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Anyone else not thrilled with giving google your database?

[FONT=&quot]slbailey1 [/FONT]
I DO NOT WANT ANY of my contacts, appointments, or email synced with Google. How do I go about cancelling any syncing with Google?

kabbie_mcfeely said:
So its ok for your phone company to know who, what number, when and where you call someone ? Yes, any cell phone company can get pretty close to the location you were in when you made a call.
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The concern is not about who we call or what number we dial. The concerned is about the sensitive information that we have on our data bases.
 
There are some great handsets here:

Some of those should fit your requirements perfectly.
A tip though: Don't go for one of the Android handsets, as the whole point of them is to sync with Google.
 
trick202 said:
There are some great handsets here:

Some of those should fit your requirements perfectly.
A tip though: Don't go for one of the Android handsets, as the whole point of them is to sync with Google.
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Again you keep missing the point. We're all here trying to be a part of the evolution of Android. If you have no contributions, then stop the negative comments.
 
That's not negative though is it?

Assuming that google will pillage your contacts is negative. If the device doesn't fit your needs BY DESIGN, then (if it were me) I'd find a handset/platform that did.
 
Im not sure why there is all this back and forth.

1. You absolutely positively should ALWAYS be concerned about who and why people have any of your personal information.

2. No idea how anyone could miss the Google integration of Android. BUT there are ways around it. You can come up with a BS gmail account and never have to sync your phone to Google.Its a pain but possible.

That said I gave it much thought but at the end of the day someone is hoarding your info. If its not Google its your carrier , or MS , or Apple etc etc. Someone somewhere can get every oodle of info about you so long as they have the right access.

Many will say Googles motto is "dont be evil" and theyre trustworthy etc...BS. When money and billions are involved noone is free from the evils that come with it. I will say that at the very least your carrier and Google have enemies. Enemies with deep pockets. The second Apple/Google/MS/Sprint/ATT/Verizon etc do something grimy or shady odds are someone from a rival company will use it against them(usually).

Im only half joking when I say this...but at the end of the day all your data wont be used for much more than market profiling and to one day assist an artifical AI from tracking every person on the planet and taking over =-).
 
Yary said:
Again you keep missing the point. We're all here trying to be a part of the evolution of Android. If you have no contributions, then stop the negative comments.
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No, I think you've missed the point. You want the water, but you don't want it to be wet. You want the house but not the property it's built on. You want the parakeet but don't want feathers in the house or to deal with changing the paper in the cage.


Android = Google. Sure, there are ways around it, but trick202 has a point, if you don't trust Google, then Android isn't for you. You're the one being negative, you want a Google phone without Google. I'll be blunt, you sound insane, nitpicky, or both. You don't have to trust Google, but don't get all dramatic and sensitive when people point out that your distaste for Google and your insistence on an Android phone are a logical contradiction. You're going to find a lot more people rolling their eyes at you and telling you to get a blackberry than you are going to find people that think you've got a valid point.

Most people don't try to ice skate uphill, the put on shoes and walk instead.
 
Google is more than welcome to read my emails, phone my friends and people I do business with. Can't imagine why they would want to though. Also do you really believe they could care less where I am.

They might find the odd text message quite amusing.
 
This backlash is oddly reminiscent of the Microsoft days. As they grew larger and larger the fight against them grew stronger. Same fight, new enemy.

There are plenty of people taking up the "I hate all things Google, motto" these days, it's become a popular target.

This cuts two ways, one in that some people are just "I don't pay them any money directly, so the only other thing to jump on is the fact I, and others give them, freely our information." Solution: As pointed out here, don't BUY or OWN an Android phone, designed from the ground up to sync with the cloud.

Second cut, say you are a spy, government agent, entertainment lawyer, sports journalist, etc. You are worried that the notes on your contacts are "out there" and more public than if they weren't synced. Have we all not seen enough movies, tv, etc to know that if someone wants your information they WILL get it. And most likely the weakest link in the chain is not Google, it is more likely it is you. Losing your device. I am not saying you have, but the odds are much higher on you losing the device and someone gaining access than someone hacking Google to dig into your single one account.
 
