Anyone else not thrilled with giving google your database?

[KlaymenDK]

dhole, I've resisted posting in this thread (the "don't get me started" thing), but now I can't help myself.

I too have been uncomfortable about Google --and a number of other online-based entities-- for many years, but have recently 'caved in'. It's now come to a point where the old, pre-Google, devices and services are all but extinct; still perfectly useful and functional, but simply no longer tenable and serviceable.
I now own a Google account, and an Android phone (Galaxy). I can't say I'm unconditionally thrilled (not by a long shot, actually).

The thing is, it don't really matter if you give Google your database -- they've already got your pieces together by looking at what everybody else has said about you. Your address, your picture, your social network; I'm sure they already know all that whether or not you personally are in the game. So, given that, you might as well be a good netizen and enjoy the modern gadgets (perforce accepting their apparently unavoidable breach of privacy).

But, what you still can do is keep your really private stuff, well, private. I mean your documents, your journal (if you keep one), and even your browsing history, although, in our ultra-connected modern world, you will have to sacrifice a good deal of speed and mobility for that. I'm sure this interest will be an underground thing some day soon. And I don't mean 'underground' as in paranoid wannabe revolutionaries, but rather 'cult' as in those zany audiophiles that prefer records over cd's.

Oops I did it. I'll shut up now...

 

[dhole]

dhole, I've resisted posting in this thread (the "don't get me started" thing), but now I can't help myself.

I too have been uncomfortable about Google --and a number of other online-based entities-- for many years, but have recently 'caved in'. It's now come to a point where the old, pre-Google, devices and services are all but extinct; still perfectly useful and functional, but simply no longer tenable and serviceable.
I now own a Google account, and an Android phone (Galaxy). I can't say I'm unconditionally thrilled (not by a long shot, actually).

The thing is, it don't really matter if you give Google your database -- they've already got your pieces together by looking at what everybody else has said about you. Your address, your picture, your social network; I'm sure they already know all that whether or not you personally are in the game. So, given that, you might as well be a good netizen and enjoy the modern gadgets (perforce accepting their apparently unavoidable breach of privacy).



But, what you still can do is keep your really private stuff, well, private. I mean your documents, your journal (if you keep one), and even your browsing history, although, in our ultra-connected modern world, you will have to sacrifice a good deal of speed and mobility for that. I'm sure this interest will be an underground thing some day soon. And I don't mean 'underground' as in paranoid wannabe revolutionaries, but rather 'cult' as in those zany audiophiles that prefer records over cd's.

Oops I did it. I'll shut up now...

hehe

Yeah Im getting a bit bored with it now... I will start ranting all sorts. I usually dont bother with this sort of thing. Trying to convince people that the ships sinking is pointless.

I got a phone its all part of the useless shite that comes with living in the uk. I should really keep off the radar. I should have better things to do, like eating good food and having good sex . in fact... Im off.......

historical facts would have been good, but Im no teacher...

 

[mobileappbuilder]

I am more worried about installing a malicious app that stealing all my data on my phone.

Android API is indeed very open.

 

[mario23]

In my opinion, there is no "safe" email server out there. They all house and share info. google...yahoo...bellsouth...hotmail......

If you have an email account, your info is already out there. If you have a cell phone, chances are your contacts are already there too. In my opinion, THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY WITH EMAIL....

With that being the case, I don't see the big deal. In fact, there have been plenty of incidents reported of outlook data files being extracted via email...we all know about that. The only way to be "safe' when it comes to your personal data is to move to the woods and destroy anything with a battery or plug!

I preordered my Hero and am looking forward to open source after being a Winmo user for years. I'm also looking forward to having my info synced in real time instead of waiting to get home to plug in to the pc.

 

[letsmotor]

I also enjoyed the simplicity of MS activesync; plugin sync good to go. But my syncing concerns are dealing with an employer (University of Iowa) whose IT dept considers google to be evil and won't let my work outlook sync with my gmail account - what solution for this?

 

[GeoUSA]

Welcome to Cloud computing...

I had an interesting discussion with a friend last night as he read an article declaring the traditional operating system dead.

Nothing is ever quite that simple... There will continue to be users who require local applications and data -- either for speed (games, CAD, etc) or confidentiality (military, government, etc). It's rare for a new technology to totally replace earlier tech (think radio when TV arrived). Sure there is old tech that goes away like cassettes and pagers, but I did notice Best Buy is once again selling vinyl albums.

Personally, I appreciate the ability to access my data from anywhere I can access the Internet. Google seems to be sensitive to playing fairly. They have invested a great deal on this business model and can't really afford to lose our trust.