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The rule is, if you didn't pay for the product, you *are* the product.
Yes, you can 'opt out' on both Apple and Android (and Windows) platforms. Most apps and site honor that, but not all do.
You can cut way down on targeted advertising by disabling third-party cookies on your browser. There will be some sites that whine that you need to enable cookies for their site - for them, if you trust them, you can usually add the site to an "allow cookies" list. There are some sites (Facebook, I'm looking at YOU) that insist you enable third-party cookies to use the site. Generally, I simply do not visit such sites. That is just egregiously bad, lazy, and/or nosy site architecture. To use Face book, I have downloaded a different browser, and enabled third-party cookies on it. I use it strictly and only to look at Facebook. So it can place all the cookies it wants.
We found a new browser named "Brave" that automatically gives you anonymous browsing. It's mostly OK (the Android version doesn't have a way to import bookmarks). And it also screens out many ads. You can find add-on tools for many browsers that accomplish the same thing, but this way it's all in one app.
Waze - I used it daily, except when I want to be insulted (BSNavigator will insult and swear at you in various accents, depending on your settings).
Libby - our local public library uses the Libby app.
Shortcuts - an app for the iPhone that uses Siri to set up shortcuts on your phone (for example, set up a shortcut to tell Siri to use pull up Waze, load my home, and display my route in Waze with a simple voice commend, "Hey Siri. Drive Home." Basically, if it is part of your phone, the Shortcut app can be used to create a shortcut of apps).
Magnifying Glass - because, I am getting old and don't always remember my reading glasses.
Insight Timer app for meditation and yoga. Some live and other stuff recorded for on demand listening. Free app and voluntary donations to practitioners.
FlightAware, a live flight tracking app. Click on any plane icon and it will drill down on the flight number, destination, mph and altitude. I live in Florida on a flight path to Sarasota-Bradenton airport. When I hear a plane going overhead, I love finding out where it's coming from -- especially in winter, picturing all those travelers from up North who will be enjoying the warm weather when they land.
I think one thing that you guys need to explain about apps is that they don't appear to be a one time purchase but that you have to rent them.......right?
Ah, no. Some might be a yearly subscription (rent is an odd term but okay) but many you pay just once. And most (every single one that I have) are free.
Off topic rant = anyone find it strange that we now have really fancy earbud headphones that have multiple mics for direction noise canceling, custom sound profiles, waterproof, long charge, bluetooth, phone calls, tap controls, etc. for $100 but a good pair of hearing aids can easily be several thousand dollars?
Imagine the margins they must be working with on hearing aids compared to ear buds, and I'm surprised an earbud headphone company hasn't tried to dive into the hearing aid market with a combo product. Charge people a few hundred bucks, everybody wins.
The margins are HUGE. It is a giant ripoff for the hearing-impaired, sadly.
Waze - I used it daily, except when I want to be insulted (BSNavigator will insult and swear at you in various accents, depending on your settings).
Libby - our local public library uses the Libby app.
Shortcuts - an app for the iPhone that uses Siri to set up shortcuts on your phone (for example, set up a shortcut to tell Siri to use pull up Waze, load my home, and display my route in Waze with a simple voice commend, "Hey Siri. Drive Home." Basically, if it is part of your phone, the Shortcut app can be used to create a shortcut of apps).
Magnifying Glass - because, I am getting old and don't always remember my reading glasses.
That’s so weird, under what circumstances will it curse at you??
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