Pissed at MixZing right now

[A.Nonymous]

So I'm still looking for a decent media player to replace bTunes on my DInc since it appears the developer has abandoned the app. One of the apps I looked at was MixZing. I then found out that the app is sending some sort of information about my library back to their server. I don't know what information is being sent or why exactly so I figured I would ask. I presume it's sending information so it can generate recommendations for me, but if I turned that feature off I presume this player is just as private as any other player. But then I out this isn't the case and that it's still sending information to their server. So I ask them what information is being sent and for what purpose. I ask if I turn off recommendations do they still collect information and if so what information and for what purpose.

To me this seems to be a fair enough question. If I'm supposed to pay $7 for an app that's going to collect information about me I should be entitled to know what info is being collected and why. I can then decide if the developer has a reasonable reason to collect said information and if I'm comfortable with them having it.

The developer responds, "We track changes to your library (songs/playlists added/deleted) so that we can keep in sync with it." Now this makes no sense to me. Why does their server need to keep in sync with my library? It's not like I have access to my library from anywhere in the world through their server. So I ask again, "If I turn off music recommendations, does that information still get sent? If so, why?"

I get this extremely pissy response from the developer that says, "As I said we need to keep track of your library so that we can perform the various functions of the player. If you don't want that information being sent to our server then just uninstall the app."

I'm sorry, but the app is supposed to play music. You don't need to collect information for that. If they're collecting information so they can generate recommendations for other people, then why not just say that? The fact that the developer a) won't say exactly what information is being collected by this $7 app and b) won't say why they're collecting this information concerns me. Toss in that the developer gets pissy about it when you just ask what specific information is being collect and what it's being used for and I'm never going to use this app again.

I like the app all other things being equal, but a $7 app that's collecting data about me and a developer who refuses to disclose what data is being collected and tells you to just uninstall the app if you don't like it pisses me off beyond belief. No one should ever buy this app. It basically spies on you and charges you for that privilege.

 

[Nowherefast]

Yikes....and I was really starting to like this app....but now...hearing this....I'm not so sure...time to start trying out some new music apps...I had 3 (cube) a while back, but it had some issues...I guess I'll try it again and see how it goes...thanks for the informative post

 

[othgar]

Glad I didn't buy it! I'm using PlayerPro which seems good so far. Might want to try it.

 

[ItalianHunk]

Thank You! I've been using it for about a week and actually like it. The next step was for me to buy it but now I'm uninstalling it. With customer service like that, they won't keep my business.....

To me, it's not how good a product is. It's how good the customer service is.....

EDIT: I'll try that PlayerPro.

 

[ItalianHunk]

Glad I didn't buy it! I'm using PlayerPro which seems good so far. Might want to try it.

Is that the one by Social Soft?

 

[RichSz]

I don't suffer from privacy paranoia, but I don't like the idea of a developer grabbing random information from me without a decent explanation. I've uninstalled MixZing.

I realize a lot of apps do this. I figure all I can do is get rid of the ones I know about. Thanks for the info. I hope the MixZing folks lose the crappy attitude and learn something from this.

 

[mauiblue]

MixZing is one app I use practically everyday. Great interface and I like how it works. I don't mind if they look at what I listen to. I think many of the apps on the Market does collect info from the user. Some apps even require the GPS function of your phone to be turned on (weather, geocaching, etc).

 

[CirkDroid]

You should mind. Sending that data consumes your battery. If you turn off the service, it shouldn't be sent. End of story.

I've been in email communication with the developer before, and frankly I've found him to be a pompous jerk. It's the most expensive player on the market, and let's be honest, the only reason why it exists is because the default android player is lacking.

But just because it's the most expensive, does not make it the best.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I don't suffer from privacy paranoia, but I don't like the idea of a developer grabbing random information from me without a decent explanation. I've uninstalled MixZing.

I realize a lot of apps do this. I figure all I can do is get rid of the ones I know about. Thanks for the info. I hope the MixZing folks lose the crappy attitude and learn something from this.

I don't suffer from privacy paranoia either. I just want to know what of my data is being collected. I sync my contacts with Google. It's pretty much a given then that Google can see who's in my contacts on my phone. I'm ok with that because a) I trust Google and b) I know that's all their collecting. It's possible they're collecting other data in that instance and not telling me, but that's another story. I know Google reads through my GMail account so they can target ads at me for another example. I know what they're collecting and why they're collecting it.

My issue with MixZing is that they refuse to even disclose what data they're collecting and/or why they are collecting it. If they are collecting data about what I'm playing so they can generate recommendations for me or for other people, why not just come out and say that? I could then decide if it's worth it for me or not. The fact that the developer just says we're collecting info, we won't tell you what or why and if you don't like it, uninstall the app really pisses me off. I like the app otherwise, but now won't be using it.

 

[A.Nonymous]

MixZing is one app I use practically everyday. Great interface and I like how it works. I don't mind if they look at what I listen to. I think many of the apps on the Market does collect info from the user. Some apps even require the GPS function of your phone to be turned on (weather, geocaching, etc).

You should mind just because MixZing won't tell you what that data is. A weather application obviously needs your location. If it's collecting data beyond that I would expect that it would make it clear to you either in the app or on the website for the app exactly what data is being collected and why.

