July 30, 2011
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Just in case you don’t keep up with privacy laws or the invasive practices of just about every online or data driven provider who constantly collects some form of information from you, a lot of people are buzzing about Apple’s ability to track anywhere and everywhere your iPhone has been with the iPhone iOS 4 operating system. The file in the OS tracks and holds your location movements in a complex code.
This type of location surveillance is nothing new – your cell phone carrier has been able to track your movements for years – long before smartphones came on the scene.
Now, there’s an app for that - iPhone Tracker software, which accesses the hidden tracker file and then plots your movements like pins on a map. There’s a number of uses for an app like this – reviewing sales appointments, real estate showings, vacation spots, or even seeing where your teenager has been.
Have you used Foursquare? This social networking site lets you both check into a location and then share it with all your socially lined friends. Knowing where you’ve been and where doesn’t have to be an invasion of privacy, just a cool way of looking at your activities.
Of course, if you have something to hide…
Don’t worry – we have no reason to believe that this data ever leaves the security of your phone for any reason other than Apple’s ability to build additional databases using location tracking for even better application development, including applications like Maps. Still concerned? Apple gives you the ability to disable Location Services, so you can control whether or not the tracking capability is live on your iPhone.
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Social Media, Technology, Uncategorized
June 10, 2010
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If you have a Smartphone and you truly feel like you aren’t using it to its fullest, you are probably right! Most people that own Smartphones only use about half of what their real potential really is! In order to use your Smartphone to its fullest ability, one of the best things to do is get involved in some of the APPS available for your phone. Here are a few suggestions for your Android, Blackberry or iPhone:
- Get Free Turn-by-Turn GPS on an iPhone: When Google originally brought turn-by-turn GPS to the android phone, iPhone users were envious to say the least! In March, iPhone users gained their own app that allowed turn-by-turn GPS abilities courtesy of none other than MapQuest. You also have turn-by-turn with voice if you are an iPhone user with the MapQuest 4 Mobile app.
- Communicate with everyone using Fring: If you love Social sites like Myspace, Google Talk, AIM, and Twitter, you are going to love this app! It allows you to use the application as a hub which allows you to talk and use ONE place for all your Social sites rather than having to visit and use each one individually. HUGE time saver. Fring is available for iPhone, Android, and Nokia devices.
- Find Wi-Fi in Your Area: Apple might have cut wifi stumblers out of their own App store, but you can still turn to a variety of wifi directories, in this case JiWire’s Wi-Fi Finder. This Wifi finder has well over 280,000 hotspots in its directory!
- Compare Prices With ShopSavvy: You can find an array of APPS available that can turn your phone into a bar code scanner, but one of the best apps I have seen thus far that always allows you to do a price comparison is ShopSavvy. You can use these either at local stores or at stores online. You can also set up wish lists as well based on the prices of the scanned items. Pretty cool!
- Slip Away With Fake-A-Call: Sometimes when you are on the phone and having an awkward phone convo with someone, you just WISH someone would call in on the other line and interrupt. Well, now there is no more wishing with Fake-A-Call. This is a free app that lets you schedule or create a fake phone call. Just a fun little app to use.
Some of these apps available, besides the ones above, are for fun. Others are a little more serious – great for travel or business people. Either way, if you don’t use apps, you are definitely not getting the most out of your phone! Most all of the apps available are 100% free. Even if you find one you really like and its paid, chances are someone else offers the same thing for free so make sure you check different ones out.
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Technology
