Ever had the feeling that you were being watched? Well if you own an iPhone there is a chance that you may have been. A recent New York Times report has shown that Uber tracked users’ iPhones, even after the app was deleted.
Uber exploited a loophole in Apple’s system that allowed them to pinpoint individual phones . This culminated in a meeting between Travis Kalanick and Tim Cook. The Apple boss threatened to pull the app from the apple store unless Uber ceased tracking its users. Losing access to the App Store would have crippled the ride sharing giant.
How did they do it?
Uber tracked users by inserting code into their app that allowed them to identify phones that deleted the Uber app and then subsequently re-installed it. The tracking relied upon a technique called “fingerprinting” that let Uber identify a phone. They then kept this information and looked for phones that re-installed the app at a later date. Using this method Uber was able to identify an individual phone even it had been wiped clean because the “fingerprint” is persistent.
While Apple originally used Unique Device Identifiers, an ID that persisted across installs, they were phased out as consumers became more concerned about privacy. Apple has replaced these with other trackers, such as advertising IDs and Vendor IDs. None of these replacements persists across devices. So what identifier was Uber using if not UDIDs?
According to Will Strafach of the Sudo Security group; Uber secretly included code in their App that allowed them to grab information from a device’s directory that they would normally be unable to access. This allowed them to ascertain a device’s serial number, which would persist across installs, even if the phone was completely wiped. This then gave Uber a unique identifier with which to track phones, even if their app was removed or the phone was formatted.
Uber claimed that it was necessary for them to track users in order to combat fraud. It prevented a practice where drivers would register themselves on multiple phones and request large numbers of expensive rides in order to boost their bonuses.
Why was Apple angry?
The move was a blatant violation of Apple’s privacy policies and at no point where users explicitly informed that their phones information was being collected in this manner. To make matters worse, it appears that Uber was fully aware they were breaching Apples terms. Uber software engineers took steps to hide the subterfuge by Geo-fencing Apples Cupertino headquarters.
The trick was eventually spotted by Apple engineers from another office which culminated in Mr Cook summoning Mr Kalanick to the meeting. Apples threat was very real, if they had pulled Uber’s app from their store it would have crippled and likely destroyed the ride sharing company.
While Uber agreed to stop the practice they do still use some form of fingerprinting in order to combat fraud but stress that they do not track individual users or their locations if they have deleted the ap.
What does this mean for Uber?
This is just the latest in a string of scandals for the embattled ride sharing giant. They have lost numerous execs, been kicked out of Italy and are embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal. While Uber will likely escape from these revelations mostly unscathed it is the last thing the company needs at this point. Consumers have become more concerned about their privacy in recent years and the news that Uber tracked users will likely damage their confidence.
The fact that Uber almost lost access to Apple’s App store further highlights that Mr Kalanick is willing to ignore any rules if he believes it will help him win. Even if he risks destroying his company’s future.
Google has recently used CES as a platform to present its philosophy of “Better Together,” the notion that all devices should get along with one another. Typically, this entails making announcements regarding new Cast compatibility and features like Fast Pair. The business revealed that it is collaborating with Spotify to incorporate the Connect streaming capability into the Android UI at CES 2023. Additionally, it showed a sneak peek at an audio handoff tool that would recommend various devices to shift your music to based on your preferences and location.
However, CES is a significant vehicle event, and Google also sells items for cars. Additionally, it said today that the Polestar 3 would receive its higher-resolution maps, and it debuted the most recent Android Auto user interface for the first time since it was revealed at I/O 2022.
Two vehicles, a Volvo EX90 with Google preinstalled and a BMW i7 with the new Android Auto experience, were at the Google stand in the trailer lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center. We had never seen the Volvo before, and we’ll be posting a separate hands-on on that experience shortly. The new Android Auto is the main topic of this article and video.
The redesigned interface will support larger screen sizes and have a split screen layout, as we discovered at I/O. Google has eliminated the status bar and inserted a row of shortcut keys below it, along with some indication icons in a small area to the top left. When we were in the car, the Spotify app was located on the left panel, and we could access a list of suggested playlists by swiping in from the right side.
Alerts that you won’t have time to respond to while driving are likewise stored in this left pane. For instance, you can swipe right on a notification to move it to the dock, where it will wait until you’re ready to deal with it.
Check out the video up top for more of our experience with the updated Android Auto in the BMW i7! And be sure to pay attention this week as there will be a ton of news at CES 2023.
iOS
Apple Mini-LED Display Supplier Reports Decreasing Demand As Rumors Suggest a Switch to OLED in the Next Few Years
One of Apple’s top mini-LED suppliers claims that while the company plans to switch to OLED displays for its iPad and MacBook line in the upcoming years, demand for displays in consumer products is declining while demand for mini-LED in other applications is increasing.
According to a recent report from DigiTimes, the demand for mini-LED displays for consumer electronics devices is declining, but it is anticipated that demand for mini-LED displays for dashboards and vehicle displays will increase in 2023. Epistar, which has been supplying mini-LED displays to Apple for some time, is one company that has made this claim.
The creation of particular kinds of OLED screens that Apple intends to utilize in next iPad Pro models, according to a report published last week, is now Samsung’s top priority. The first iPad Pro with an OLED panel, which Apple is rumored to introduce in 2024, has prompted mini-LED vendors to consider alternate applications for their screens, according to DigiTimes.
In 2024, Apple is also expected to release a 13-inch MacBook Air with an OLED display in addition to an OLED iPad Pro. According to reputable display analyst Ross Young, Apple is exploring adopting an OLED panel in a planned update to the iPhone SE but is torn between employing an LCD or OLED display.
In an effort to assist customers get the most out of their devices and teach new iPhone users some features and tips they may not have previously known about, Apple recently provided ten helpful tips and techniques for iPhone users.
Apple revealed ten tips and techniques for the new features in iOS 16 in a video on its Apple Support channel, including the ability to choose and lift subjects out of images and the newly revamped and customisable Lock Screen. As people get used to their new iPhones, the short film, which is barely six minutes long, was posted on Christmas Day.
- If you tap and hold on a subject inside of a photo in the Photos app on iOS 16, you can lift the subject from the photo and place it into another app.
- The new Lock Screen on iOS 16 allows users to customize different elements, including the color and style of the time and date, add widgets, and more.
- Within Settings -> Wi-Fi, you can select a saved Wi-Fi access point to discover and copy and paste its password.
- If you often write the same thing time and time again, such as your email or address, you can create a text replacement within Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> Text Replacement.
- If you’re running low on battery or want to save some battery life when you won’t have access to a charger, you can add the Low Power Mode toggle to Control Center for easy access. Head into Settings -> Control Center and add it to the list of Included Controls.
- If you want to share or move multiple photos into another app, simply tap and hold on a photo, move it away, and proceed to tap on the other photos. You’ll then be able to drag and drop all of the photos into other apps or places in iOS.
- If you want to quickly open the camera, tap and hold on the Camera shortcut in the bottom right-hand corner of your iPhone’s Lock Screen.
- With iOS 15 and later, you can now use Live Text to automatically translate text in the camera app or inside of a photo. In the camera app, point the camera to some text and tap on the Live Text that appears in the right-hand corner, then select translate in the options shown. This can also work for photos already taken in the Photos app.
- Using the Notes app, you can easily scan a piece of paper and create a digital copy of it. The Notes app will automatically properly crop and edit the image so the document appears legible with no glare.
- If you’re curious about what your first photo is in your photo library, you can easily discover it with one tap. In the Photos app, simply tap on the top edge of your iPhone to jump to the first photo in any specific library, album, or search result.
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