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<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:farmer.aj@gmail.com">farmer.aj@gmail.com</a> wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid92022f850601031909o73407906o7912153bf9960f10@mail.gmail.com" type="cite">
<pre wrap="">On 1/3/06, Stan - N0YXV <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:n0yxv@gihams.org"><n0yxv@gihams.org></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">As for the Urban Legend I'll leave that up to you all to figure out as to is
it...or isn't it... ;-)
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
.
However, I have been unable to verify the claims of "reporting your
location back to Microsoft", "popping up ads on your computer based on
your location", lack of a proper uninstall routine, etc. That part of
the e-mail I think is very suspect and very likely a hoax. If anyone
can definitely prove these statements, please do. But then again, why
are we wasting APRS SIG bandwidth with this non-APRS discussion?
</pre>
</blockquote>
1) As I mentioned in my initial post, many APRS users use this
program as an add-on to UIview or as a source of static maps (i.e.
screen caps) for other APRS programs. The updated 2006 version of
this program, whose data files can also be used as-is (without
installing the program) to update previous years versions of both
MapPoint (used by APRSpoint and by UIview via UIpoint) and
Streets&Trips (usable by UIview) just came out a month or two
ago. Many potential users haven't yet discovered the invasive nature
of the 2006 version of this otherwise excellent mapping application.
Given that APRS'ers are relatively heavy users of GPS/mapping products
of various types, I feel it is quite relevant to APRS. <br>
<br>
2) There have been numerous stories in the computer trade press
about a) Microsoft hyping "location-based services" as the next really
big thing", b) How Microsoft almost bought an adware/crapware pusher
outfit until adverse publicity in the trade press made them back down
and c) suddenly quit having MS AntiSpyware flag this particular system
parasite as questionable. And finally d) remember it was Microsoft
that bought out Vicinity/Mapblast (as part of their "location-based
services" buildup) and then cut off findu.com's use of the maps. <br>
<br>
3) I didn't claim it was CURRENTLY "popping up ads". Only that
this is the basic commercial premise of "location-based services". <br>
<br>
4) From my personal experience, I have seen the totally stealth
install, phony uninstall and other questionable behavior on SIX
different systems that I have installed Streets & Trips 2006
on. This is not an urban legend or email-propagated hoax. This is
first-hand personal observation on my part. <br>
<br>
5) The overwhelming questions remain: Why is Microsoft so
determined to force this thing onto systems without disclosing it or
offering it as an option in a "custom install"? And why doesn't the
uninstall really uninstall it????<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com <br>
EchoLink Node: 14400 [Think bottom of the 2M band]<br>
Home Page: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://wa8lmf.com">http://wa8lmf.com</a><br>
<br>
"APRS 101" Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/DigiPaths">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/DigiPaths</a> <br>
<br>
Updated APRS Symbol Chart <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/miscinfo/APRS_Symbol_Chart.pdf">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/miscinfo/APRS_Symbol_Chart.pdf</a> <br>
<br>
<br>
New/Updated "Rev G" APRS <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/aprs">http://webs.lanset.com/wa8lmf/aprs</a><br>
Symbols Set for UI-View, <br>
UIpoint and APRSplus:<br>
<br>
<br>
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