what you like with your money, just don't get upset when I do the same.

[adorno]

You buy what you like with your money, just don't get upset when I do the same.

Actually, that's the way the free market system works, so, I couldn't be against that. If you'll notice, I never, in any way, advocated that you not purchase Apple's offerings in favor of Microsoft's.

What I do dislike, is the belief system surrounding Apple and it's offerings. It's a religion, and it's like fans supporting a baseball or football team; it's like a political party, where the party faithful will never see any wrong with the party and will demonize anybody that chooses to vote differently. The Apple faithful are comparable to those who faithfully vote for the democrats; they will vote democrat, even while democrat policies cause them harm.

Apple's wares are good quality, but, they're not superior to others, materially nor functionally. So, why would someone want to pay more for something that, costs more, and often, a lot more?

Now, go out and spend as much as you wish on some of that expensive Apple gear; the economy will appreciate it very much, and so will the people who get to collect extra taxes from your costlier purchases. It's your money, so, go out and splurge on Apple's stuff.

[kevkrom]

“Costlier purchases”? For equivalent-power machines, Apple tends to fall in the middle of the price range when compared to PCs. Plus, they tend to last longer and have higher resale values, leading to lower TCO.

As for the tracking issue, Apple didn’t pull UDID tracking because of privacy concerns, they pulled it because it was unreliable for a secure transaction system. if they’ve found an alternate and more reliable means of identifying a device uniquely, then it’s no surprise they’re using it.

[adorno]

“Costlier purchases”? For equivalent-power machines, Apple tends to fall in the middle of the price range when compared to PCs. Plus, they tend to last longer and have higher resale values, leading to lower TCO.

You are kidding, right???

Fact is that, when it comes to any machine, the "longer lasting" part, is not a "feature" that matters.

Computers are replaced, mostly, via obsolescence, and not too many computers are kept around because they have "lasted longer". In fact, I've never worn out any computer, and I've never actually thrown out or sold, any computer because, it was beginning to break down. I actually have 2 older computers at home, one an XP desktop, which I've had since 2002, and an XP laptop, which I've had since 2003, and both work as good as when I first got them, except that, they are a bit slower because I've loaded each of them with a lot of applications and data. But, otherwise, I'd dare compare the quality of both of those machines against any Apple computer from the same period. I can still use XP and Vista and in one case (the laptop), Windows 7. Apple machines from that period, are no longer supported, nor can they handle any more modern OS.

As for the tracking issue, Apple didn’t pull UDID tracking because of privacy concerns, they pulled it because it was unreliable for a secure transaction system. if they’ve found an alternate and more reliable means of identifying a device uniquely, then it’s no surprise they’re using it.

I had no argument about why Apple had tracking enabled, but, it's still something that people don't appreciate having in any of their devices.

Tracking should be, as a default, disabled, and people should have to enable it, if they need it.

It's an indefensible position that Apple can't justify or rationalize.

[TheBattman]

Ummm... Swordmaker- I think you aimed that at the wrong person....

[Swordmaker]

Ummm... Swordmaker- I think you aimed that at the wrong person....

FR was acting hinky when I posted that. I got a "server not responding, please try again later." error twice when trying to post that comment. I copied that from the post on the attached reply on the editing screen. . . strange. It was meant for Adorno.

[itsahoot]

I never, in any way, advocated that you not purchase Apple's offerings in favor of Microsoft

[adorno]

Some people are easily entertained.

My cats are also easily entertained. They chase strings that I drag across the floor.

I’ve got some string left, in case you’re still interested.

[itsahoot]

I’ve got some string left, in case you’re still interested.

Silly, haven't you noticed that these Apple Threads are just such strings for the anti-Apple crowd.

I have watched these threads for twenty years all over the web, and they have never changed.

IT guys must protect their turf, they have nothing to do with inovation, but everything to do with crushing it.

Just post some FUDD article about how Apple is doomed and watch the crows show up to pick the not so dead corpse. Fun times all around.

[adorno]

Silly, haven't you noticed that these Apple Threads are just such strings for the anti-Apple crowd.

Threads like these work for any "anti-WhateverCorporationYouDislikeOrHate".

There are, actually, more anti-Microsoft threads/discussions on the internet, than for any other company, and perhaps more than for all other companies combined.

I never understood the fanaticism, and, it'a a game of, "pick your team" and root for it all the way, no matter how it performs or how much it stinks.

It's irrational behavior, for the most part. It makes no sense to me that people actually root for a company, as if it were a football or basketball or baseball team.

[itsahoot]

There are, actually, more anti-Microsoft threads/discussions on the internet, than for any other company, and perhaps more than for all other companies combined.

Very few Apple fans on those threads, the complainers are almost entirely M$ users born and bred.

Entrenched technologies are rarely innovativ. To move forward someone has to break the mold and Apple does it regularly, to the screams and howls of the dissenters.

