Let me open by first saying that I think the Evo 4G is the coolest damn piece of hardware that I have seen come along in years. It is literally a palm sized computer that actually, in many cases, does far more than your off the shelf computer. With that said, I have major reservations for which I have been compelled to file Federal complaints with the FCC and the FTC. Please let me explain why.
As someone who has been computing / programming since 1983, I have witnessed, along with a great portion of you, the proliferation of 2nd and 3rd party apps that come preinstalled on PCs and laptops as part of manufacturer and software vendor agreements. This has never been welcome by true programmers, especially so in the world of Microsoft Windows, where the registry becomes inundated with crap residual code that lurks around, even after uninstalling. Programmers would like a clean slate to begin with, as opposed to a system already fettered with unwanted code, that in many cases causes conflicts.
This unwanted intrusion of brokered software deals has now moved its way into smart phones. The big difference between the two technologies is, on your PC and laptop you can uninstall any undesired app you like, but on the new Android phones we are forced to accept apps that we do not want, a great many of which are system resource hogs, or worse yet, privacy infringing spyware.
Ask yourself why Android (Google), HTC or Sprint made the calculated decision to create a distinction between apps that you can uninstall and those that you cannot. It is clearly understandable with the operating software, but for apps like Nascar, Peep. Teeter, Stocks, etc, it is truly mind boggling that they will not allow them to be uninstalled.
The absolute gall and temerity.
We own this hardware. We supported them by buying their product, creating enormous profits for them, but as the end-user consumer our rights to our legally purchased hardware are ignored.
And don?t just say, ?well take the phone back.? That would be a lame excuse in consideration of the fact that there truly is no reason why you, your mom, dad, brother, or best friend should be treated this way when it is entirely technologically possible to simply allow removal of the apps. There is no tenable argument or justification for forcing us to keep them when we don?t want them. Period.
Arguably, for many, ?Footprints? is the most egregious piece of software on the Android phones. It is essentially tracking software, possibly part of the Patriot Act, so that you can be tracked, your footprint usage of the phone can be documented and traced. Even if you shut GPS off on your phone, you can be tracked. A very savvy electronics engineer and experienced Sprint tech has told me that.
Why do you possibly need a GPS coordinate, the exact physical longitude and latitude, down to 30 feet, to know where you took a picture from? I'm pretty good at remembering where I've taken pictures at. You probably are as well.
The only answer they can offer at Sprint, HTC and Google is the feeble excuse, "well, it's a handy feature if you're a real estate agent."
Ha!
I pointed out the infinitesimally diminutive number of real estate agents versus their entire customer base, plus the fact that real estate people are in the business of knowing the address of the house they're at. They don't need to be GPS'd while taking a picture, making a call, or sending email from a property.
I filed two Federal complaints with the FTC and the FCC. I was called by a Sprint executive who was willing to do whatever it took to get me to drop my complaints. Rather than offer a free solution, I was told that I could buy ?Root Explorer.? (Actually a decent program for a very nominal price.) The issue is though, to use the software, I still have to root my phone, something which a great many of you know can be an arduous and touchy process, especially so if you?re not a capable computer tech. You risk ?bricking? your phone, should you make the slightest mistake.
And don?t say that you can simply go into the settings and apps and ?force stop? the software. Under the original Android software you could do this, however, upon checking, data was still being collected by Footprints and Facebook. Some will argue, but that data doesn?t go anywhere, especially if you are not a subscriber to Facebook. Well, how do any of us know that for sure? Why still collect data if indeed the app has been shut off? It?s an easy code to write that says, when this app is killed, all data-mining efforts stop as well, but they do not appear to do so.
Ever look and see all the access these apps have to your sensitive data? Much has nothing to do with the operation of the app, so you have to ask yourself why this intrusion is allowed.
It has now become much worse. It seems the new Froyo 2.2 update, not only screws your phone up, but now also restricts you from turning off the nefarious "Footprints" GPS tracking software, as well as Facebook data-mining software (already proven to be CIA linked). You can turn off GPS and it still doesn't matter.
I turn Facebook off, yet it still gathers data. How can I be assured it does not still send that data out? If I turn the app off, that should clearly kill the data-mining feature. Simple as that and very easy to code it that way. No need to still collect data if the app is turned off.