 

[RichSz]

I don't suffer from privacy paranoia either. I just want to know what of my data is being collected. I sync my contacts with Google. It's pretty much a given then that Google can see who's in my contacts on my phone. I'm ok with that because a) I trust Google and b) I know that's all their collecting. It's possible they're collecting other data in that instance and not telling me, but that's another story. I know Google reads through my GMail account so they can target ads at me for another example. I know what they're collecting and why they're collecting it.

My issue with MixZing is that they refuse to even disclose what data they're collecting and/or why they are collecting it. If they are collecting data about what I'm playing so they can generate recommendations for me or for other people, why not just come out and say that? I could then decide if it's worth it for me or not. The fact that the developer just says we're collecting info, we won't tell you what or why and if you don't like it, uninstall the app really pisses me off. I like the app otherwise, but now won't be using it.

You're preaching to the choir, brother (or sister, I don't discriminate). My paranoia disclaimer was to indicate I wasn't a privacy nut like some others I've seen around. It wasn't aimed at you. Some folks won't even get a Google account with their Android phones they are so filled with fear.

If the developer had a good reason for collecting the data which made sense, I'd probably be fine with it. Since he (or she) doesn't and was a jerk, it raises a red flag with me.

I am curious, how did you determined they were sending data? That would be a handy trick to know.

 

[A.Nonymous]

You're preaching to the choir, brother (or sister, I don't discriminate). My paranoia disclaimer was to indicate I wasn't a privacy nut like some others I've seen around. It wasn't aimed at you. Some folks won't even get a Google account with their Android phones they are so filled with fear.

If the developer had a good reason for collecting the data which made sense, I'd probably be fine with it. Since he (or she) doesn't and was a jerk, it raises a red flag with me.

I am curious, how did you determined they were sending data? That would be a handy trick to know.

I'm the same way. If they have a good reason for collecting data and they make it clear what data they're collecting and why I can determine if their reason is valid or not and go from there. No issues with that.

I was actually poking around their forum because I was wondering if the app is actively supported. (The music app I'm currently using is apparently not supported any more and I didn't want to buy another app that would have the same issue.) I couldn't find a changelog at all for the app on the main web site so I started looking through the forum to see if I could find one there. Someone posted there because they don't have a data plan and wondered if they turned off recommendations and album art would the app still send data to the server. The answer was yes, but that it would be minimal. That's what prompted me to wonder what data was being collected and why if recommendations and album art were turned off.

 

[Crodley]

Well, this is disconcerting. I love this app MOSTLY because it has a built in EQ, and tweaking the music I listen to through my phone is priority number one for now.

Are there other Music playing apps with an EQ?

 

[Bing]

Hey guys, the reason MixZing does this is because it is coming up with tracks to mix-and-match. That's one of the things the player is known for, and probably explains why the dev was annoyed someone would even ask.

Check out the MixZing part of this Lifehacker post to see what I mean:

Battle of the Android Music Players: The Best Alternative Players Compared

 

[A.Nonymous]

Hey guys, the reason MixZing does this is because it is coming up with tracks to mix-and-match. That's one of the things the player is known for, and probably explains why the dev was annoyed someone would even ask.

Check out the MixZing part of this Lifehacker post to see what I mean:

Battle of the Android Music Players: The Best Alternative Players Compared

The dev has made it clear that even if you turn off recommendations it's still collecting information about you. Why this is and what it's for is not made clear. What information is collected is not explained anywhere on the web site. I don't understand why the dev wouldn't explain this anywhere and wouldn't at least link to a place where all of this is explained in detail.

 

[Brian Rubin]

Huh, I love MixZing, and paid for the upgrade, but now this makes me concerned.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Huh, I love MixZing, and paid for the upgrade, but now this makes me concerned.

It's a good app. I don't deny that. I was considering buying the upgrade as well and my only concern was what data was being collected and why. I didn't think that was an unreasonable question to ask.

 

[Brian Rubin]

It's a totally reasonable question to ask. It now worries me.

 

[gilbequick]

I'm using PlayerPro which seems good so far. Might want to try it.

Who's the developer of PlayerPro?

 

[A.Nonymous]

I'm looking for a demo version of Lithium. The screenshots look cool though.

 

[zip2]

Although I don't like the revs pissy response im not worried. I clear the cache every time I close the browser and really don't care what info they collect about the songs I listen too of for that matter what Apps I use. Its the information age. Most of what you do is tracked in some way. Unfortunately for me its just the attitude that sucks and not what they track.
X

 

[zip2]

Well, this is disconcerting. I love this app MOSTLY because it has a built in EQ, and tweaking the music I listen to through my phone is priority number one for now.

Are there other Music playing apps with an EQ?

That's what id like to know.....I find the stock droid sound less than appealing.

 

[othgar]

Who's the developer of PlayerPro?

Tristan Bigourdan

 

[jeremye77]

Have you also turned off "Download Album Art" and "Scrobble to Last.fm"? This applications primary selling point is the recommendation engine. A secondary feature is that it will suggest "new music" that you might like. I would say based on the feature set, this sucker is gonna take data from you and return data to you. All of the primary advertised features depend on this.

On a (personal) side note. I cannot understand this fascination with an EQ. Unless you are running about making a separate preset for each album you probably find yourself tinkering with the EQ more than you find yourself just listening. A good set of headphones can go much further towards enhancing your music experience than constant EQ twiddling can. Just sayin'.

 

[Fine69]

even though it may gather my info on my playlists big deal........ its the best app out there. It has eq in it and gain control. Very helpful with high quality sensitive headphones when you can adjust this.