If it works great, if it doesn't, it will dissapear on its own, but M$ stuff will be with us for many years to come, because changing a whole paradigm is not an easy thing to do.

[adorno]

You prove yourself to be an anti-Microsoft/Apple fanboy, by the usage of your $ sign with the MS abbreviation. You are easily detectable, and very hypocritical.

Microsoft is the number one software company because, they create software that the world wants and uses and is affordable. When the competition exists, and people choose the Microsoft solutions, then, logically, it’s not by force nor by simply elimination of the competition. People still have choices, and they continue going with the Microsoft solutions.

Apple may have created the perception that they are “innovative”, but, they’re far from it. Apple spends about a quarter of what Microsoft spends on R&D, and, most of what Apple has “innovated” in the last few years, amounts to not much more than creating better mouse traps out of things that previously existed. Apple wasn’t the first with MP3 players, nor the first with smartphones, nor the first with tablets, nor the first with lightweight and thin laptops/ultrabooks. Apple is good at taking what’s out there, and creating shinier and more attractive packaging for them. Sure, along the way they may do slight improvements to the actual technology inside, but, so do the rest of the competition. The Apple marketing department was able to create a mystique around Apple that has people like you swooning over anything that Apple produces. Even the new Apple iPad mini, is not revolutionary in any way and the competition has already had products with superior technology already out there, but, because it’s from Apple, people like you will be making mile-long lines a week ahead of release, to get your hands on the thing.

I swear that, if Apple put their logo on a dildo, and called it the iDildo, that people like you would be running over each other trying to get the thing in your hands, and elsewhere. ;)

Fanboysm is for the immature, and I expect a lot more from the people who frequent FR.

[itsahoot]

Fanboysm is for the immature, and I expect a lot more from the people who frequent FR.

You are an idiot and I have been here listening to M$ morons for more years than I want to remember.

People bought M$ because they were a de facto monopoly from the beginning. I have watched you guys push Apple into the Trillion dollar range all the while calling people who dare to buy their products, idiots. You may be right since everything M$ is faster, better, cheaper.

I do not look for M$ ranters, but they sure come to Apple News threads to tell everyone that Apple is overpriced, going broke, stole everything from someone else, blah, blah, blah.

Find someone else to pi$$ on, I buy what I want, you should do the same.

[adorno]

You are an idiot and I have been here listening to M$ morons for more years than I want to remember.

That kind of response, is the type which I see in tech blogs, from the Apple cult followers, who can't stand the idea that somebody would insult their religion. I can foresee the day when you people elevate Steve Jobs to prophet status, just like the Muslims have their Mohammed. God forbid that someone ever says anything disparaging about their deity, or make a Yahoo film that lowers Jobs to have been just a mere asshole; a rich asshole, but an asshole nonetheless. So, are you and your fellow Apple "jihadists" going to seek me out and blow up my home with me in it?

By the way, you assume too much. I don't worship anything from Microsoft, or even Microsoft itself. I'll use whatever suits my needs at the time, no matter who makes it. But, it better do the job adequately, and it better not be overprices, and it better be from a respectable company that's going to be around for a long time, and it better be a company that does not tout a cult with followers, like you seem to be.

My smartphone is an Android, and I also have the iPad 2, but, I don't worship the makers, nor the products. I have several computers at home, one of them with Linux inside, and a couple of Windows 7 machines, and an older XP (which still functions quite well; hate to give it up). Last Mac I owned, I gave away to charity, some four years ago. I might make another Mac or iMac purchase in the future, but, only after their prices come down to more reasonable levels.

Happy worshipping!

[itsahoot]

I can foresee the day when you people elevate Steve Jobs to prophet status, just like the Muslims have their Mohammed.

Good grief man get a grip. The haters are from you group, I could care less about Steve, he was an obnoxious democrat. Do you know Rush Limbaugh? Is he worshiping Steve?

Were you on this forum when Applw announced the iPad, the iPhone? Go and read some of the idiotic attacks from your crowd, borders on insanity. Sort of like trying to talk to a liberal. Just read some of Swordmaker's posts, invariably there are pople like you are either crowing over the latest FUDD announcement, or criticizing the people who would buy any Apple product.

The market should show you how moronic your position is, but apparently you choose to overlook facts, it does however make your position easier to hold.

Please ignore me until Apple goes broke, then you will have something to crow about.

[adorno]

The haters are from you group

Haters from "my group"? I don't have a group, and I don't hate, especially when it comes to inanimate things, like software and hardware, and, I don't hate corporations, since, to me, it's irrational and idiotic, and would be counterproductive, since, we need as much contributions to the economy as any company can bring, be that Apple or Microsoft or Google or IBM or GE or whoever/whatever.

When it comes to Rush, he gets paid by Apple, for product placement and indirect advertizing, like on TV shows, where a product like Coke or Pepsi, is placed in full view of the viewing audience. That's not to say that, Rush wouldn't use Apple's stuff, but, you wouldn't hear about it, if he wasn't getting paid to do so.

