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It 's All About Android episode 262 's poll!


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It's All About Android episode 262's poll! Ron's doing his best not to screw this up so do him a favor and give it a vote!

 

DroidID

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ssrij.fingerprintunlockmac

 

Eraser Map (BETA)

https://mapzen.com/blog/erasermap-beta/

 

Okay?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stollenmayer.philipp.Pop_1_1_Android

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The fact eraser map doesn't use Google location services to track your location is a negative. I like having my location history available. It's not like others can access it unless I give permission. And if I want something erased, it's easy to do. I suppose if I were a criminal or terrorist I'd prefer eraser map. Google Location History: https://maps.google.com/locationhistory (click TODAY) button when you get there.

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Okay folks Ron and Jason have been doing podcasts for a long time, Ron a really long time since 2005, Ron also started app judgement in 2007. Flo is still new to the format and it takes time to get into your flow (see what I did there). And no Lee Kempster its not her job, writing for Greenbot is. That said I have seen Ron give her pointers and tbh we all love Jason but I remember a time when he was not as smooth and comfortable as he is now. He has improved a lot and with time so will Flo.

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Marlon Thompson I apologize to Flo, and I actually did know that this want her primary gig. A case of hitting send before thinking. That said, it's just the arena I'm speaking of - she's an awesome addition to the show. The arena happens every week and shouldn't seen like a last minute surprise each time. But Flo rock's, for sure and I can be an idiot. Have an awesome day and happy 420!

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Tom T Walker not everyone agrees though. And I'm sure while they give you a way to remove the data from your view, it still lives on somewhere behind the scenes.

 

As a third party ROM enthusiast, I always appreciate it when app developers create apps that make it possible to run good Android apps without using Google services. You'd never get that from Apple and it's getting harder to get that from Microsoft too.

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Lionel D Agreed -- always good to have alternatives such as eraser map. Regarding the user-initiated deletion of location tracking info on Google, and the statement "it still lives on somewhere behind the scenes." That may or may not be true, but if true and in cases where that data gets out to the public, such costs Google millions of dollars in lost good will. The blogs and news sites love blowing Google's "spying on you" stories up 10-fold -- out of proportion to what the valid concerns are, because in doing so those sites get 10-fold more clicks (i.e. ad revenue). Privacy is a concern and needs to be addressed, but the huge costs in lost benefits due to the elevated fear, uncertainty, and doubt being spread irresponsibly needs to be considered. For example, the possible 10s of thousands of lives lost and ~100-fold benefit in health research and diagnosis that Google Health, had it succeeded, would have yielded in Google's attempt solve our healthcare record issues, which Google would have done with strict adherence to HIPPA laws, keeping health data anonymous for studiers, and non-anonymous to only those the patients who give permission to their physicians.  Unfortunately that huge societal/research benefit is lost to Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD), with an inability for us to move forward while addressing privacy issues in a more calm and reasonable approach.  Google Health was introduced in 2007 and quickly defunct due to FUD. Had it succeeded, we'd be enjoying the health cost-reductions, improved diagnoses, saved lives, and huge research opportunities (big data correlations) today.  But impossible to do as when one person claims their health insurance was denied because they think Google told the insurance company they eat too many donuts (whether true or not), the blogs pounce on it, blow it up, and it all goes down the tubes. :) 

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Tom T Walker I can think of perfect use cases for eraser map if you are not a terrorist or a criminal. Persons in abusive relationships who may be trying to seek help but don't want their partner to know. Persons who live in countries where privacy is important, or just people who care about privacy but just need to know how to get to the supermarket. This app is also great for persons who live outside of the US and Europe for the simple reason that it uses open street maps. In the past I have had to rely on OSM because it was much more accurate than Google maps and I have submitted corrections updates and changes and they are incorporated far quicker than Google maps even though Google maps uses some of its data.

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Marlon Thompson I agree with all those statements about the benefits of eraser map. I was simply stating that for me, the lack of location history is a negative. Also note that Google Maps does not have location tracking on by default. When setting up a mobile device it prompts the user to turn it on. So anyone concerned about their location privacy can simply answer "no" to that prompt. Even if they answer yes -- regarding the abusive relationship situation -- the abusive partner does not have access to that user's data unless the user gives it to them (or they hack in). But even so, he/she can simply turn off location tracking. For other countries where oppression, etc. is a concern -- ya, I'd consider eraser map just to be sure.

 

To be clear, I like competition and like that eraser map is there as an alternative. I just wanted to balance out the reasons some people might choose it with some arguable reality on how "dangerous" Google maps is or isn't. And per my other comment in this thread, the tremendous benefits we're losing due to fear, uncertainty and doubt.

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Tom T Walker Google is not alone in being denied a reasonable shot at advancing the technological state of the medical field. I'm sure Apple are finding the same roadblocks even with a much reduced mandate with their health thing.

 

Google has introduced many a product too early and shuttered it only for subwoofer else to pick to on it 5 years later.

 

All I'm saying is I don't want Google to own Android like Apple owns iOS. Open Street Maps is a very ambitious internetty project like Wikipedia that IMO plays an important role in keeping a check on the for-profit enterprises and their API is much more open from what I've seen so kudos to any developers who can develop great applications (even if not as polished as Google options) that use open data.

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Tom T Walker? you're definitely right about the FUD though, that is definitely out of balance in the press and elsewhere - see the EU vs Google.? IMO I'd be more wary of these silicon valley dude-bro tech unicorn startups with little to no good track record of good behavior behind then or scrutiny on them.

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