The 16% of Trump voters who want military action in Iceland was what particularly floored me. Added to the poll, I suspect, to see if people were paying attention...
I would like to think incompetence as well, but when the problem is this widespread, IMHO it does point to a corporate issue...even if that's simply leaving too many incompetent managers in charge. IMHO if you're the manager and the part-time teenager didn't finish updating all the shelf pricing, then it's on you to finish before going home. But today too many people just don't give a damn.
My first job was in retail as well, going back to the days before scanners when every item item was ticketed individually. When something goes on sale you ticket it again, then tear off the sale price stub when the sale ends. Repeat as needed. Maybe that could be a suitable punishment, too? Force stores to abandon shelf pricing for a period of time until it hurts enough that they get their act in order?
So this means I would get the app-only sale price, without using the app?
While doing some research into state retail pricing laws a few years ago, I discovered how tough Massachusetts is, being one of the last holdouts mandating ticketing on all items, and only relenting in exchange for price scanners every so many aisles. Living in Pennsylvania and annoyed by stores tying their best prices to their apps, I fancifully emailed Elizabeth Warren, asking if she'd prod a friend in state government to consider a legislative end run around apps. I had no idea such a law really existed. "First in the nation" I expect. Wonder how long it's been around?
Controlled by the same company that wrote the OS in case of Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. If you don’t trust the operating system to do the right thing on the OS level why do you trust the same company to do the right thing in the browser?
With a browser, you have the ability to block cookies, block whole hosts/domains, alter DOM content, alter tracking URL's, and (often) disable low level features you don't like. With apps, not so much.
And still waiting for examples of how apps can track you better. If the server wants to track you by your originating IP, all of the client side blocking will do nothing
What is your definition of "track you" in this context?
If it's to pinpoint a unique device accessing a website even through VPNs and/or other IP changes, there are an untold number of ways that apps can track you better than a website.
Apps have access to many device-specific APIs in addition to all the web ones, and every additional bit of information used can be added to the mix to create an even more unique fingerprint of the specific device accessing a website.
For example with phones, an app (even if it's mostly just a webview) may now also have access to your phone model, phone number, maybe your contacts or GPS location, and many other things.
A website Can easily deduce your phone model based on the browser agent attribute which tells the operating system and the screen resolution with a fair degree of certainty, an app can’t get your phone number, it can get your GPS with your permission. But so can a web page with your permission. There is a standard JavaScript API for it. Contacts are also gated by permissions.
Some apps can/will detect that an OS-level VPN has been activated though, and refuse to work at all. Spectrum TV does this for example, as well as some banking and other types of apps.
Yes and sites can also fairly reliably detect when a user is coming from a well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider. It’s a built in feature of I know at least AWS
Assuming you are using a "well known IP address block belonging to a VPN or VPS provider", yes, but it is also possible to setup VPNs/proxies outside of well-known IP blocks.
As a teenager I worked at a discount store, and sometimes ran the service desk, which (among many other things) involved processing returns. The returns form included a spot for "phone number", to which some customers would respond, "my number is unlisted". We honored that. Today in the USA, it seems the phone number is the new Social Security Number, which everybody wants to use for tracking. Stores used to give out physical discount cards (which I wasn't keen on either...) but now (obviously because it saves them money) so many stores have switched to a system where your account is tracked through a phone number or an app or both. No thank you.
I held onto Symbian longer than I should have, but am surprised this practice hadn't crossed my path before now. IMHO it's insidious. It's one thing for a Google Street View car to war scan my WiFi router, but another for my own phone to secretly rat me out. Not that I use Location myself, but I can't stop other members of the household. I assume this is yet another practice that Android forks like GrapheneOS disables?
I am also not very far away, and used to find myself driving through Parkesburg sometimes. Had no idea it was there! My first computers were user-friendly TRS-80 Model 1's (school) and my C64, so just missed the 1970's and earlier generations. Will look into a visit in 2026!
Driving through Parkesburg usually takes a little less than thirty seconds, unless you get stuck behind an Amish carriage.
Feel free to contact us about arranging a tour. We look forward to seeing you.
I'm more a syadmin type than a developer, but still get hit with online "testing" requests sometimes: a couple SQL tests for some support position, a couple psychological tests, etc. These are now a hard line for me. Why? Maybe I misunderstand...but my time is valuable, too. If HR or the hiring manager wants to reach out for a round 1 interview and then tell me a week later I'm one of your top candidates, and would I please take some online testing to continue the process, fine. But not the other way around.
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