Apple® Sauce

The so-called Health “app” on the iPhone is actively tracking a number of parameters. Even after disabling the “Fitness Tracking” option in the Privacy settings, the shitty “app” still tracks one parameter called, “Resting Energy.” The intrusive system “app” was subsequently “deleted” (read: disabled), but to no avail. What else is the “app” doing?

According to a few researchers and developers, the iPhone App Store has been sending user-identifiable data back to home base. This news comes as the App Store has increased advertisements in the “app.” Incidentally, the Podcasts, Weather, Fitness, and Maps “apps” are slated to include various forms of advertising in the near future.

Really?

Researchers also discovered that first-party “apps” bypass any VPN tunnel. Of course, researchers also discovered that the VPN tunnel on iOS is “leaky.” There has been no remedy provided, even though the problem had been identified and reported several years ago.

“Deleting” system “apps” is now a questionable procedure. The “apps” do provide various APIs that enable certain features. However, the “app” must not be “deleted” for those functions to work. The problem with the Health “app” is that it is obviously still active even though it was “deleted.”

Notes recommends that any system “app” that charges for subscriptions or includes various forms of advertising should be “deleted.” And, inputting personal medical information in the Health “app” is definitely risky. Why would anyone do so?

Apple® anticipates a great future for the Health “app.” However, the usefulness of the “app” essentially requires the costly Watch device to be tethered to the iPhone. The data collected is then stored in the Health “app.” Why would anyone, except a hypochondriac, even submit to such an invasion of privacy?

The future of health monitoring on mobile devices is likely to be a “cash cow.” While there’s little reason to believe that Apple® would sell that data, there is a high probability that some form of anonymized targeted advertising will be introduced in the “app” down the line. No, thanks.

With Apple® introducing various new financial services to Pay, there is also some concern that the Wallet “app” will also become a source of anonymized targeted advertising. Unlike personal health data, personal finance information may actually end up being aggregated and sold. The Wallet “app” can also be considered a candidate for “deletion.” Overall, anything that can be monetized at the user’s expense should be mummified immediately.

(Product)^RED ... "pride" ... "woke" ... Tim Cook’s vision for Apple®. Pathetic, very pathetic. Very disappointing.

Addendum: Peter Wolinski at Tom’s Guide recently commented on the overhyped new feature: “There’s also the much-touted Dynamic Island, which, logically speaking, seems just a gimmick to distract from Apple’s self-consciousness in regards to front camera placement. There’s about as much actual point to it as James Corden’s PR manager. It isn't doing anything.”

Miscellany: Reasonable advice is to avoid any major dependency on “smartphones” or “smart” devices. There will be a day when those devices will betray their owners.