Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 16th Jan 2013 23:40 UTC
Pokki is a start menu replacement for Windows - and it has already been downloaded 1.5 million times for Windows 8. "Since the launch of Windows 8, we've seen over 1.5 million Pokki downloads on the new OS itself and users opening the Pokki Menu an average of 10 times a day. These early numbers demonstrate that users enjoy being able to instantly access and discover apps, straight from the desktop." And this is just one of the countless replacements. Microsoft should've never kept the traditional desktop in there - they've given users the ability to escape Metro, and this will only hurt the new environment.
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RE: Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?
by Morgan on Thu 17th Jan 2013 14:19
in reply to "Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?"
Member since:2005-06-29
I haven't installed Pokki as I don't run Windows 8 (I have a licensed copy of 8 Pro but I have yet to find the desire to install it), so I have no idea if it has an opt-in/opt-out for collecting usage data.
If it declares the data collection policy and gives an option to turn it on or off, that would be fine. A lot of software out there does that. However, if it's collecting the data without notifying the user or giving them the option to turn it off, it's spyware.
RE[2]: Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?
by karunko on Thu 17th Jan 2013 14:47
in reply to "RE: Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?"
Member since:2008-10-28
However, if it's collecting the data without notifying the user or giving them the option to turn it off, it's spyware.
It's explained in no uncertain terms in section 2.a of their Privacy Policy at http://cdn.pokki.com/licenses/v2.0.2/privacy-policy.html but how many people actually read that stuff rather than, you know, just click through in order to to get past whatever is displayed on the screen as quickly as possible? ;-)
RT.
RE: Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?
by r_a_trip on Thu 17th Jan 2013 14:27
in reply to "Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?"
Member since:2005-07-06
RE: Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?
by BushLin on Sat 19th Jan 2013 04:01
in reply to "Is this Start Menu replacement spying on users?"
Member since:2011-01-26
Yeah, I was thinking the exact same thing.
I would have thought they'd be more savvy than to brag about the user data they're raping but as most people don't care about privacy unless the implications are spelt out they know there's next to no harm to them in grabbing usage data (for our benefit of course).
Outgoing firewalls have never been so busy.
Features
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Member since:
2008-10-28
I won't say anything about Windows 8 (except that I find it okay even though it's not my main OS) but didn't anyone find this part a bit worrisome?
"users opening the Pokki Menu an average of 10 times a day"
Call me a pessimist, but if even something as trivial as a Start Menu replacement needs to "collect usage information" it can only mean one thing: spying on users is becoming the new normal.
RT.