MobileCrunch

First Lawsuit Filed Against Apple For Undocumented Location Database
CrunchDeals: Buy An Android Device On AmazonWireless, Get A $25 Amazon Appstore Giftcard
Is This The iPhone 4S?
The Bluechip BC5i Big Button Phone For Grampy
SugarSync Gets An Android App
Apple Finally Shipping White iPhone To US Stores

First Lawsuit Filed Against Apple For Undocumented Location Database

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 09:48 PM PDT

With no real statement from Apple regarding the present consolidated.db tracking file furor, the obvious next step is to take it to the courts. Actually, the next step should be a rigorous federal investigation into whether or not Apple has broken any laws. Then, if it has, sue away. And if it hasn’t, sue anyway just in case. Vikram Ajjampur and William Devito are a little impatient, however, and have filed a lawsuit against Apple already.

Now, I’m all in favor of suing Apple — as soon as the facts are known. Apple gets a chance to defend itself against the allegations (time is running out, by the way), and if it doesn’t do so to our satisfaction, then that’s that. This nearly instantaneous lawsuit (filed April 22), however, seems slightly opportunistic.

Claim 12, for instance: “Apple collects the location information covertly, surreptitiously and in violations of law.” I’m not saying this isn’t the case, but when this information was only announced on the 20th, they seem a bit quick on the draw to decide that it’s “covert” as opposed to “undocumented,” like many files and features. It doesn’t take a lawyer to come up with mitigating circumstances or arguments that could potentially exonerate Apple. Use your imagination.

On the other hand, one doesn’t need to wait for the indictment when one has seen the smoking gun. It looks to me like Apple is breaking its own rules here, and in a pretty stupid way at that. An unencrypted log file? Even if it’s only reachable by root (and therefore, Apple may argue, inaccessible to anyone using the phone or any known exploits), it’s a stupid and insecure method and Apple should know better.

But let’s refresh ourselves on Apple’s location policy (from its iPhone 4 SLA):

(b) Location Data. Apple and its partners and licensees may provide certain services through your iPhone that rely upon location information. To provide and improve these services, where available, Apple and its partners and licensees may transmit, collect, maintain, process and use your location data, including the real-time geographic location of your iPhone, and location search queries. The location data and queries collected by Apple are collected in a form that does not personally identify you and may be used by Apple and its partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. By using any location-based services on your iPhone, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its partners’ and licensees’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing and use of your location data and queries to provide and improve such products and services. You may withdraw this consent at any time by going to the Location Services setting on your iPhone and either turning off the global Location Services setting or turning off the individual location settings of each location-aware application on your iPhone. Not using these location features will not impact the non location-based functionality of your iPhone. When using third party applications or services on the iPhone that use or provide location data, you are subject to and should review such third party’s terms and privacy policy on use of location data by such third party applications or services.”

Emphasis mine. But then in the iTunes/App Store TOS:

We may collect information such as occupation, language, zip code, area code, unique device identifier, location, and the time zone where an Apple product is used so that we can better understand customer behavior and improve our products, services, and advertising.

We’ve got dueling location policies here. But what matters is whether Apple broke the law by not disclosing this particular file/method of tracking, or whether it was just bad and slightly creepy policy on their part.

At any rate, you can download the lawsuit here. My guess would be that this one will be obsoleted once more facts come to light, though another (indeed, several) may follow. And I would also guess that the most significant consequence of this episode will be an industry-wide clarification of stances on tracking, and perhaps some slight rewording of the relevant sections in a few terms of service documents.

CrunchDeals: Buy An Android Device On AmazonWireless, Get A $25 Amazon Appstore Giftcard

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 03:14 PM PDT

Amazon has an Android App Store. They also have a brand new section of their site, AmazonWireless, where they sell, amongst other things, Android phones.

Realizing just how well those things fit together, Amazon is running their first cross-promotion between the two. From this morning until 11:59 pm on May 1st, any Android handsets purchased through AmazonWireless will come with a giftcard good for $25 bucks on Amazon’s Android Appstore. Think about all you could buy with $25! That’s like a million copies of Fruit Ninja! Or, you know, 25. But still. Not a bad deal, considering that Amazon’s prices on most Android handsets are amongst the cheapest out there.

Is This The iPhone 4S?

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 12:32 PM PDT

The iPhone rumor mill has been all off-kilter for the past few weeks, primarily stemming from the idea that there may very well be no new iPhone at WWDC this year.

And yet, the rumor-mill continues to churn. According to whispers over the past few weeks, Apple’s busy toiling over a handset that looks very much like an iPhone 4, but with a few lil’ tweaks to its guts — namely, it’s purportedly packing Apple’s A5 CPU, and a slightly bigger screen.

If we were to follow that rumor even further, a handful of big-named developers supposedly have prototypes of these slightly-revised iPhone 4s floating around their offices (which, believe it or not, happens from time to time. From what I’ve been told, Apple rolls in, clamps the thing to a desk, makes them sign a mountain of papers, and rolls out). Some have taken to calling this spiritual successor the “iPhone 4S”, though there’s no reason to believe that’s Apple’s official name for it just yet.

MICGadget obtained the shot above — which, if real, certainly seems to be showing an iPhone with a reduced bezel and a bigger display.

Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen supposed pictures of such a handset — but this time, they’re not quite as easy to debunk.

What do you think: is this the real deal?

The Bluechip BC5i Big Button Phone For Grampy

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

It’s not every day you find $40 phones for the aged. This odd-looking piece of kit has huge buttons, echanced loudness settings, and a big orange SOS button. It also has an LED flashlight on top for spotting your keyhole in the dark.

It’s unlocked, runs on GSM networks, and has a 10 number memory. It even has a built-in FM radio so they can listen to the ballgame. Sadly, it looks like its UK-only but I’m sure you can find something similar on Ebay. It may be easier than getting something like the Jitterbug.

Product Page via RedFerret

SugarSync Gets An Android App

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 08:57 AM PDT

SugarSync, like Dropbox is a standard file storage/cloud solution for PCs and Macs. I’ve used the iPad and iPhone apps and now Android users can share in the fun with their new Android version.

The app is free and works with most versions of Android, including Honeycomb. It allow you to access your files on the go and to upload files to the cloud. It works similarly to the iPad version.

SugarSync is a paid service although you get get a 5GB account for free.

Remote file access and browsing: Retrieve and view files from any computer in your SugarSync account.
Local file management: You can browse and upload files stored directly on the phone. Allows you to copy and paste files to other folders, create new folders, rename files and folders, etc.
On demand synchronization: Edit files directly on your phone (requires separate document editor application); SugarSync will detect file changes and prompt you to upload revisions back to the cloud and other computers.
Shared folders: Send files and folders (small or large) to anyone and collaborate on projects through Shared Folders.
Powerful Photo features: Browse photos stored on your computers in large or small format and directly upload photos taken with your Android camera phone.

Product Page via PR

CrunchBase Information

SugarSync

Information provided by CrunchBase

Apple Finally Shipping White iPhone To US Stores

Posted: 25 Apr 2011 05:29 AM PDT

Like this hamster, I am sure you are currently running in circles screaming “Excelsior” at your houseplants and pets, as it was written it has come to pass: Apple is finally shipping the white iPhone 4 and all signs point to availability this week.

The white iPhone, to be clear, is the same as the black iPhone 4 but it is white.

Apple Insider writes that the phones are in stores now and they are expected to be available on Wednesday. They will be sold in both Verizon/CDMA and AT&T/GSM flavors.

The question now is whether anyone will buy a potentially obsolete iPhone in the middle of the refresh cycle?