surprised this didn’t even touch on how aggressive the banners are, how apps can’t take advantage of ad blockers, etc. there’s so much more to it than just “missing features”.
Ideally the OS sandboxing prevents mobile apps from collecting sensitive data without permission, but in practice there’s an awful lot of data that’s not gated behind permissions and wouldn’t be accessible to a website! I wish sensors (accelerometer, etc.) and persistent Keychain entries weren’t accessible to apps on iOS without an entitlement from Apple (to ensure it’s for a legitimate reason) and a user permission.
I don't know if there's an equivalent for iOS but the LinkedIn (or Facebook? tomato/tomahto/dumpsterfire) app was caught broadcasting Intents to determine what other applications were installed on the device as a mixture of "moar precious ad signal" and "fingerprinting"
I can't be bothered to look it up, since I'm sure both of those apps now do something much worse but I did want to draw attention that location data is arguably the least valuable signal that a native app can collect about you :(
Ironically, I was setting up a new Venmo account recently and they don't even let you do identify verification or set up a business on the web. I called support since that's what it told me to do and they said those features are only available in the app with a shrug for if and when they'd come to the browser.
On the topic of Google Calendar grievances, the WearOS app for it does not sync anything except your Google calendars so if you use a CalDAV calendar using Davx5 you can see the events on the phone version of the app but not on the watch. Truly baffling choices are being made by this team.
lilac | 12 hours ago
surprised this didn’t even touch on how aggressive the banners are, how apps can’t take advantage of ad blockers, etc. there’s so much more to it than just “missing features”.
hjvt | 11 hours ago
Or, less outwardly annoying and more insidious, no way to limit data collection.
pgeorgi | 10 hours ago
two major reasons why folks are "encouraged" to use the apps.
snazz | 7 hours ago
Ideally the OS sandboxing prevents mobile apps from collecting sensitive data without permission, but in practice there’s an awful lot of data that’s not gated behind permissions and wouldn’t be accessible to a website! I wish sensors (accelerometer, etc.) and persistent Keychain entries weren’t accessible to apps on iOS without an entitlement from Apple (to ensure it’s for a legitimate reason) and a user permission.
mdaniel | 2 hours ago
I don't know if there's an equivalent for iOS but the LinkedIn (or Facebook? tomato/tomahto/dumpsterfire) app was caught broadcasting Intents to determine what other applications were installed on the device as a mixture of "moar precious ad signal" and "fingerprinting"
I can't be bothered to look it up, since I'm sure both of those apps now do something much worse but I did want to draw attention that location data is arguably the least valuable signal that a native app can collect about you :(
hjvt | 6 hours ago
I believe apps may also skirt around whatever laws manifested the cookie policy popups into existance
squarism | 10 hours ago
Engagement, KPIs. OP got the incentives. I like the article's point, I'll probably notice it more now.
carlana | 8 hours ago
If you get that joke, it's time for your mammogram/prostate test.
0x2ba22e11 | 17 minutes ago
Crap.
Halkcyon | 9 hours ago
Ironically, I was setting up a new Venmo account recently and they don't even let you do identify verification or set up a business on the web. I called support since that's what it told me to do and they said those features are only available in the app with a shrug for if and when they'd come to the browser.
[OP] abnercoimbre | 8 hours ago
Oh this is true. Mobile-app-only features are kind of a plague too. Damned if you do..
msfjarvis | an hour ago
On the topic of Google Calendar grievances, the WearOS app for it does not sync anything except your Google calendars so if you use a CalDAV calendar using Davx5 you can see the events on the phone version of the app but not on the watch. Truly baffling choices are being made by this team.