U.S. Can Tap Your BlackBerry

August 5, 2010 - Today's most interesting stories in technology, media and entertainment:

U.S. Can Tap Your BlackBerry: U.S. authorities have the ability to tap communications made from BlackBerry devices, which is the same surveillance that The UAE and Saudi Arabia are requesting. Research In Motion, the company who makes BlackBerry, is the only smartphone manufacturer who controls the messaging from their devices. Other smartphone makers, like Apple, leave data control in the hands of wireless carriers or customers. RIM fears that UAE officials could abuse user data, if given access.

Android is #1: Google's Android smartphones have taken the top spot in U.S. market share. Android smartphones account for 33 percent of the market, second is Research In Motion with 28 percent and Apple comes in third with 22 percent of the market. This is the first time since 2007 that RIM has not been number one. Will the BlackBerry Torch help RIM find it's way back to the top?

[x+1] Knows Who You Are: A company called [x+1] Inc. knows almost everything about you. With data from [x+1], companies like Capital One can instantly decide which credit card offer to show you when you visit their website. They may not know your name, but [x+1]'s vast database contains information from various tracking technologies across the web, to help paint an extremely clear picture of who you are.

Goodbye Google Wave: Google announced that Google Wave, the real-time messaging platform, will not be developed any further. Launched in May 2009, the service has found many enthusiasts but hasn't seen the mainstream adoption Google had hoped for. Google Wave will remain available for now, but could be taken down at a later date.

Today's Video -- Shelly Talks About Email Marketing Tips

 

Follow Shelly Palmer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@shelly_palmer

Comments

[thedisconnected]

06:32 AM on 08/09/2010

What's new is biased journalists like Shelly Palmer (proxied through even less intelligent people at Reuters) who try and apply age old concepts like wiretapping to be equivalent to breaking military grade encryption.

Not to mention RIM is a Canadian company and has nothing to gain by the traditional greedy American business tactics and politics you are referencing below.

[Aikaterina]

11:11 AM on 08/06/2010

Wiretapping has been done, illegally, for years, and most folks are aware that cell phones, dependent on satellite transmissions, we "open" for surveillance since they went on the market. So-called encryption does not mean any more security, since our telecoms give it to the government, in exchange for contracts, protection from lawsuits, anti-trust laws and legislation designed to create legal and tax loopholes, or political favors, etc.

Promotional discounts offered by retailers (club memberships) are used to keep data on consumer's purchases, methods of payment, etc.
Libraries keep records of books borrowed, video rentals, financial transactions (ATM's, credit cards, deposits/withdrawals, transfers, on-line payments) are monitored.
Phone calls from land lines, in private homes, emails, web sites visited, and internet activity is overseen.
Even some medical information (prescriptions, lab work, doctors) used for billing or filing insurance claims are kept.

While some private entities, retailers, telecoms, insurers, clubs claim this information is kept private, all data is stored, sold to advertisers-marketers, prospective employers, credit agencies-bureaus, and the government routinely.

There's no privacy left for anyone, and no accountability for breeches, unauthorized intrusions, or law-breaking on the part of those who abuse or prolifer personal information for profit.

So, what's new???