A Mini Rant!

[PeterT]

I hate to say it...

Folks; try to remember WHAT business Kobo is in... Hint... It's NOT selling eBook Readers; rather, it is selling eBooks.

So what we see is changes made to the infrastructure and implementation of things to support the 99% of the community; NOT the 1% of the community (ie US).

Kobo want to make it easier for folks to purchase material, and to find NEW material that might appeal to them DIRECTLY from their eBook reader.

So of course, they will add means to promote both new material AND material that they believe (based on your purchase history from them) WILL appeal to them.

[Nigol]

I agree with you this is the only reason this was added.

But what about french speaking people like me? What is the use of having a recommendation when none of them would be in the language I might want?

I am an exception around people like me, because I read books in English primarily even if it is not my primary language. But almost everybody around me reads only in french and french books by Kobo are almost non existent. So for these people the recommendation system is worthless since every content they will have would be sideloaded.

So this 99% you speak off is A LOT less since you have to remove every persons who can't or won't read english books.

[ltr]

Kobo want to make it easier for folks to purchase material, and to find NEW material that might appeal to them DIRECTLY from their eBook reader.

Fair enough, now let me turn it off when I want. I don't use the wi-fi on my reader and don't want to see the advertising on my home page.

If I'd like to see what's recommended for me, I'll turn the feature back on.

I'm already receiving e-mails from Kobo with their Recommended for Me theme. Now it's also on my desktop application. OK fine, but not on my reader. I would like the option to turn it off.

What's next - perhaps the bottom third of every page in a book can have a little section recommending books for me.

ltr

[JD Gumby]

With their information harvesting (hint: that's what Google Analytics is for and, as was shown in the update thread, is now having plenty of information sent to it from v1.9.16 devices) and advertising on a reader I've paid full price for (not "Special Offers"), Kobo has lost my business.

Also, my Touch's wi-fi will never be turned on again, nor will it ever be plugged into my computer when the desktop software is active.

[The Terminator]

Originally Posted by Nigol

I agree with you this is the only reason this was added.

But what about french speaking people like me? What is the use of having a recommendation when none of them would be in the language I might want?

I am an exception around people like me, because I read books in English primarily even if it is not my primary language. But almost everybody around me reads only in french and french books by Kobo are almost non existent. So for these people the recommendation system is worthless since every content they will have would be sideloaded.

So this 99% you speak off is A LOT less since you have to remove every persons who can't or won't read english books.

Just set it to "Shortlist" then.

[The Terminator]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

With their information harvesting (hint: that's what Google Analytics is for and, as was shown in the update thread, is now having plenty of information sent to it from v1.9.16 devices) and advertising on a reader I've paid full price for (not "Special Offers"), Kobo has lost my business.

Also, my Touch's wi-fi will never be turned on again, nor will it ever be plugged into my computer when the desktop software is active.

Aren't those "Information harvesting" things you're talking about just history items? Are you going to stop using Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox also?

[Reader Paradice]

Originally Posted by Nigol

I agree with you this is the only reason this was added.

But what about french speaking people like me? What is the use of having a recommendation when none of them would be in the language I might want?

I am an exception around people like me, because I read books in English primarily even if it is not my primary language. But almost everybody around me reads only in french and french books by Kobo are almost non existent. So for these people the recommendation system is worthless since every content they will have would be sideloaded.

So this 99% you speak off is A LOT less since you have to remove every persons who can't or won't read english books.

--------------------------------------------------------------

A good point, you stated!

[Reader Paradice]

Originally Posted by ltr

Fair enough, now let me turn it off when I want. I don't use the wi-fi on my reader and don't want to see the advertising on my home page.

If I'd like to see what's recommended for me, I'll turn the feature back on.

I'm already receiving e-mails from Kobo with their Recommended for Me theme. Now it's also on my desktop application. OK fine, but not on my reader. I would like the option to turn it off.

What's next - perhaps the bottom third of every page in a book can have a little section recommending books for me.

ltr

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What's next - perhaps the bottom third of every page in a book can have a little section recommending books for me.


"Oh Jeez....now you are giving them that possibly over-looked 'push'?!?!? Stop it, lol...stop it right now!" LOLOLOL!

[kaikara]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

Aren't those "Information harvesting" things you're talking about just history items? Are you going to stop using Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox also?

While I agree with you the voice of reason will not always work when someone is hell bent on having a little tantrum about something so meaningless.

[Lunchtray]

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

With their information harvesting (hint: that's what Google Analytics is for and, as was shown in the update thread, is now having plenty of information sent to it from v1.9.16 devices) and advertising on a reader I've paid full price for (not "Special Offers"), Kobo has lost my business.

Also, my Touch's wi-fi will never be turned on again, nor will it ever be plugged into my computer when the desktop software is active.

I'm going to post my response to JD from the update thread again because it's fitting for this thread too:

Sorry, I don't understand your reasoning here to freak out at Kobo and promise never to spend another dime... You're aware that almost every piece of software on any type of mobile device has Google Analytics inserted into it right?

I work at a mobile games software company and every one of our games for Android, iOS, BlackBerry, etc use it.

It helps the developer to understand the usage behavior of customers/players using the software. Session length, which buttons are being pressed, where customers coming from, etc. There's so much information you need to gather to make educated decisions on how to update and improve your products.

Here's a reality check... Most every piece of technology you use tracks your statistical usage and behavior and sends it back to the company who made it. It's standard practice and you can't really avoid it. So unless you'd like to be a Luddite you'll just have to live with companies being interested in how their products are being used so they can continue with their business and produce more things you'll want in the future.

Originally Posted by The Terminator

Aren't those "Information harvesting" things you're talking about just history items? Are you going to stop using Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox also?

The Terminator here understands...

[The Terminator]

I think we can be fairly sure that Kobo isn't going to take over the world with all this "Highly Classified" information

[Lordvic]

Kobo is in a very VERY unique scenario, especially being housed in Canada.
CHeck out the PIPEDA regulations on information gathering. if you truly believe they are gathering personal data to sell, report them.

however, if you just don't like that it uses the data to recommend you books, well, disable wifi and never use their pulse / social network stuff

[taming]

The Kobo privacy policy spells out what they collect, how they use it, etc. http://www.kobobooks.com/privacypolicy

People with concerns should compare that document with equivalent ones by what they consider to be trusted providers. I'm betting that the differences are either minimal or non-existent.

[pokee]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

I think we can be fairly sure that Kobo isn't going to take over the world with all this "Highly Classified" information

Haha....amen, brother...

I personally enjoy Kobo and other companies recommending stuff to me based on my online habits. Quite frankly, it saves me time.

Sure...I have security worries from time to time, but I tend to be more concerned about identity theft and online preditors...not that Kobo somehow knew that I'd enjoy the latest John Grisham novel...

[robko]

As someone else said, if you're concerned they are taking info they shouldn't be report it to the Canadian Information Privacy Commissioner. Since she made Facebook back down and make changes I'm pretty sure she'd have Kobo in line within minutes of thinking about it. Canada has some pretty strict privacy legislation so I doubt Kobo is doing anything way out there.