Apple's new iOS7 - Location Services Required

Apple’s new iOS 7 is bundled with so many features it’s not even funny. One of the features, (and I’m not laughing about this one),  is rather than using the NTP servers to get Network Time based on preferred TimeZone, the geniuses at Apple decided to tie this to Location Services. If you don’t enable location services because you’re using multiple networks at once (like Satellite and DSL) or because you’re using a proxy server around the world, Apple is kind enough to set your location to the Pacific TimeZone. So now if you’re in Eastern Time and use your new iOS 7 alarm clock without noticing the change in TimeZone, you can get 3 more hours of much needed (but unexpected) sleep. 

To fix this feature, you can either enable Location Services (bad idea), or you can go into:

Settings > General > Date and Time

I’m a little bit of conspiracy theorist because of the things I notice in my job. One of the things I’m not in favor of is when a company, in this case Apple, tries to force me to use their data collection engine to get what once were standard features. In their new “operating system” iOS 7, when I enable Location Services I’m allowing Apple to track my every move and I’m sharing that information back with them. They can tell what my habits are, where I’m going, where I’ve been, and at some point this will all be tied to advertising and marketing (if it’s not already being used to pick locations for their new Apple stores).  Additionally, I don’t want Apple knowing that we’re running 3 WiFi networks and how many machines (and what types) are on our networks.

From Apple's privacy policy:

Location-Based Services

To provide location-based services on Apple products, Apple and our partners and licensees may collect, use, and share precise location data, including the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device. This location data is collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you and is used by Apple and our partners and licensees to provide and improve location-based products and services. For example, we may share geographic location with application providers when you opt in to their location services.

Some location-based services offered by Apple, such as the “Find My iPhone” feature, require your personal information for the feature to work.

I see a problem with this legal distinction because the data is not collected anonymously. They know who I am and what I do. I have a single device that contains everything from email accounts to passwords for services to all of the locations I've been at where I was around either a wireless network or a cellular signal. It's only shared with their servers anonymously (or so we're told)... unless you opt into cloud services. 

We may also disclose information about you if we determine that disclosure is reasonably necessary to enforce our terms and conditions or protect our operations or users. Additionally, in the event of a reorganization, merger, or sale we may transfer any and all personal information we collect to the relevant third party.

It's all getting foggy

Another trend with all of the newer services is the integration with the “Cloud.” Cloud is another way of saying “we’re storing your information on a server on the internet… somewhere.” If you want all of your contacts, photos, text messages, and e-mails stored on some server that is THE server people want to get into to collect all of the information in the world, then store everything on the cloud. After all there is safety in numbers, right? 

I myself am not in favor of cloud services because I like to control my own data, and I like to control who has access to it. If I enable cloud services and rely on them, now not only can I be charged to get to my own data, but at some point when I need this data if I’m not willing to pay I can lose all of my data. Also in the fine print, sometimes when I share data with companies they can share my data with their partners or use it to offer me better services. I know this because my clients frequently ask “how can we get more information or feedback from our customers?” What happens when someone unexpected gets this data? #ios7