Ereaders and Tracking - Page 2

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danskmacabre

I have a KT. There's a thread somewhere on the KT forum showing how to stop the tracking on it working, which I have done.

You don't want to be able to sync your books?

danskmacabre · 04-19-2012, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You don't want to be able to sync your books?

I don't use the kobo desktop app at all, I use Calibre.

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 07:48 AM

Sorry - I thought you meant "Kindle Touch" when you said "KT". Too many similar-sounding devices

.

drofgnal · 04-19-2012, 07:49 AM

I leave my K4 reader's wi-fi in the off position always. I buy a book, down load to kindle desktop, strip drm and load from calibre. I don't sync between devices. I'll just remember the page no where I stopped or try to stop at a location the for the TOC to navigate me.

mr ploppy · 04-19-2012, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are those data sent to Amazon?

According to the list of things Kindles track posted in the developer forum.

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

According to the list of things Kindles track posted in the developer forum.

You need to differentiate between the data that the Kindle records in log files, and the data that it transmits to Amazon. That's why I asked specifically if this data is sent to Amazon.

Rob Lister · 04-19-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plib

I have a feeling that might be tested in court soon, there are a number of privacy cases on the US Supreme Court docket already.

Do you know of any cases raising to that level? I'd like to see them address this but there are so few laws regarding this that I'm not sure what they'd clarify.

plib · 04-19-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

Do you know of any cases raising to that level? I'd like to see them address this but there are so few laws regarding this that I'm not sure what they'd clarify.

From what little I know I think most of them so far revolve around 4th Amendment stuff such as warrantless capture of cellphone data and GPS tracking, but privacy issues are being addressed in the context of the changes technology has brought to data availability so it's likely that internet/device data capture will be raised fairly soon - cellphones are already on the list. I think Facebook has been rapped a few times already although I don't use it so I don't know/follow specifics.

MrsJoseph · 04-19-2012, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The purpose of Amazon's data traffic is not to "track" anything, but to provide the sync-between-devices facility which is one of the very useful features that the Kindle offers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Why would that require your GPS location and the DRM status of what you are reading?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

According to the list of things Kindles track posted in the developer forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You need to differentiate between the data that the Kindle records in log files, and the data that it transmits to Amazon. That's why I asked specifically if this data is sent to Amazon.

Ok. I don't understand. If the Kindle tracks the GPS location and DRM status but doesn't send it to Amazon...why does it need to track that information?

And would all ereader/retailers track this same type of information? What about Harddrives and desktop applications: does it track the basic information of what is happening inside the app only or does it track a lot more information about your location and activity on the computer itself?

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Ok. I don't understand. If the Kindle tracks the GPS location and DRM status but doesn't send it to Amazon...why does it need to track that information?

The Kindle creates all sorts of log files which are NOT sent to Amazon. I'd hazard a guess it's done for diagnostic purposes during software development. This is on the "internal" data partition; they aren't visible to the user.

bill_mchale · 04-19-2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle creates all sorts of log files which are NOT sent to Amazon. I'd hazard a guess it's done for diagnostic purposes during software development. This is on the "internal" data partition; they aren't visible to the user.

Are you sure they don't collect that data or are you just stating your belief?

--
Bill

HappyMartin · 04-19-2012, 10:11 AM

The Kindle has a GPS chip? What for? I imagine location can be calculated by triangulating from 3G towers but I am surprised to hear about a GPS capability.

Personally I dont care if anyone knows where I am or what I am up to. Would be mind numbingly boring for them but hey if thats what they would like to do then go for it.

MrsJoseph · 04-19-2012, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Kindle creates all sorts of log files which are NOT sent to Amazon. I'd hazard a guess it's done for diagnostic purposes during software development. This is on the "internal" data partition; they aren't visible to the user.

But...how does it help software development if the information isn't sent to the software developers? So...the info has to get to Amazon in some way if they use the data.

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill_mchale

Are you sure they don't collect that data or are you just stating your belief?

--
Bill

People have endlessly analysed the data traffic that's sent from the Kindle to Amazon's servers. I don't believe this information is among that that's transmitted, but the clever folks in the Kindle Developer's forum here at MR can tell you for sure.

ProfCrash · 04-19-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

Sony T1: nothing if you never connect it to the Sony software. I haven't even registered my T1 with Sony. It's completely independent.

Anyone can say that. Until the device is registered, they cannot track anything. That goes for Amazon, Kobo, BN, and Sony.

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04-19-2012, 07:48 AM	#18
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Sorry - I thought you meant "Kindle Touch" when you said "KT". Too many similar-sounding devices .

04-19-2012, 07:49 AM	#19
drofgnal Wizard Posts: 1,431 Karma: 10519918 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Ipad Pro/Kindle Oasis 3/iPhone 13 Pro Max	I leave my K4 reader's wi-fi in the off position always. I buy a book, down load to kindle desktop, strip drm and load from calibre. I don't sync between devices. I'll just remember the page no where I stopped or try to stop at a location the for the TOC to navigate me.

04-19-2012, 10:11 AM	#27
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	The Kindle has a GPS chip? What for? I imagine location can be calculated by triangulating from 3G towers but I am surprised to hear about a GPS capability. Personally I dont care if anyone knows where I am or what I am up to. Would be mind numbingly boring for them but hey if thats what they would like to do then go for it.