New York Times website harvests iPhone location data
The New York Times Company Research and Development Lab has developed its own tool to take advantage of location-tracking data that caused a kerfuffle when it was discovered that Apple was collecting said data. Although the issue has been resolved, the newspaper points out that regular people can benefit from the information as well as Apple.
OpenPaths is a database where anonymous users can contribute their personal location data by uploading it from their phones. The data is password-protected, and contributors can only reveal who they are when they grant access to research requests. Participants can browse their own data after it's uploaded.
If you're interested in joining the project, head over to the OpenPaths site to sign up. The site warns that the OS 4.3.3 update can disable access to the data that the site is looking for.
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The New York Times Company Research and Development Lab has developed its own tool to take advantage of location-tracking data that...
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I think this is pretty sweet technology, I want the option to leave it on! Check out the video I made of everywhere I've been (Sydney, Wollongong, Queenstown, Christchurch, Bangkok, Angkor Wat, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Boston, Philly, NYC, Cape Canveral, West Palm, and more!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc_bUwnsYUs
All I wonder is - what prompted the use of the word kerfluffle? Community perhaps?
May 05 2011 at 9:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLinkbait much?? I don't think an opt-in program requiring explicit user upload fits the description in your title.
May 05 2011 at 6:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI'm guessing the editor slept in today?
May 05 2011 at 6:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTotally irresponsible title. This site has become a joke.
May 05 2011 at 5:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYup, this site is losing its integrity daily...
Anyone have any suggestions for sites to replace this one?
Irresponsible title! Dump Megan Lavey and any editor that approved the title.
May 05 2011 at 6:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThere's also www.crowdflow.net by some regular geeks.
May 05 2011 at 5:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat a missleading title
May 05 2011 at 5:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAgreed. Here I was about to come and compliment the New York Times. They have done and excellent job with advertising, especially on mobile devices. (Like when you bump an ad, the ad goes dark, and in its place a dialog asks if you really want to view the ad, etc.) I was going to say, "Oh, I don't mind if they use my location to improve ads. I trust them more than Google."
Instead I have to come here and complain about this site. All it is now is recycled news (improperly cited btw), paid advertisement "reviews", and link bait. I get nothing out of visiting this site anymore. I guess the ONLY thing that keeps me coming back is the fact that I'm afraid I might miss something interesting. And because it is bookmarked in my Safari "Top Sites," which I have set as my homepage.*
*Update: WAS in my Safari "Top Sites"
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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