Looking for a tablet

[irlandais9000]

I'm considering buying a tablet, whether it's Nook, Kindle, iPad, Google, or other. The problem is, they all seem to collect information about pretty much everything you do on your tablet.

I do realize that on the PC, your information is collected as well, but the level of privacy on a tablet seems much lower. My question is, is there any level of privacy possible on a tablet? If so, what are the pluses and minuses of different models? Thanks for your input.

 

[le.broke.gear]

Can you elaborate a bit more on your privacy concerns on tablets?
What are your requirements in terms of privacy?
Are you simply looking to have the internet browser history/cookies/passwords/cache cleared when you close the browser?
Do you want to stop Google Location services from automatically detecting your current location?
Do you want to prevent the FBI from spying on you?

Your question is very vague and open to interpretation.
Give us a bit more detail on what exactly you're looking for and we can narrow down your search... otherwise it's going to be a crapshoot.

 

[checks]

I'm considering buying a tablet, whether it's Nook, Kindle, iPad, Google, or other. The problem is, they all seem to collect information about pretty much everything you do on your tablet.

I do realize that on the PC, your information is collected as well, but the level of privacy on a tablet seems much lower. My question is, is there any level of privacy possible on a tablet? If so, what are the pluses and minuses of different models? Thanks for your input.

If you plan on using any kind of online service, then No, it is not possible. Apple and Google services all collect information. I used to care, but I really don't anymore. So they know what I listen to, what movies I watch, and if they want to read my email will realize that I'm not a very exciting person. But i'm getting some pretty good services for free. I can upload 20000 songs to Google Music. Plus, several gigs can be stored on my google drive. Again, all for free. (Yes, subsidized by advertising dollars) Having said all that, if you are determined to try and keep you data private, you'll have better luck on an Android system. You can at least edit system files to try and block ads, and have control over the OS itself. Not sure if that is possible on iOS.

If I was in the market for a tablet (I might be in the next few months...) I'd get the Google Nexus 10. Open source software, fully customizable, high definition display. Can play any media format you throw at it. Software comes directly from Google, so you don't have shitty manufacturer bloatware installed by Samsung or Asus. Cons: expensive, no sdcard slot.

 

[Spuds]

Get a blackberry PlayBook. The 32G is now about $150. I love mine. (16G) and that's plenty but would buy the 32G now if needed. I've used it and the ipad..PlayBook is better for security etc. Ipad for apps...if you want a toy and don't mind big brother watching the ipad is good. But the more I use ipads, ipods etc. The more retrictions I find.
Now before every techno geek climbs on the blackberry haters wagon.....this just my opinion based on daily business use. I'm not into playing games for hours on end even though there are a couple on app world I like.

I also like the tethering ability. There are some things that could be better such as app world being available only through wifi, but that's a minor inconvenience....and it comes with word, and excel.......

 

[irlandais9000]

Can you elaborate a bit more on your privacy concerns on tablets?
What are your requirements in terms of privacy?
Are you simply looking to have the internet browser history/cookies/passwords/cache cleared when you close the browser?

To be more specific, it seems that the privacy policies for tablets give blanket authority for them to record everything you do, everywhere you go, and everything you write. I understand that websites already can track you, but it seems to be that on a desktop you at least have more relative control - for example, deleting history and cookies after visiting website A will usually stop website A from knowing everything you do on website B.

With tablets, on the other hand, it seems it is easy for your tablet manufacturer to have continuous monitoring, and they claim that right whether or not you delete information. Am I incorrect about this? Or is security and privacy such a lost cause now, that tablet or desktop, it doesn't really matter?

Thank you all for your comments.

 

[irlandais9000]

Get a blackberry PlayBook.

Are you restricted to Blackberry apps only? Is it good for reading books?

 

[le.broke.gear]

To be more specific, it seems that the privacy policies for tablets give blanket authority for them to record everything you do, everywhere you go, and everything you write. I understand that websites already can track you, but it seems to be that on a desktop you at least have more relative control - for example, deleting history and cookies after visiting website A will usually stop website A from knowing everything you do on website B.

With tablets, on the other hand, it seems it is easy for your tablet manufacturer to have continuous monitoring, and they claim that right whether or not you delete information. Am I incorrect about this? Or is security and privacy such a lost cause now, that tablet or desktop, it doesn't really matter?

Thank you all for your comments.

Incognito browsing on the Chrome Browser will delete all your history/cookies/cache after it is closed. Mind you that some sites won't work properly when using incognito mode. There is also a setting in Google Chrome to remove all history/cookies/cache in the regular, non-incognito mode.

Often times, people will get mixed up between privacy and predictive algorithms (ie - predictive text, finding your closest coffee shop based on location). Autofill of blank fields (such as name, address, email, etc) and saving of password would be closer to privacy, but all this can still be disabled via browsers.

I have not had much experience with the Blackberry OS or iOS for that matter of fact, but I do own the Galaxy Nexus 7 (7 inch Google Tablet). It does have the option to disable location services (automatically detect your current location) and internet search history. Of course, how much of the actual information is stored/deleted, we will never know.

 

[irlandais9000]

This, for example, is something that would concern me, a from the Nook tablet's privacy policy:

Without limitation, we will collect, use and/or disclose information regarding you and your use of your NOOK and the Service in order to: (i) provide the Service to you; (ii) permit you to engage in activities that you initiate through the Service, such as purchasing Digital Content and reviewing products; and (iii) analyze, operate, support, maintain and improve your NOOK or the Service. We reserve the right to make changes to our Privacy Policy at any time






Is this typical?

 

[le.broke.gear]

Yup... it's hard to avoid. They use it mainly as a way to "improve service", which basically means, they're going to suggest certain items to you based on past browsing history/searches.

 

[checks]

If you are strictly looking for an ebook reader, how about a Sony Reader? You can install the application called Calibre on your pc and manage all ebooks with that. You won't have to use Sony software to manage what goes onto the device, and your privacy concerns should be satisfied. Of course, all you can do with it is read books, but isn't that what a Nook is as well?

 

[irlandais9000]

The latest Nook is a more functional tablet, not just an ereader anymore. But thanks for your tips, and thanks to everyone else as well.