AFRAID TO OPEN a GOOGLE ACCOUT...

[sailfone]

i don't know why i am afraid to open a google account, has anybody else had this feeling before opening a google account? i believe it's from the articles i have been reading about their privacy issues. i have no apps on my INCREDIBLE, but i would like to explore the market without creating an account.

is there another way to download 3rd party apps without creating a google account?

i have not built up my trust with google's privacy issues, yet. even though i have read them.

thanks to anyone, who might want to comment or give some advice.

 

[FierceDeityLink1]

People complain because they have context-based advertisements. I don't know if there's anything else "wrong" with Google. Facebook right now is a whole lot worse.

 

[totaldis]

give in to your overlords. it's like being bit by a vampire, once it happens you change your opinion. your data will be IMMORTAL (insert fine print here)

 

[sailfone]

thx for your input....

 

[totaldis]

I'm pretty sure you can check out the market @ Android Market

 

[NoNoBadDog]

i don't know why i am afraid to open a google account, has anybody else had this feeling before opening a google account? i believe it's from the articles i have been reading about their privacy issues. i have no apps on my INCREDIBLE, but i would like to explore the market without creating an account.

is there another way to download 3rd party apps without creating a google account?

i have not built up my trust with google's privacy issues, yet. even though i have read them.

thanks to anyone, who might want to comment or give some advice.

As others have stated, Facebook is far, far worse for identity theft and malware propagation. You can create a google account and put in whatever information you like. It does not have to be your personal, real information. Make up a faked address in your area. Use a pseudonym. Put in a bogus phone number (with your real area code, of course).

 

[nightfishing]

Not to be mean, but an Android phone WITHOUT a Google account is a rather dumb purchase, IMHO. You would be MUCH better off with a BB or a Palm.

You lose so much functionality without an account that it really becomes a Dumb Phone at best. (No calendar sync, no gmail syc, no contacts sync, no google maps sync and so on.) Many of these things can be somewhat duplicated with 3rd party options, but not without sacrificing a lot of convenience and/or features.

If it makes you feel "better", the shear number of Google users makes YOU ridiculously insignificant to them. Those numbers indirectly create a layer of anonymity that smaller companies cannot provide through direct privacy efforts.

That being said, even if you do not want to take advantage of any of the tools the phone offers, you can access the market by creating a dummy Google account. As has been mentioned they require ZERO personal info to create an account.

Also you can browse most apps thru AppBrain

Find great Android apps and games - AppBrain

Many homepages accessible from there will offer Barcodes to install the apps if you want to circumvent the easy way.

AndroLib, Find all applications and games available in the Android Market for your Android Phone, HTC Dream, HTC Magic etc...

Offers QRs (barcodes) for most apps, but is a bit clunky compared to the market/appbrain.

 

[nightfishing]

The beauty of Android is how seemlessly it integrates your Mobile life with your Office life and your personal life.

Search for something on your laptop and the search history is immediately available on your phone. Map out a vacation on your Home PC and there it is on your phone.

Calendar and email are always in sync. All your RSS feeds in the palm of your hand and so on (and so forth).

Honestly, is an active "Mesh" BB and Palm are nowhere near providing. (wording carefully chosen to avoid trademark infringement, LOL)

 

[sailfone]

thx, again to everyone....i am not a game player on my phone, so apps for games is not important to me, i have a personal email with much contact info...so gmail is not important....

NoNoBaddog...you have given me the answer i was looking for....i'm too old for the facebook, and other social sites...

again thx to all of you....

enoy your incredible like i am....

 

[DJ-Anakin]

You bought a google phone without already having a google account? WTF!? Why did you buy this phone if you're not gonna use it to it's full potential?

 

[LancerzEvo]

The only privacy issue I recall with google was when Google Buzz was released, but you have the option to turn that off. Thats it I know of. If you ever created a Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL account, I think Google is the same.

 

[Chomsky1]

Dude...you bought an Android phone...the word "GOOGLE" is printed on the back case. I mean, seriously?

 

[Nolesfan]

Don't you think that they are all harvesting our information? Maybe Google just got caught and in some ways is a little more forthcoming by saying they use your information. These companies are in business to make money and your information is how they accomplish it. Expect it from everyone.

 

[colnago]

Dude...you bought an Android phone...the word "GOOGLE" is printed on the back case. I mean, seriously?

Yeah, but not everyone knows that you need a Google account to get Market access, nor that your personal files get backed up (if enabled) to the "cloud", before getting the phone.

 

[jamor]

Unless you plan on doing a lot of hard crime I wouldn't worry about it.

Even so, everything you've done up to this point has already been logged by the man anyways.

There is no escape.

 

[sunthas]

Google is definitely a threat to privacy. They store everything and keep it forever. But, I think they do a better job keeping the data safe and although I don't trust them long term, they are probably better stewards then the consumer credit rating agencies.

