Page 1 of 2
Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:37:49
by Swampman
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:32:50
by Swampman
As a follow-up:
An interesting question was asked, and it seems this pertains to those of you who use fruit for your phone. Not being an enthusiast of Apple products, I was not aware that some of them come with a flashlight feature installed, which is not a downloaded application. In this case resetting the phone to factory settings would not remove the flashlight feature, and it probably isn't necessary.
The guy being interviewed in the video does mention downloads from the Google Play store as the apps of concern. If you fruit lovers don't download from Google, and if the feature was pre-installed on your phone, then I would suspect you are not affected.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:44:51
by OakRidgeStars
There is some truth in what this guy is saying, mostly that many free apps are capable of accessing the phone's GPS, camera, microphone and even your emails and messaging. It's all right there in the app's privacy agreement, although no one actually reads that stuff before they install an app.
One thing is for sure, you don't need megabytes of code to turn your phone's camera flash off and on. That's why I only use the Privacy Flashlight app on my Droid.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:14:53
by SHMIV
Also, you don't need to download apps for your phone to be creepy.
W2B recently made mention of going to a spa; she wanted waxing, and suggested that I get a massage. Suddenly, I am now seeing ads, on my phone, for spas and massage parlors. A while back, she mentioned that a friend of ours could use marriage counseling. I started seeing ads for marriage counselors.
W2B never uses my phone for anything. I never use FB; my phone or any other device. Yet, W2B receives frequent text messages ON MY PHONE, from FB, advising her of friend requests, and suggesting that she look up MY FRIENDS.
Damn creepy. Sometimes, I wonder if this a phone, or my own personal pocket Satan.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 19:28:30
by OakRidgeStars
Go into the settings for your phone's browser and clear the browsing history. The Chrome browser makes this easy and you can adjust your privacy settings at the same time.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 23:12:40
by SHMIV
I'm not seeing ads for things that I've looked up... well, actually, I guess I have. That's not particularly creepy, all things considered.
What I was referring to was seeing ads that relate to spoken conversation. And not spoken over the phone. The phone is evesdropping on conversations that I have with W2B while she is sitting right next to me. THAT is what's creepy.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Wed, 04 Mar 2015 00:36:50
by smltooner
My flashlight came installed on my Apple iPhone, but this is good to know.
Good info about checking file sizes.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Fri, 06 Mar 2015 11:32:05
by Bags30
Check out "Terms and conditions apply" on Netflix. One company claimed "Your eternal Soul" in their privacy agreement for one day. Bagged 7000 souls.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Fri, 06 Mar 2015 11:46:45
by SHMIV
Lol@ the "eternal soul" clause.
My sister and I once contemplated selling souls on Ebay. It would have basically been a glass jar of some sort, containing a document of parchment. We would have grabbed names from old grave stones.
We decided that there may be an eternal consequence for that, however, so we never did it.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 02:46:07
by Bags30
As long as it's not your soul, you should be ok.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:53:37
by Mindflayer
Frankly, the Android store is more rife with this sorta garbage (and before anyone jumps on me, I use Android and IOS). Just be sure you download an app from someone reputable; on the iPhone just use the flashlight that's built in to the OS.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 19:54:00
by Reverenddel
Thank god I have a prepaid Net10 "Star Trek" Flip phone....
STUPID PHONES ROCK!
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 20:20:44
by OakRidgeStars
Nothing wrong with prepaid flip phones. I never would have guessed that they would not only still be around, but are in high demand. The carriers like smartphones because they bring in the most revenue per line of service.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 20:31:26
by trailrunner
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 20:36:34
by OakRidgeStars
I think that's the same guy talking about flashlight apps.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 11:41:39
by Radiac
Reverenddel wrote:Thank god I have a prepaid Net10 "Star Trek" Flip phone....
STUPID PHONES ROCK!
Same here through T-Mobile.

Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 12:41:09
by SHMIV
I like the old Stupid Phones. All they do is make and receive phone calls; which is pretty much the point of a telephone.
But, in my world, the pocket-computer, smart phones are very useful. Having access to Google maps, on my pocket computer, makes my life MUCH easier.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 15:00:01
by MarcSpaz
I haven't see a smart phone that can't record video... just make it so when you switch to the video camera, the light comes on.... now you have a flash light. No downloads needed.
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 16:37:58
by SHMIV
Now that I think of it, I can't think of a single time that I felt like I needed a flashlight in my phone.
Usually, when I need light, I just grab a flashlight.
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Re: Got a flashlight app on your smartphone?
Posted: Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:04:19
by MarcSpaz