It is very sad however that if we have our little gadgets we are happy to relinquish some more of our ( I would consider precious ) privacy to google without considering the implications to be in any way possably detrimental. Putting inherent trust in corporations and governments is historicaly a precarious decision. Power corrupts. It is very easy for gadget excitement and our easycome easy go western lives to blind us from the reality of the situation we are in. Have a readup on world history.......


However ... I like my Hero! it works ok its not the best thing in the world but hey its a phone... android is a nice Idea, you wouldnt expect an OS from google even though it is open source to come without the classic google we will assimilate you catch

Google Opt Out Feature Lets Users Protect Privacy By Moving To Remote Village | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
 
It's a sad day when I can't reach the green with my 9 iron. Maybe I should have selected the right club at the tee?
 
trick202 said:
It's a sad day when I can't reach the green with my 9 iron. Maybe I should have selected the right club at the tee?
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more like I have chosen the right club to hit the ball , the ball reaches its desired destination, just that I had to join the golf club to do it and the club is owned and run by a huge corporation . this huge corporation is ever expanding and all consuming and no one knows how big it will get and what will become of it. But I knew I was joining the club, although I dont really want to be involved in all the clubs extra activities I just want to play golf.

Is it such a bad thing to just want to play golf ?...
 
Not at all.

There are thousands of golf courses available for you play at. The existing members probably researched the club before joining.

I know I am taking the analogy too far, but the point still stands.
 
trick202 said:
Not at all.

There are thousands of golf courses available for you play at. The existing members probably researched the club before joining.

I know I am taking the analogy too far, but the point still stands.
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point ? really. What , that you cant buy an android phone and then be concerned about googles data harvesting , You've made the wrong decision , go buy a different phone. Thats your point of view perhaps , but it dosent address the concern .It just says that you dont understand that concern , and other people shouldnt in your mind contradict themselves by wanting the benefit of android and still hold the beleif about google.
 
dhole said:
point ? really. What , that you cant buy an android phone and then be concerned about googles data harvesting , You've made the wrong decision , go buy a different phone. Thats your point of view perhaps , but it dosent address the concern .It just says that you dont understand that concern , and other people shouldnt in your mind contradict themselves by wanting the benefit of android and still hold the beleif about google.
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dhole - I can understand your point now. You like many of Android's features but worry about having your personal data in the control of a company. It is an interesting argument.

For the longest time Yahoo was a great online PIM tool, I didn't mind them having my data as the ability to look it up anytime I was near a PC was great. The ability back in the day to sync to my desktop, palm and web was also great using their Intellisync software.

It is true most smartphones today require a data plan and more of them are offering cloud computing services. If I was going to be upset it would be the lack of choice in the market place, not the direction of cloud computing.

Here's the thing - Android is open, if you were that "against" the cloud, it is possible to learn the skills needed to keep your data private while using the cloud.

In fact you certainly have a great business idea. Imagine a service that sends all my data off device while encrypting it and I can decrypt it on a PC or back on my device only. Sounds like you have a business, get started.
 
dkaufman1 said:
dhole - I can understand your point now. You like many of Android's features but worry about having your personal data in the control of a company. It is an interesting argument.

For the longest time Yahoo was a great online PIM tool, I didn't mind them having my data as the ability to look it up anytime I was near a PC was great. The ability back in the day to sync to my desktop, palm and web was also great using their Intellisync software.

It is true most smartphones today require a data plan and more of them are offering cloud computing services. If I was going to be upset it would be the lack of choice in the market place, not the direction of cloud computing.

Here's the thing - Android is open, if you were that "against" the cloud, it is possible to learn the skills needed to keep your data private while using the cloud.

In fact you certainly have a great business idea. Imagine a service that sends all my data off device while encrypting it and I can decrypt it on a PC or back on my device only. Sounds like you have a business, get started.
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Sorry for off-topic post .... BUT just had to ...

Dave congrats on making the 1K level... Keep up your great responses to the forums ... your posts are always thoughtful, and really spot-on .... your are a real assest to this site

Thanks for all your contributions...
 
justjimjpc said:
Sorry for off-topic post .... BUT just had to ...

Dave congrats on making the 1K level... Keep up your great responses to the forums ... your posts are always thoughtful, and really spot-on .... your are a real assest to this site

Thanks for all your contributions...
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Thanks. I think the people here are really great, respectful, smart. I like being a part of that type of group.

