this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2025
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[–] MisterMoo@lemmy.world 127 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Why does Apple even let apps read my phone model and battery level?

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 32 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Because they pay apple? I'd imagine that's obvious. It's more useful metrics for the developer. I would be surprised if they didn't tier the information access about users behind closed doors.

Android's not perfect, but at least permissions can be set per app, you can root your device, or install GrapheneOS or Lineage to bypass this crap entirely.

[–] bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I'd rather the ability to fudge these stats to developers, cause my info is none of their damn business when I'm paying for a service.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That can be done on android and other operating systems. Apple is always the SOL option when it comes to dodging this crap.

[–] bobs_monkey@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I know it's in there somewhere, it's the time sink of yet another rabbit hole of searching and research. I'm tired boss.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago

The future is now, old man. Been dealing with this my entire life.

[–] phx@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

some permissions can be set per app. I'm not sure battery level is one of those and I have apps (i.e. homeassistant) which can read thatwithout me actually having explicitly allowed it. Usually it's stuff one pictures/files, location, camera or health data that are restricted

[–] Katana314@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

In a way I think that expectation should be normal. What really shouldn't be normal is for everything to be an app, and not a website.

Windows Phone almost got this right - trying to focus more on HTML5 Manifest features and better browser/pinning integration, so that a company like Lyft can offer its full feature set through a website that works on all phones. Then, we could rely on the fact that we only need install a few apps that we trust.

[–] yonderbarn@lazysoci.al 1 points 1 month ago

Last I checked Uber can be used from the browser. Not the most user friendly though

[–] pineapple_pizza@lemmy.dexlit.xyz 80 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's just evil. Next they're going to look into your calendar to see if you're running late.

[–] Coldcell@sh.itjust.works 27 points 1 month ago

No, next they're going to reveal they've been mining your calendar data this whole time after a data breach forces them to admit it.

[–] barfplanet@lemmy.world 46 points 1 month ago (2 children)

If Lyft and Uber are doing this then I genuinely applaud them. That's astounding ingenuity in screwing over their customers. True innovators.

[–] BigDiction@lemmy.world 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The people making the big bucks in Silicon Valley are often the people really good at understanding psychology and manipulating people’s behavior.

I honestly would have never thought of this either. I’m one of those traditional losers who thinks providing a good value/service at a sustainable margin is a good way to run a business.

[–] piranhaconda@mander.xyz 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Good way to run a long term business, sure. Good way to win at capitalism, no.

[–] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 21 points 1 month ago

Meh. Facebook serves beauty ads to female teens that recently deleted selfies.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 45 points 1 month ago (1 children)

May? That already sounds like it’s illegal.

[–] defaultusername@lemmy.dbzer0.com 35 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Laws only apply to people who have under $10m.

[–] Atropos@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Easy! I haven't gone out for coffee for a couple of years now, so I should definitely....

Checks bank account

Oh no

[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I'll be damned if I'm cutting back on avocado toast

[–] kimara@sopuli.xyz 41 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The article doesn't say they do this. It says: "In theory, a service could charge you more if you're on a vacation in a foreign country, instead of your hometown, because they know you would be willing to pay more. It would be the same if your phone's battery is low and you're trying to get home."

A really bad headline, but not surprising I guess.

[–] blargh513@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago

Its called clickbait and Jalopnik is a piece of shit site anyway.

[–] CobraChicken3000@lemmy.ca 24 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's a thing? Can they also tell that I'm in a shady neighborhood?

[–] JustARegularNerd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I mean, they absolutely could and it would be absolutely trivial to compare a database of crime rates to your departure location. The question should really be "Are they checking if I'm in a shady neighborhood?"

[–] dumples@midwest.social 2 points 1 month ago

Don't even need to compare. Just putting something like zip-9 / location into a machine learning model and it will do it for you. Just using advanced models to reinforce redlining

[–] xodoh74984@lemmy.world 18 points 1 month ago
if battery < 10:
  price = price * 2

Many AI. Much wow.

[–] pharceface@retrolemmy.com 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I never even considered that this was being done. Thankfully I rarely use those services.

[–] Glitterbomb@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Uninstalled uber last week when it told me to take a photo of my ID to ride. Next week I'll hear about some Brazilian hacker that has 100 million US IDs from an uber leak. No thanks. Lyft will probably do the same thing soon, and I'll unceremoniously dump their ass too.

[–] lemmyknow@lemmy.today 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Klear@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

🎵 Where hearts were entertaining June 🎶

they should stop at 'from' and just ban them completely

[–] yonderbarn@lazysoci.al 5 points 1 month ago

I've stopped using both soon after the pandemic. I can call a taxi if I really need it.

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Look, does it really matter whether they do or not? If a company is morally bankrupt enough to conduct business like this in the first place, it's a certainty they'll just find some other novel way to be flaming assholes.

If you don't want to get cheated, stop doing business with thieves and liars.

[–] MurrayL@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Personally, I’d rather have a robust and up-to-date set of consumer protections rather than leaving everything up to ‘buyer beware’.

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk -2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

That would be ideal of course, but this is the US we're talking about, so it seems unlikely that you'll have them.

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They should just lie down and give up then I guess?

Just transfer every cent they own into the hands of the Trumps/Musks/Cooks/Zuckerbergs/Bezos/Pichais of the world and get it over with, why bother trying?

[–] xxce2AAb@feddit.dk 2 points 1 month ago

I'm suggesting they should refuse to use the services of companies that act like this.

[–] SpacetimeMachine@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

It also seems unlikely that you'll find any businesses who aren't being liars and cheats here.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Did they ban AI from using commas in post subjects?

[–] FishFace@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Did they ban AI from using proper titling case?

The answer is no, and this may be one way in which AI should be allowed to displace humans Who Write Titles By Capitalising Every Word Even The Ones Which Should Not Be.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

I learned how to title in elementary school, because, ya know, it's pretty damned elementary.