I'm sure the MAFIAA is oh so terrified of the protesters who after a day or so will get tired, go home, and watch a movie and listen to some music.

You know, what? I reckon the people behind AFACT are truly terrified of people getting tired, going home, and watching a movie and listening to some music that they've downloaded from a non AFACT site.

Google's aims in buying youtube were not just long term, but also wide/strategic.

Owning youtube puts them in a position where they get to decide what the next well supported steaming video codec will be. If they didn't have youtube, they would be in a position where Apple or Microsoft could lock them out of video ads - particularly on the mobile front.

Land fills smell nothing like a dumpster full of garbage. So you can't blame it only on the garbage content.

Perhaps there's a difference between a dumpster full of garbage and landfill site you haven't considered... like the length of time the garbage has been rotting.

(Then again, that's what Obama did)

I don't recall Obama saying he caused world peace.

Thanks for the clarification - I can't believe quite how wrong I had that.

I'd say if it was Belgium, rather than the Netherlands, then the language in question was Flemish.

Ok. You haven't figured out how to copy and paste that quote I gave you into google to find it?

Of course I did that - but the page I found, did not contradict my argument that Android apps have to ask to use the location API at install time. In fact the page I found said:

# Certain applications or features of your G1 device may cause other information to be sent to Google but in a fashion that cannot be identified with you personally.
# Your device may send us location information (for example, Cell ID or GPS information) that is not associated with your Account.

Ok. Think what you like idiot.

Wow - you're unable to argue coherently, unable to link to material backing your argument, say you're done with me (but you're going to reply again & again) - but I'm the idiot?

So, you're arguing the policy with me

No, I don't really care about the privacy policy, the one & only point I am arguing is that android apps must ask the user at installation if they want to use the location API.

No, I'm done.

Hahaha, the mating cry of the slashdot noob unable to find a link to backup their statements.

Yet you still have not mentioned who that gatekeeper is,

Wow, you just don't get it do you? The gatekeeper is not a who, but an it - it is the operating system's own security model that enforces it,

I already did. Google's published privacy policy. Check it out

Link pls.

Don't remember signing a contract for bread/beer/books either.

I don't remember signing a contract for a sim card last time I was in the UK.

Also, on a cost-per-gig basis you'd almost certainly have to negotiate for a reasonable price for a data plan that wasn't subject to a far-too-low "fair use" policy.

I am assuming a $x-per-GB rather than a bullshit limited 'unlimited' plan you typically get in the US.

What agreement do they have with the phone companies? Presumably they need a special licence to resell their bandwidth?

WTF? Do you need a special license to resell bread? Books? Beer? If you've paid for the bandwidth, why not resell it? Or waste it?

Don't need to. We're talking about what the respective privacy policies allow.

No, you do need to. The OP asserted that android apps didn't need to tell you if they were using the location API.

I said they do. You said only most apps need to tell you. This is patently untrue.

All android applications tell you on installation if they use the location API. If you have any evidence to the contrary, spit it out. Otherwise, STFU.

The Android Operating system tells you on installation.

Most of the time.

Most of the time? Can you give a concrete example of an instance where you are not told on installation that the application can read your location?

Who tells you that might be happening if you have an Android phone?

The Android Operating system tells you on installation.

Or if you install a browser that enables the geolocation services of HTML 5 on your PC?

Well, that browser is also an application - and android tells you on installation that it can access (amongst others), the following permission: "Your Location: coarse (network based) location, fine (GPS) location."

No one. They don't have to. They can't really, because there isn't a "gatekeeper" controlling it all.

Don't believe everything the iPhone fanboys tell you. The above statement is totally incorrect.

One thing Apple has, and nobody else does, is the ITMS (one stop shopping).

And android has the Android Market. The only difference is that you're not forced to sell your app through google if you don't wish to.