I have to add, they do still have the button that "makes you think" you are turning off the offending apps, however, when you go back into the phone, they are automatically turned back on now.
Again, you have to ask yourself? WHY?
They refuse to allow you to turn them off, or uninstall the apps. Now, ask yourself why this is good for any of us.
You OWN your phone, just like you own your computer. You have the RIGHT to take off any apps that you do not like. Period.
So why won't Google allow people to take off Footprints, or Facebook, etc?
It has been rumored that footprints logs more than just photo ops... supposedly any phone usage can be gleaned from the Footprints app... so I am told.
IF it is truly an innocuous app, and not a tool for "big brother" then why not simply let us remove it if we want to? That is a very simple request.
As a result, I have now had to file my 2nd complaint with both the FCC and the FTC over my Evo 4G phone.
I called Google headquarters in Mountainview, CA and informed them of my filed complaints with the FCC and the FTC. They refused to let me speak with anyone regarding Footprints or the data-mining Facebook app. Is that seriously the kind of company you would like to do business with? They refused to speak to me regarding the issue. That clearly shows no care for the consumer whatsoever.
There is a class action lawsuit brewing against big bucks Google over this. They have clearly made a distinction over apps that can be deleted and apps that cannot be deleted.
Once again, they do not own my phone. I own it. You own yours. We have the right to delete any apps that we choose, but Android (Google), HTC and Sprint have restricted that right from all of us.
I shouldn't have to go through the extremely cumbersome procedure of rooting my phone and possibly "bricking" it if I mess up, just to rid my phone of unwanted apps.
I love my Evo 4G, except for this one huge flaw.
The ACLU will also no doubt be a part of this action as it is clearly a violation of privacy rights.
As a paying supporter of Sprint, HTC, Android (Google)? we have the RIGHT to expect more from the companies we supported and made profitable. As the old saying goes, ?the squeaky wheel gets the grease,? so please get involved.
Make some calls to the following and tell them to honor us, the end-user that gave them our hard earned money. The device belongs to us now, not them.
Please call and voice your opinion.
Sprint? 888-211-4727
HTC? 866-449-8358
Google? 650-253-0000
Thank you for reading and for any efforts that you can put forth in pressuring these companies to conduct business in a professional manner which respects the wishes (and privacy concerns) of its consumers.
As someone who has been computing / programming since 1983, I have witnessed, along with a great portion of you, the proliferation of 2nd and 3rd party apps that come preinstalled on PCs and laptops as part of manufacturer and software vendor agreements. This has never been welcome by true programmers, especially so in the world of Microsoft Windows, where the registry becomes inundated with crap residual code that lurks around, even after uninstalling. Programmers would like a clean slate to begin with, as opposed to a system already fettered with unwanted code, that in many cases causes conflicts.
This unwanted intrusion of brokered software deals has now moved its way into smart phones. The big difference between the two technologies is, on your PC and laptop you can uninstall any undesired app you like, but on the new Android phones we are forced to accept apps that we do not want, a great many of which are system resource hogs, or worse yet, privacy infringing spyware.
Ask yourself why Android (Google), HTC or Sprint made the calculated decision to create a distinction between apps that you can uninstall and those that you cannot. It is clearly understandable with the operating software, but for apps like Nascar, Peep. Teeter, Stocks, etc, it is truly mind boggling that they will not allow them to be uninstalled.
The absolute gall and temerity.
We own this hardware. We supported them by buying their product, creating enormous profits for them, but as the end-user consumer our rights to our legally purchased hardware are ignored.
And don?t just say, ?well take the phone back.? That would be a lame excuse in consideration of the fact that there truly is no reason why you, your mom, dad, brother, or best friend should be treated this way when it is entirely technologically possible to simply allow removal of the apps. There is no tenable argument or justification for forcing us to keep them when we don?t want them. Period.
Arguably, for many, ?Footprints? is the most egregious piece of software on the Android phones. It is essentially tracking software, possibly part of the Patriot Act, so that you can be tracked, your footprint usage of the phone can be documented and traced. Even if you shut GPS off on your phone, you can be tracked. A very savvy electronics engineer and experienced Sprint tech has told me that.
Why do you possibly need a GPS coordinate, the exact physical longitude and latitude, down to 30 feet, to know where you took a picture from? I'm pretty good at remembering where I've taken pictures at. You probably are as well.
