I'd also imagine that it's far easier to just go after the sources (whoever is allegedly forking over the data). Not to mention that it's probably much better organized at the source than in some sort of data dump format. Just a guess, though.

Tell me when the NSA, or the US in general pre-NSA, has ever endangered or compromised their encryptions? There surely is enough stories of how the CIA screwed up and stories like the FBI helping Whitey Bulger to continue murdering while he was an FBI informant.

Google Maps is the best as much for its maps acquisitions as it is the work they put into it.

If they do acquire it, it will because they see a use for Waze talent and tech.

>but I think overlooks the fact that much of this record keeping happened prior to the internet. Almost all public activity generates a paper trail, and before the internet, your phone company, bank, grocery store, even your VHS rentals and public library, were keeping records on you.

I think you would've had a very hard time tracking someone through these records.

As an NYer, tapping John Gotti was very traditional compared to the blanket tracking of US citizens that has been granted by FISA.

As for Schneier's link to the Atlantic's article, I think we're moving to a new era where we trust developers and not the popularity or the design of the app itself. I'm sure one will be tracked when you don't have to pay anything for it.

Real time tracking, yes. But during investigation, no. The intelligence agencies and police states weren't blind before the invention of the internet, or even digitization of records.

In some cases, organizations simply had to actively file reports with government agencies via snail mail when certain suspicious activity was encountered, sort of an active, HUMINT client-side filter.

Best examples are one-way ticket purchases, or cash transfers at banks over $5000, or Western Union telegrams, these were activity monitored via human labor and dead tree paperwork.

Certainly, current tablets are still too slow in keeping up with a stylus but I'm sure Apple would love to have their own stylus in the market considering they already have 3rd party accessories. The iPad's smart cover is very popular as is.

>I trust Google more to fight for privacy of my data against the government, than any of those organizations. After 9/11 AT&T practically rolled over for the US government. When a crime happens, the police can subpoena your email, but the reality is, they obtain your phone and financial records first.

I do commend Google for some of the good they have done but I think you are overselling Google way too much here when it comes to trust. They were a part of a trade group that backed CISPA. We shouldn't forget either the numerous privacy issues that Google has had. The last one was getting fined for bypassing Safari privacy settings.

While you have also mentioned many companies, some fairly and unfairly, Google has services that are aiming to compete against all of them in an attempt to gather all the information they can. Google isn't "evil" in this regard but I don't think anyone believes that one company having their fingers in so many pots is a good thing for user privacy or the internet in general.

It's a short term issue. When I mean short term it could last at least 20 years.

I earnestly believe that society is trying to find boundaries but technology is updating far faster than a democracy can change the rules.

I live in the cloud now for the reasons like many do: price and features. As much as I want to follow the principles that you have set forth, Drobos and quality hard drives are expensive when I can rely on Evernote, iCloud, Everpix and Vimeo for securing my data at a far cheaper price and less problems.

Sony had more than one problem. The biggest problem is their brand name has suffered for years with lackluster and not very well-thought out products.

They're starting to turn it around but it may be too late - much like Nokia and HTC.

I'd prefer the box. It's cheaper to replace than a TV which would allow me to upgrade the hardware more frequently for new features. The new Xbox has shown that a box can take over typical functional like the channel guide and changing stations.

What we need are better protocols to integrate boxes into the TV. HDMI CEC goes a bit (maps TV remote arrow keys etc), but to make boxes usable for normal people we need stuff like automatically renaming "HDMI1" to "Roku box".

I don't think the price is unreasonable. This is the going rate that other sites like SmugMug offer. While most offer unlimited storage, they lack the community aspect of Flickr. I look at it as supporting a site you love to use while opting out of ads and possibly ad tracking as well.

>Meanwhile, what's the last yahoo acquisition that didn't turn into disappointment soon after the acquisition?

One could argue that that the last acquisition that worked out was the acquisition of Stamped. Something tells me they were behind the new Yahoo! Weather iPhone app which is stellar.