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badqatDec 16, 2010
FTA: And it's not just what pages you read; it may also monitor where you read them. Kindles, iPads and other e-readers have geo-location abilities; using GPS or data from Wi-Fi and cell phone towers, it wouldn't be difficult for the devices to track their own locations in the physical world.
That's even scarier than knowing what I read.
rufiohoDec 16, 2010
ok so there are some good things that come from this. I had an aunt get lost out in the boonies and almost froze to death, but they tracked her through her cell phone.
bigtime2Dec 16, 2010
Cell phones are good for this, lap tops may be good for this too, iPod (or any other mp3 players) might as well be put in this category, but having every electronic device track everything we do is too much.
I wouldn't be surprised if everything we bought had some sort of a tracking device on it.
lbuchaDec 16, 2010
I had always assumed they could track my purchasing behavior to be used for marketing purposes but the geo tracker is creepy... presumably only if the wireless on my kindle is turned on -- which is only when I buy a new book
luv2luvDec 16, 2010
I think the common theme with all technology (internet and consumer devices) is that data about us is extremely valuable. The more data they can compile on our behaviors, the more they can better sell us the next product. This isn't anything new...it's what companies have been trying to perfect for 100's of years...how to learn more about their target market.
This comes by no surprise and you can either accept it or consider it invasion of privacy and refuse to use it. I personally make my decisions based on a pros and cons scale. Is the value I gain from using this product worth more or less than what I'm giving up in return. If I feel it's more, I buy it and use it. If I feel it's less I don't. Simple as that. I personally think using something like an iPad, Facebook, etc. is worth using.
The end!
letherialDec 16, 2010
knowing where i read and what i read and how many pages i read in a certain amount of time isnt marketing, that's borderline stalking; while i think this article is more trying to catch readers with scare tactics, it does bring up a good point, what is to far and how come we cant know how far they are going. I am mainly concerned about Google and apple, ok mainly apple, its why i dont buy there crap.
bigtime2Dec 16, 2010
The problem is, I think, that majority of users of these devices don't give a s**t about whether it can track anything or not.
You and I, and probably a big number of Digg readers, will do our research and make a decision about buying an electronic device, but a lot more people will go out and buy it just because others have it, which is what gives a reason for these companies to have tracking technology on everything.
jqp123Dec 17, 2010
"...how to learn more about their target market."
If that were all there was to it, it wouldn't be so bad. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. All that personal information being collected can and probably will eventually be used for other purposes that are less benign.
wjappeDec 16, 2010
I'd rather use the library, or buy a real book
bigtime2Dec 16, 2010
They scan your library card also when you check out a book. They may not know how fast you flip pages, but they can possibly have enough information to sell your info to a marketing company.
enantiodromiaDec 16, 2010
buying books doesn't scale. My garage is filled to the max with books. Buying e-books is nice because its not adding a few pounds to your giant pile of stuff in your life.
dirtyfriesDec 16, 2010
I don't think I've ever turned the wireless on on my Kindle.
enantiodromiaDec 16, 2010
Do you load PDFs on it then?
dirtyfriesDec 16, 2010
.mobi format via usb generally. The PDF rendering is essentially useless on my Kindle 2.
eozcapDec 16, 2010
The movie and television industries uses second by second analysis of people's viewing to make movies and television "better."
I hate the the publishing industry wants to get in on this. How many times have you been reading a difficult or challenging book and had to put it down for a little while. Publishers are going to assume that you didn't like that part and find ways to edit similar things out of future books.
Please, let's not Michael Bay books.