The only answer they can offer at Sprint, HTC and Google is the feeble excuse, "well, it's a handy feature if you're a real estate agent."
Ha!
I pointed out the infinitesimally diminutive number of real estate agents versus their entire customer base, plus the fact that real estate people are in the business of knowing the address of the house they're at. They don't need to be GPS'd while taking a picture, making a call, or sending email from a property.
I filed two Federal complaints with the FTC and the FCC. I was called by a Sprint executive who was willing to do whatever it took to get me to drop my complaints. Rather than offer a free solution, I was told that I could buy ?Root Explorer.? (Actually a decent program for a very nominal price.) The issue is though, to use the software, I still have to root my phone, something which a great many of you know can be an arduous and touchy process, especially so if you?re not a capable computer tech. You risk ?bricking? your phone, should you make the slightest mistake.
And don?t say that you can simply go into the settings and apps and ?force stop? the software. Under the original Android software you could do this, however, upon checking, data was still being collected by Footprints and Facebook. Some will argue, but that data doesn?t go anywhere, especially if you are not a subscriber to Facebook. Well, how do any of us know that for sure? Why still collect data if indeed the app has been shut off? It?s an easy code to write that says, when this app is killed, all data-mining efforts stop as well, but they do not appear to do so.
Ever look and see all the access these apps have to your sensitive data? Much has nothing to do with the operation of the app, so you have to ask yourself why this intrusion is allowed.
It has now become much worse. It seems the new Froyo 2.2 update, not only screws your phone up, but now also restricts you from turning off the nefarious "Footprints" GPS tracking software, as well as Facebook data-mining software (already proven to be CIA linked). You can turn off GPS and it still doesn't matter.
I turn Facebook off, yet it still gathers data. How can I be assured it does not still send that data out? If I turn the app off, that should clearly kill the data-mining feature. Simple as that and very easy to code it that way. No need to still collect data if the app is turned off.
I have to add, they do still have the button that "makes you think" you are turning off the offending apps, however, when you go back into the phone, they are automatically turned back on now.
Again, you have to ask yourself? WHY?
They refuse to allow you to turn them off, or uninstall the apps. Now, ask yourself why this is good for any of us.
You OWN your phone, just like you own your computer. You have the RIGHT to take off any apps that you do not like. Period.
So why won't Google allow people to take off Footprints, or Facebook, etc?
It has been rumored that footprints logs more than just photo ops... supposedly any phone usage can be gleaned from the Footprints app... so I am told.
IF it is truly an innocuous app, and not a tool for "big brother" then why not simply let us remove it if we want to? That is a very simple request.
As a result, I have now had to file my 2nd complaint with both the FCC and the FTC over my Evo 4G phone.
I called Google headquarters in Mountainview, CA and informed them of my filed complaints with the FCC and the FTC. They refused to let me speak with anyone regarding Footprints or the data-mining Facebook app. Is that seriously the kind of company you would like to do business with? They refused to speak to me regarding the issue. That clearly shows no care for the consumer whatsoever.
There is a class action lawsuit brewing against big bucks Google over this. They have clearly made a distinction over apps that can be deleted and apps that cannot be deleted.
Once again, they do not own my phone. I own it. You own yours. We have the right to delete any apps that we choose, but Android (Google), HTC and Sprint have restricted that right from all of us.
I shouldn't have to go through the extremely cumbersome procedure of rooting my phone and possibly "bricking" it if I mess up, just to rid my phone of unwanted apps.
I love my Evo 4G, except for this one huge flaw.
The ACLU will also no doubt be a part of this action as it is clearly a violation of privacy rights.
As a paying supporter of Sprint, HTC, Android (Google)? we have the RIGHT to expect more from the companies we supported and made profitable. As the old saying goes, ?the squeaky wheel gets the grease,? so please get involved.
Make some calls to the following and tell them to honor us, the end-user that gave them our hard earned money. The device belongs to us now, not them.
Please call and voice your opinion.
Sprint? 888-211-4727
HTC? 866-449-8358
Google? 650-253-0000
Thank you for reading and for any efforts that you can put forth in pressuring these companies to conduct business in a professional manner which respects the wishes (and privacy concerns) of its consumers.
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