Apple has increased privacy protection in iOS 13, but this has caused developers dissatisfaction.

▲ Image from: Mac Rumor

In previous iOS, when the app popped up to get a geolocation request, the system displayed 3 options: always allowed, used during the application, never. In iOS 13, the “Always Allow” option is no longer provided when the request pops up, instead it is “Allow Once”, although the user can still enable “Always Allow” in the system’s privacy settings, but in the developer’s view, Deeper entrances and additional operational steps will undoubtedly affect the user’s physical examination.

Therefore, leaders of seven companies wrote a letter to Apple CEO Cook, according to The Information reports that the seven companies are as follows:

  • Tile – a company that produces tracking tools for small items such as wallets and keys
  • Arity – a technology company that detects driving risks
  • Life360 – a security tool to share your location with friends
  • Zenly-Snap’s real-time location sharing tool
  • Zendrive-a driving analysis company
  • Twenty – a social app for finding nearby friends
  • Happn – an appointment app

Obviously, the applications of these companies are highly dependent on geographic location information. They complained in the joint letter that this change may cause confusion to the user, thinking that the application has failed unless the user is “sufficiently smart” to change the privacy settings. There is no “Always Allow” in the default options. Zenly can only add description information to the post-installation boot page. It teaches the user how to manually open the option to always allow the location to be opened, which will cause inconvenience to the user and will also make the user It is clearer that these applications are always tracking them.

▲ Image from: Mac Rumor

These companies have proposed a compromise to Cook: restore the “Always Allow” option in the default menu, but it needs to be confirmed in two steps, so as to avoid user misuse and the steps are not too cumbersome, but for the time being It is not clear whether Apple will adopt this recommendation.

The letter also pointed out that Apple does not treat all applications equally. The system’s own applications, such as “Find My iPhone”, can obtain location information without user consent.

“These changes also have the added effect of eliminating critical locations, but Apple’s own apps are not limited, and some of them compete with the products we develop.”

The headache for these companies is not just the inconvenience of geolocation information. In iOS 13, Apple’s restrictions on the PushKit interface may also lead to many application re-adjustments.

PushKit was originally an interface for Apple’s communication tools such as WhatsApp to be able to answer VoIP settings while running in the background. While running in the background, these applications can also collect data, but Information indicates that Apple intends to be in iOS 13 Limiting the use of this interface, background access for VoIP-like applications will be limited to answering calls and not collecting data.

“We know that some developers, especially information applications, use this interface as a backdoor for collecting user data,” the letter said. “We also agree that such a vulnerability should be blocked, but Apple is currently removed ( The plan to access VoIP) has unintended consequences: it will actually shut down applications that have real-time location requirements.”

Apple has always attached importance to developers. The App Store is also the most important platform for most application vendors, but the two have never been a purely cooperative relationship. Every system and policy change is accompanied by a game and compromise. For example, one of the new features of iOS 13 is “Sign In with Apple”. According to our understanding, this feature was originally recommended by developers to Apple. For small and medium-sized developers, using the Apple account login system is a solution that saves time and troubles and optimizes the user experience, but for ambitious big companies, it is unacceptable to be blocked from user data.of.

It is convenient for small and medium-sized developers to stand in the opposite direction of big companies (of course, Apple also has its own abacus), which protects consumers’ privacy and offends developers. Apple is a middleman.

In response to the joint letter, an Apple spokesperson responded to The Information that Apple’s goal is to provide consumers with a secure App Store and a trusted source of applications, all of which are implemented for this purpose. But they are working with some companies on the joint letter to find a solution.

As for the “double standard” policy inside and outside of Apple mentioned in the joint letter, Apple explained that although system applications such as “Check My iPhone” do not require permission from the user, others are distributed through the App Store. The Apple app does not enjoy privileges on permissions.

The title map is from: The Verge< /a>