So I thought I was crazy yesterday......and then I read this.

[SteveISU]

https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/14/...ry-saver-android-9-pie-remote-settings-change

https://bgr.com/2018/09/14/pixel-2-battery-saver-bug-explained-google-all-pie-phones/

That for me is more than a little concerning.

 

[puch96]

that's what happens when you live in this new 'connected world'.

 

[Almeuit]

When you get Play Store updates how do you think they do that in the background? Play Services. It can do a lot on the phone.

 

[SteveISU]

that's what happens when you live in this new 'connected world'.

Yeah, no.

 

[osubeavs728]

if you think Google is the only company capable of this, well then...

 

[Larzuk]

Yeah, no.

Only other solution is to sell off what cell phones you have and get a landline. Whether you like it or not, it's the new connected world as he said. They already know absolutely everything about how and what you do in your daily life. It's nuts, but they have and always will be big brother. I'm sure there's other things they could do that would blow your mind but what can you really do about it.

 

[SteveISU]

if you think Google is the only company capable of this, well then...

Having the capability and using it for idiotic things are very different. Guess I'm the only one who has a problem with a company hijacking my phone to change my settings.

 

[Anthimos Moschonas]

Tbh, I'm not surprised, Google will be Google in the end of the day.

 

[Almeuit]

Having the capability and using it for idiotic things are very different. Guess I'm the only one who has a problem with a company hijacking my phone to change my settings.

Not necessarily. I simply commented on the functions of it. I still don't think they should do it.. in this case they didn't mean to. There should be more check & bounds before someone can just do a quick "oops" on phones.

So having an issue is one thing but the question is what can you do about it? The only thing is to not use a Google Phone that has Play Services (so an iPhone or such) -- Are you willing to do that?

 

[SteveISU]

Not necessarily. I simply commented on the functions of it. I still don't think they should do it.. in this case they didn't mean to. There should be more check & bounds before someone can just do a quick "oops" on phones.

So having an issue is one thing but the question is what can you do about it? The only thing is to not use a Google Phone that has Play Services (so an iPhone or such) -- Are you willing to do that?

I have both iPhone and a pixel, so yes.

 

[Almeuit]

I have both iPhone and a pixel, so yes.

Ah then you are sending your Pixel back and using the iPhone exclusively?

 

[SteveISU]

Ah then you are sending your Pixel back and using the iPhone exclusively?

At this point strongly considering it.

 

[Almeuit]

At this point strongly considering it.

That would make sense if it bothers you that much but I do warn you to never get any Android phone in the future since it will have Play Services which will be able to do it.

Again -- I am with you on the fact that they shouldn't be doing it and believe things like that should go through multiple levels before it can be "pushed" but the part I am not shocked on is the possibility of them being able to do it since I understand the level of permissions Play Services has.

 

[osubeavs728]

Having the capability and using it for idiotic things are very different. Guess I'm the only one who has a problem with a company hijacking my phone to change my settings.

So you're upset they accidentally turned on battery saver and not that they can control the phone. I'd say you might be in the minority in that one. If it was the opposite, there would probably be more sympathetic people.

 

[SteveISU]

So you're upset they accidentally turned on battery saver and not that they can control the phone. I'd say you might be in the minority in that one. If it was the opposite, there would probably be more sympathetic people.

Maybe I wasn't clear, I'm a little upset they can do both and try to do it without anyone knowing or announcing it, or giving me the option to opt in or out of their experiments.

 

[Almeuit]

Maybe I wasn't clear, I'm a little upset they can do both and try to do it without anyone knowing or announcing it, or giving me the option to opt in or out of their experiments.

Well to be fair the experiment wasn't done on purpose. It was meant to go to a select group and went to all instead. Hence my checks comment earlier.

 

[sjfrazier0410]

Almost reminds ya of when Apple forced that U2 album on everyone.

 

[TraderGary]

Almost reminds ya of when Apple forced that U2 album on everyone.

Not everyone!

 

[Mooncatt]

Well before you guys go running to Apple, you may want to re-read the Verge article above.

Both Apple and Google have emergency means of forcing updates or making other changes to iOS and Android, respectively. It’s a necessary option to have at their disposal for user safety and security, and it’s not a new one. Way back in 2008, Steve Jobs confirmed that Apple had a kill switch option for malicious apps; he told The Wall Street Journal “hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.”

 

[Almeuit]

Well before you guys go running to Apple, you may want to re-read the Verge article above.

Yep post #5 covered that .