 

[Wordslinger]

I used to think this way toward Google, but then I realized that every company you deal with has a file on you, whether it's Verizon or Blockbuster or your neighborhood library. If you make purchases with a credit card, your history is there. When I financed my first car and started to build up credit, I was getting offers for credit cards and auto financing all the time. As soon as I signed up for Verizon Fios, I starred getting junk mail and telemarketing calls. That's not a coincidence in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned Verizon is selling my information. I'm sure they have records of my texts, phone calls, and websites I've visited and would hand them over to authorities if requested...but I'm not a criminal so it doesn't concern me. Maybe if I was a celebrity I'd be concerned, but I'm not so no big deal.

There's so much info about you out there already, who cares if Google wants to scan your email so they can target their advertising to your interests? With the millions of Google users out there, I don't think it's a big deal. Sign up and use the Incredible to it's fullest potential. I'm in the process of making my Gmail account my primary email and setting up my contact list so it will sync nice and easy. I even created a Google Voice account to take advantage of the transcribed voicemail. If a Google employee wants to snoop in my private information and read a voicemail of my mom asking me how to fix her computer, they can have fun with that.

As a writer, my biggest concern would be if a company wanted to own my creative work. For example, if Google tried to take ownership of something I put on Google Docs (a service I don't use), then I'd be pissed.

 

[colnago]

...There's so much info about you out there already, who cares if Google wants to scan your email so they can target their advertising to your interests?...

One real "potential problem" is if one consolidates their email into "Gmail", and messages contain info regarding any online financial account management, then the Gmail account becomes a "single point of failure" (e.g. recent breach by Chinese nationals). Even more so if one keeps sensitive files on the phone (pwd/acct # lists), which could be backed up to the "cloud", especially seeing as how one can not mangae backup process, and select what is "excluded".

However as stated, there are ways to maintain some anonymity if its really a concern, including checking non-Google email accounts via web access instead of mail apps, or by 3rd party mail apps (K-9, Touchdown, etc)

 

[Wordslinger]

One real "potential problem" is if one consolidates their email into "Gmail", and messages contain info regarding any online financial account management, then the Gmail account becomes a "single point of failure" (e.g. recent breach by Chinese nationals). Even more so if one keeps sensitive files on the phone (pwd/acct # lists), which could be backed up to the "cloud", especially seeing as how one can not mangae backup process, and select what is "excluded".

However as stated, there are ways to maintain some anonymity if its really a concern, including checking non-Google email accounts via web access instead of mail apps, or by 3rd party mail apps (K-9, Touchdown, etc)

There's always a security concern. But I think being a little savvy can go a long way. I never put sensitive information into an email or any other electronic document that someone will be able to view. Your bank shouldn't put your full account number in an email, nor should an online store put your full credit card number in a receipt. I don't even put that kind of info into emails I send with my Verizon account, and as far as I know there isn't a bot scanning my emails like Google. Unfortunately, not everyone signing up for Gmail or other online services are tech savvy and understand the dangers.

 

[xkingofgodzx]

I have had a google account for a while and i have had 0 problems with it so far (knock on wood). i actually really enjoy my google account!

 

[nyngbld]

I have had a google account for a while and i have had 0 problems with it so far (knock on wood). i actually really enjoy my google account!

i too have been online since gmail invites were through cell phones number or invites like google voice is now; zero issues... **KNOCK ON WOOD WTF!!!***

 

[TheBeardedMann]

Well, to add to your paranoia, Library of Congress archieved every single Tweet since the beginning of Twitter.

 

[colnago]

There's always a security concern. But I think being a little savvy can go a long way. I never put sensitive information into an email or any other electronic document that someone will be able to view. Your bank shouldn't put your full account number in an email, nor should an online store put your full credit card number in a receipt. I don't even put that kind of info into emails I send with my Verizon account, and as far as I know there isn't a bot scanning my emails like Google. Unfortunately, not everyone signing up for Gmail or other online services are tech savvy and understand the dangers.

Fair enough, but once someone has access to external email accounts, consolidated in Gmail, its easy enough to do a "password reset request" for any online account you may have...or at the very least, use any info found in "Payment/Order Confirmation messages" for phishing. Again, its all about planning out your usage beforehand if these are your concerns.

 

[Wordslinger]

Fair enough, but once someone has access to external email accounts, consolidated in Gmail, its easy enough to do a "password reset request" for any online account you may have...or at the very least, use any info found in "Payment/Order Confirmation messages" for phishing. Again, its all about planning out your usage beforehand if these are your concerns.

Could you explain this security issue further, or point me in the direction of where I can learn more?

 

[colnago]

Could you explain this security issue further, or point me in the direction of where I can learn more?

With gmail/unified inbox, one can import/manage/view any POP3 account (e.g. - have all your Verizon, Comcast, Hotmail, etc delivered to your gmail address/mailbox). If someone compromises your gmail account, they would then have access to your other email. Again, its not mandatory that other mail accounts be managed that way, but it could be an issue. I preferd using K-9 for my non-google accounts.

My main issue was with the backup process...I had to flash my phone, and following the restore, I noticed that my wall paper, a transfered jpg file, was restored to its original folder, along with a few other files. At the time, I was unable to find out any info on the backup restore process as far as what specifically gets copied, where its stored, or how to customize. May not be an issue for most, but some may need certain sensitive info readily available which could be stored on the phone.