Amazon's A9 Drops Retained Data Methods 94
eldavojohn writes "The recent update to Amazon's A9 service has removed its ability to record searches. A9 (which now uses Windows Live & Alexa) used to tout the ability to save every single search the user made, which required a login. Now, they no longer require you to log in and have dropped the recording of searches from their toolbar. What they added was aesthetic changes to the search site. What they dropped was the A9 Instant Reward, the A9 Toolbar, the A9 Yellow Pages, the A9 Maps (including Block View), the user diary, bookmarks, and history. Although they claim that A9 is merely 'shifting its priorities to areas where it can provide the greatest benefit for customers,' this smacks of a move to avoid the ethical controversies and pressures that come with retaining your user data. What does the rest of Slashdot think about retaining search data? Is it a liability or an asset?"
Asset, under certain circumstances. (Score:4, Interesting)
The only but in that statement is that I don't want them to retain search- or private data under two circumstances:
1) If the search data affects the answers given in future searches
2) If it results in spam or theft of any kind
Now, providing it's securely stored, doesn't affect answers to future queries and helps them enhance their services, I really don't mind.
And If the Government Asks? (Score:3, Interesting)
If it's the user's choice, that simplifies things but also complicates the end-user experience. In our world of "auto-magical" applications, ease of use is high on the requirements charts. However, this is also the only true solution I can come to. If you had to click a EULA that said, "The government may acquire this stored information for prosecution
Re:It just goes to show.. (Score:4, Interesting)
It should be the consumer's choice (Score:3, Interesting)
Slashdot gives me the option of posting and submitting stories under my user-id or anonymously. Everyone knows that I, davidwr, posted this message at the time indicated above. Any paying subscriber can look up "davidwr" any time in the future and see all the messages I posted. If I wanted to be private, I could be "Anonymous Coward."
I avoid newspaper sites tha require a login because I want to eliminate the possibility they will tie what I read today with what I read tomorrow.
A shame to lose A9 Maps (Score:3, Interesting)
It's a shame to lose A9 maps, the block view was a very useful feature. Google Map's integration of satellite photos is impressive but lets face it, most of us view the world from the ground not the from the sky, so the block view is helpful for seeing what your destination looks like. Unfortunately, they only got around to photographing the downtown core of a handful of major US cities.
Re:Asset, under certain circumstances. (Score:2, Interesting)
That is OK with me. I don't commit crimes. Misdemeanors in the realm of speeding, smoking where I shouldn't and taking a leak against a tree aside, I am pretty much squeaky clean. The government can definately look through my google search history.
For the past 48 hours they will learn where to find bronze ore in MapleStory, they will learn I bought a Denon 1906 DTS 7:1 Receiver at a decent price, and they will learn quite a bit about the Wharfedale 3-way speakers I am currently looking at. Lastly, they will also find out I have looked at some movie reviews on IMDB.
The absolute worse they can find out if they look at my complete history is that I have a healthy interest in sex-toys. What can I say? I bleed red and last time I checked, that was still legal....
Re:It just goes to show.. (Score:4, Interesting)
1.5% may not be much, but it takes so little effort that it is worth it.
I just checked and the pi/2 discount is still in effect, so I'm not sure if that actually is going away or if they just aren't promoting it any more.
Re:Depends... (Score:3, Interesting)
I have a feeling Amazon was less worried about "abuse" of its retained data by authorities than it was profits. I have a feeling they thought the data they were retaining could be mined for profit - when they found out storing the data was more costly than the money they could make from it, they dropped it.
One way to make sure extra storage isn't costing money is to not have it around.