This thread is a perfect example of a civil discussion, that is really very interesting.
 
dkaufman1 said:
dhole - I can understand your point now. You like many of Android's features but worry about having your personal data in the control of a company. It is an interesting argument.
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I wouldnt say im worried per say. I am concerned that we are led to believe that the propagation of personal information wont lead to more potential for this information be used for somewhat dubious purposes.. And the " ive got nothing to hide " argument dosent vouch for privacy.

dkaufman1 said:
For the longest time Yahoo was a great online PIM tool, I didn't mind them having my data as the ability to look it up anytime I was near a PC was great. The ability back in the day to sync to my desktop, palm and web was also great using their Intellisync software.

It is true most smartphones today require a data plan and more of them are offering cloud computing services. If I was going to be upset it would be the lack of choice in the market place, not the direction of cloud computing.
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I agree. Its all about choice for me.

dkaufman1 said:
Here's the thing - Android is open, if you were that "against" the cloud, it is possible to learn the skills needed to keep your data private while using the cloud.
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thats the point android is an open os but googles prerequisit to share certain information isnt completly open. And yes using the services with caution is my preferance.

If sharing all information about ones self becomes the norm perhaps keeping some things personal becomes not normal. but because no challenge was put up in the first place there is not argument to use against this. thus a healthy interest in pursuing privacy is in my eyes a very good idea.

dkaufman1 said:
In fact you certainly have a great business idea. Imagine a service that sends all my data off device while encrypting it and I can decrypt it on a PC or back on my device only. Sounds like you have a business, get started.
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In the uk you can be sent to prison for not revealing your pgp encryption key to the police/government etc:eek:. We dont have the right to privacy now!
 
dhole - I am lost. Your pgp key is likely only an issue if the authorities deem you a person of interest or worse. If you have a high profile position where your database is filled with sensitive information, and you are on the right side of the law does anyone care in the UK if you encrypt it?

My guess is they don't.

In the US as well if you are brought into court your records are often open for public display if they are pertinent to the case. But to stay on topic, most consumers don't have the need for this level of security. Do I really care if the local flower shop number falls into the wrong hands?

If Android wants to become a RIM style corporate device it will need to provide admin level security features. Another good business model that is currently already being worked on is web based control of mobile android devices. I use Mobile Defense. Blackberry Enterprise Server is a great reason corporations go that route. I could see that helping you achieve your needs.
 
Your lost, no worries It happens to us all.

The pgp key situation is an example I was making of privacy. If anything encrypting information probaly highlights you as someone with something to hide. as far as Im aware pgp can be cracked alot quicker nowadays anyhow....
 
I read somewhere that Samsung galaxy give the user the option to choose what data to sync and what not to sync with the cloud. Is this true?
 
I think we're just a bit weary of the data protection thing here in the UK, and have become a little punch-drunk on the subject.

We have MPs and officials leaving data on trains, DNA data being retained etc - and even when we take precautions, they seem to have little effect when push comes to shove.

I would love to think that ALL of my private data was private - but it aint happening (in the UK). I'd also like to walk around naked, but that aint happening either (in the UK)
 
What i dont understand is where you guys get this apathy from >? You have been given some small freedoms and allow yourself to become commited to subservience through apathy . I do think that having a good knowledge of history would open alot of peoples eyes... there is alot to learn.
 
Too busy to let it bother me - especially where my choice of mobile phone is concerned.

There may be a lot to learn, but who are we going to learn it from?

The flipside of apathy (in this case) is paranoia.
 
dhole said:
What i dont understand is where you guys get this apathy from >? You have been given some small freedoms and allow yourself to become commited to subservience through apathy . I do think that having a good knowledge of history would open alot of peoples eyes... there is alot to learn.
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My studies of history have concrete citations and examples, please provide some to better illustrate your point.

Another internet phrase comes to mind as you speak of apathy - never put anything out in the public that you would be ashamed of in the future. I don't store sensitive information on my phone. My contacts wouldn't be happy to be spammed but I am not afraid of losing my phone for that reason. Is there really something you store that is so precious that it must be locked up?

My home is secure "enough". I know that people could break in. As I said before if someone wants my data bad enough they will get it. I realize that and accept it.

Another way to put it, is your network's value the nodes (people you know) or the strands (connection you have to them)? I think it's the strand.
 
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