And, yes, I was on FR when Apple came out with the iGadgets, but, most of my reading and commenting about those gadgets occurred at forums where technology is the focus of their articles and discussions.

I did comment about how the iPad would be not much more than a reading and media consumption device, and I was right then, and I'm still right today. When it comes to smartphones, iPhone and others, I also commented that, they were overpriced personal digital assistants with a phone feature tossed in, and were all over-priced for what people needed from them. I was right then, and I'm still right today. Most people don't need and many won't ever use the features included with smartphones and tablets.

I also mentioned that, a more useful tablet might make a big difference for adoption of that form factor, and, Microsoft has provided that functionality, with a keyboard which is not on screen and doesn't block out half of what you would otherwise be viewing on the screen. Productivity is a lot easier with a keyboard that is usable and more ergonomic. The iPads and all other tablets, until now, did not offer the features that the Surface and other Windows 8 based tablets will offer. Then, there is the OS, which is tailored for media consumption on the tablets of today, and could not handle the more powerful and productive set of programs that were/are part of the Windows/Intel ecosystem. Now, at leas the Windows 8 x86/64 Surface has the capabilities of running hundreds of thousands of applications written for the desktop and laptops. That puts the Surface/x86 head and shoulders above the rest.

I don't want to carry a media consumption device which is crippled on what can be done with it. I'd like to also be productive with that device, especially when the price is comparable, and sometimes higher, than what a much more powerful laptop can do.

But, apparently, from the "sounds" of what you posted, this is all about me and "my group" bashing Apple. To me, it's all about the facts, and the fact is that, Apple was able to dictate to the market what smartphones and tablets should look like and how they perform. They were also successful in charging high prices for those products, with profit margins for each product which were previously unheard of in the hardware/software arena.

Now that the competition has caught up, and actually surpassed Apple's wares, Apple won't be the leader that people looked to as the main competition. Android has overtaken the iPhone as the leading smartphone, and Android tablets have continued to make progress and could eventually overtake the iPad in sales. And now, Microsoft has its own entries in the smartphone and tablet arenas, and, Apple is beginning to worry. Apple just came out with the iPad mini, and, from most reviews and indicators, it's just a lackluster product, which caused the Apple stock to go lower on the day of the announcement. The Apple stock has lost around 100 points in the last few weeks an is still overpriced.

The iPad and iPhone best days are behind them, and what is being put out by Apple lately, is technology which is behind what the competition offers.

I don't wish Apple any bad, but, I also don't wish for them to be irrationally perceived as the leading tech company around, when there are others that can do what Apple does, much better and at "cheaper" prices.

BTW, the market is beginning to show how moronic YOUR position is when it comes to Apple. The Apple stock has lost around 100 points in the last few weeks, and, once the Surface and Android tablets start eating into iPad sales, that stock will continue to dive. Apple is not helping themselves by just adding insignificant "upgrades" to their minute set of products, and then continuing to price them as if people didn't already have other choices. The last iPad "upgrade" disappointed many analysts, and the iPhone 5 didn't really improve much from the iPhone 4S, and the iPad mini was, according to most analysts, a "me too" product, which is, in reality, a big disappointment and nor really a good competitor to the current Android tablets.

No doubt that Apple will continue raking in the dough, at least for a bit longer, but, that's due to the irrational exuberance exhibitet by the blind allegiance from Apple nuts, such as you.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Oh baloney.

Made in China, and overpriced.

Apple is on borrowed time.

[itsahoot]

but, that's due to the irrational exuberance exhibitet by the blind allegiance from Apple nuts, such as you.

Move on pilgrim you bother me.

[adorno]

Move on pilgrim you bother me.

You should've moved on from the start. But, you decided to be a pest.

See you in the next anti-Microsoft or anti-Apple rant fest.

[itsahoot]

You should've moved on from the start. But, you decided to be a pest.

You came to my house, I did not come to yours.

The reason my for my screen name is these same Apple M$ cr@p storms were rampant when I first joined FR. I noticed that the whole argument was a hoot, hence itsahoot.

I have used Apple Products almost exclusively since the Apple II. I have ventered off into Window of various stripes, even Window CE and other phone OS's from time to time.

I always seem better served by sticking with Apple, even though I really dislike some of their decisions. My stuff all just works. I am too old to be interested in shiny new toys or super computers, I just need something that works, and that puts me in the category that makes up about 90% of the market.

M$ geeks just don't seem to catch on to the fact that there are more consumers than there are geeks.

In the 50's before anyone ever heard of a small block Chevy we tried as best we could to build something a little faster than the next guy, in the end big money always won, so I quit racing but still drive a car of which there are millions more built than there are racing cars.

I don't bother those guys and they don't bother me, and we probably drive on the same roads from time to time, so how about you and I just do the same?