Comments on: iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App

By: Manju

Manju — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:04:45 +0000

Hello,I used flurry with location in my iPhone app,what is my idea is I have to show other users locations to this user,I know that data is available in analytics report , but my problem is how to get that information from my code , what to write in code for getting that reports. Thanks in advance.

By: SeaWolf

SeaWolf — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:44:45 +0000

As long as the app clearly declares that it will gather and transmit this information before it actually does it so that I can make an informed choice, then I’d be fine with that. Doing it in the background silently without informing the user is an invasion though.

Think of it another way, suppose you purchased a toaster and it somehow transmitted all this information back to the company without you knowing. Would you be ok with that? After all, you weren’t expecting it to do it and there was no indication that it was going to.

By: Walrus

Walrus — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:32:34 +0000

For all the people crying foul here I have two words for you: CAVEAT EMPTOR! You are under no obligation to install anything on your iPhone and if you do, you as the buyer, are responsible for the content on your phone. If you are a conspiracy theory nut then get rid of your phone. Simple. The “invasion of privacy” argument does not hold water in this case. You people need to loosen up!

By: naips

naips — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:40:31 +0000

If the code runs at ApplicationWillTerminate or such, does this mean the app takes slightly longer to quit after you press the button, or does it force quit the app and still manage to send everything off. I’d also like to know the accuracy of the GPS position. I would hope it is the least accurate setting in order to protect user privacy but also to get a quick fix??

By: TMonkey

TMonkey — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:35:53 +0000

Some people need to grow up. Spyware? Really this displaced paranoid view has got to end. If you use a cell phone period – the same information is shared, if you use digital cable, if you use a PVR it is making a data push. Analytics are no different than a focus group giving retailers an idea if their products are being viewed and if they are worth it. That’s how things get paid for – if you don’t like it go back to a rotary phone, turn off your TV and stay inside with your AdBusters magazine – this counter culture rant is getting old.

By: Top 10 iPhone Development Blogs | Freelancing and Outsourcing Tips, Commentary, Analysis, and News from oDesk

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:45:43 +0000

[...] The Apple Blog – Includes a few helpful tutorials, but mostly focuses on keeping you apprised of happenings in the world of Apple. Check out their walkthrough on Adding Analytics to your App. [...]

By: 0th3lo

0th3lo — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:02:12 +0000

Deaddude is right on the money too..

And ironically “The current state of this whole “analytics” is absolute criminal.” it actually is in the EU, Japan? comes to mind too.

Well great news for users, is thanks to the information age this issue just keeps rising in profile, eventually it will come to light and be legally tested.

In the meantime, enjoy the ever increasing angry userbase =)

Cheerio

By: iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App | IPhoneMate

iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App | IPhoneMate — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:25:20 +0000

[...] more here: iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App Share and [...]

By: Deaddude

Deaddude — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:09:50 +0000

I dont get how this is allowed!

You even say that this will make users mad AND make YOU responsible for users’ to go over on their cell phone plans!

There MUST be an opt-in, full disclosure, proper toggles, anonyminity, and benefits to the END USER.

This is criminal and deceptive. Go ahead and brag about similar methods/vendors. I’m banning those products and companies.

I could even understand something like this running on FIRST EVER running an app… But no more than the ONE time, with full disclosure up front. Some apps already do this.

What makes you think this isn’t invasion of privacy?

And if illegal installs is your argument, why not try innovating instead of abusing your customers?

Apple’s drm sucks, so why not use a one-time transmission to authorize your app on first run, complete with “Register Now” form to complete?

The current state of this whole “analytics” is absolute criminal.

1984, anyone?

By: iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App | IPhoneMate

iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App | IPhoneMate — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:31:06 +0000

[...] Here is the original post: iPhone Dev Sessions: Adding Analytics to Your App [...]

By: 0th3lo

0th3lo — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:22:00 +0000

SeaWolf is spot-on, further to his previous comments, I would like to add the following (ref : http://i-phone-home.blogspot.com/)

- Without consent, it is spyware

- UUID is far too unique and cannot be compared against tracking through a web browser. Pinchmedia have visibility across all Pinchmedia applications & tracking is consistent regardless of your location or connection, it is not anonymous tracking

- GeoIP on the web is only roughly accurate, at best sometimes it can get your rough city or suburb. Pinchmedia reports your location to 8 decimal places, do they need to know what side of the bed you sleep on?

- Pinchmedia runs at the application layer, the same layer that a web-browser runs already Pinchmedia stats involve information which has nothing to do with user metrics or usage, expect this to continue to be increasingly invasive

- Nobody said Google analytic’s or similar services aren’t spyware =) I don’t see the comparison of Vendor A does something bad VS Vendor B does something bad being relevant.

Apologies for the shameless cut’n'paste, I’m weary from analysing & outing pinch-media enabled applications =p

0th3lo

By: SeaWolf

SeaWolf — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:36:29 +0000

A few reasons. There’s a lot more identifiable info being taken here, stuff like your GPS position. This isn’t just gathering data about what browser you’re running. Secondly, it varies from country to country how much data over the phone network costs, but here in Aus it’s quite expensive and limited. Some plans even charge per connection. It’s one thing to have an app send of some data in amongst a lot of traffic, but Pinch Media gets used by some apps that have no reason to make a data connection at all.
For the record, Pinch Media gathers:
- iPhone’s unique ID
- iPhone Model
- OS Version
- Application version
- If the application is cracked/pirated
- If your iPhone is jailbroken
- time & date you start the application
- time & date you close the application
- your current latitude & longitude
- your gender (if app Facebook enabled)
- your birth month (if app Facebook enabled)
- your birth year (if app Facebook enabled)

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:54:06 +0000

Pretty much the entire internet works this way. How is this any different?

By: SeaWolf

SeaWolf — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:43:49 +0000

But it’s basically making your app into spyware. Unless you give the user the option to opt-in to this it’s going to go and report all kinds of data back to the mothership without the user ever knowing. I’d certainly be very reluctant to install anything I knew was using Pinch Media.

By: Greg Yardley

Greg Yardley — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:05:27 +0000

I haven’t done a feature comparison matrix lately, but Pinch Media offers many reports that I don’t believe are available from any other analytics provider, including jailbroken and cracked application reporting, unlimited custom action tracking, action duration measurements, demographic reporting and Facebook Connect integration, and our new audience lifecycle reporting, which shows audience retention over time.

The PInch Media demo is available at http://demo.pinchmedia.com.

By: Peter Farago

Peter Farago — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:46:05 +0000

Hi everyone – great blog write up and set-up walk through. I work for Flurry and our set-up is equally easy, and we believe we offer great reporting of the data collected, in addition to things no one else has, including “User Pats” that show you the order in which user complete actions inside your application. Before you set anything up, for any company, you can take a look at our demo, which shows a live application reporting data. This way you can know what you could get, before you go through the trouble integrating with any solution. Take a look. App Store Top Paid Games category from September 2008 through July 2009. http://flurry.com/demo/