Evernote has been through the wringer with its decision to add machine learning to its repertoire, effectively trying to pave the way to added services based on scanning the contents of users’ notes. Users were not happy, not least because Evernote made it opt-out. The settings looked like this: Evernote has now had a change … Read more
(Update: Uber say they are looking into it.) Buzzfeed says Privacy Advocates Want Uber To Stop Tracking Users After Rides End but Uber responds that “by offering the option of manually entering pick-up locations, the company is giving users a choice to be tracked or not.” It quotes Kurt Opsahl, deputy executive director and general counsel at … Read more
This an email from a bona fide airline: Dear Sir/Madam, Please be informed that your transaction with [international carrier] has been confirmed. Due to fraud prevention procedure against Credit Card transaction, we would like to validate your recent transaction with [international carrier] by filling information below : Passenger(s) name : Route :Date of Travel :Cardholder … Read more
A few pieces in the Facebook Experiment. I’m still mulling my view. Paul Bernal: The Facebook Experiment: the ‘why’ questions…: Perhaps Facebook will look a little bad for a little while – but the potential financial benefit from the new stream of advertising revenue, the ability to squeeze more money from a market that looks increasingly … Read more
A few years ago I wrote about sometimes your product is useful to people in ways you didn’t know—and that you’d be smart to recognise that and capitalize on itn (What Your Product Does You Might Not Know About, 2007). One of the examples I cited was ZoneAlarm, a very popular firewall that was bought … Read more