Leaving Google behind

[SteveRiley]

My ad blocking script will also thwart Google Analytics.

[NickStone]

I am using Zoho calendar now,and they offer mail also. GMX seems alright but I still prefer gmails conversation interface.

I came across this yesterday https://startmail.com/ by the guys who do startpage (mt favorite now), looks interesting, but on FB they said is was not going to be free. I dont mind paying for the security, but I want a nicer interface that the standard outlook/GMX style .... some options would be nice.

You never seen Hushmail?

[Stosskraft]

You never seen Hushmail?

No I haven't. Will check it out, thanks.

Is it as safe as they claim?

http://www.cybercrimereview.com/2012...d-e-mails.html

[Shimapan]

I've made it a general rule for me to avoid anything that has "Google" on it like the plague.
For Firefox, I recommend the plug-ins "NoScript" and "DoNotTrackMe" to block crap like googleanalytics.

Google's terms of use are downright scary. They claim ownership of all content you submit using any of their services (Chrome, Google Mail etc.) and reserve the right to do whatever they want with it (selling it, modifying it as the please, whatever). If you use Google Mail, it's not your mail anymore, it's Google's mail.

By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services. This license is for the sole purpose of enabling Google to display, distribute and promote the Services and may be revoked for certain Services as defined in the Additional Terms of those Services.
11.2 You agree that this license includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.
11.3 You understand that Google, in performing the required technical steps to provide the Services to our users, may
(a) transmit or distribute your Content over various public networks and in various media; and
(b) make such changes to your Content as are necessary to conform and adapt that Content to the technical requirements of connecting networks, devices, services or media. You agree that this license shall permit Google to take these actions.
11.4 You confirm and warrant to Google that you have all the rights, power and authority necessary to grant the above license.

[dmeyer]

I've made it a general rule for me to avoid anything that has "Google" on it like the plague.
For Firefox, I recommend the plug-ins "NoScript" and "DoNotTrackMe" to block crap like googleanalytics.

Google's terms of use are downright scary. They claim ownership of all content you submit using any of their services (Chrome, Google Mail etc.) and reserve the right to do whatever they want with it (selling it, modifying it as the please, whatever). If you use Google Mail, it's not your mail anymore, it's Google's mail.

Not defending Google but all cloud companies have similar TOS because they need them to provide their service. See Ubuntu One, SkyDrive, DropBox and all the others.

[woodsmoke]

Hi
as to the voice recognition "storing" your voice, I don't think so, but emphasis is on the "think".

As I understand it, there are only two or three "speech recognition engines" that are in full play.

If it is on your computer, then yes it will listen to your voice and record it.

An example is the labourious stories that one had to read for DragonNaturallySpeaking.

However, not so for Microsith's "speech recognition", starting with Vista.

The engine for MS requires an almost SILLY set of interactions, just five minutes or so of saying "i like talking to my computer", "talking to my computer is fun". etc.

AND it was almost scary about how good it could interpret what it said.

But to the point of the question about storing your voice.

I use the voice thing on my android almost constantly and it ALWAYS gets the same words wrong, seemingly a lot of simpler words, but very complex words, such as deoxyribonucleic acid, it gets with alacrity.

HOWEVER>>>>>>....I think that the translation is actually done "in the cloud" because I will sometimes get an "cannot access server"... and the voice thing does not work for a while then does.

So....I think that your speech is "transposed to text" ...on the cloud and probably not "recorded", probably because even a zetabyte system couldn't store all of it, but...it "could" be recorded" if someone in the cloud stream wanted to intercept it and record it.

As to an alternate mail system...

I used to run mediacom as cable and internet. And, I had "@mediacom.net" as my very personal e-mail, I didn't use it except from my home computer. And do not know about a phone version of it.

woodsmoke

[Shimapan]

Not defending Google but all cloud companies have similar TOS because they need them to provide their service. See Ubuntu One, SkyDrive, DropBox and all the others.

Now that's just massive bs. No other company is so massively intrusive and greedy to claim ownership of anything you post when using their services, and it's certainly *not* neccessary at all.

Hi
as to the voice recognition "storing" your voice, I don't think so, but emphasis is on the "think".

*snip*

HOWEVER>>>>>>....I think that the translation is actually done "in the cloud" because I will sometimes get an "cannot access server"... and the voice thing does not work for a while then does.

So....I think that your speech is "transposed to text" ...on the cloud and probably not "recorded", probably because even a zetabyte system couldn't store all of it, but...it "could" be recorded" if someone in the cloud stream wanted to intercept it and record it.

Recording the speech would probably just be a massive waste of space. Have the speech converted to text and save the text.
Possibly they also have people to go through the thusly recorded text, and if it seems wrong, have them listen to the recorded speech to fix any errors before the recorded speech gets deleted to save space. This way, they get to harvest everything and save space.

[SteveRiley]

Now that's just massive bs. No other company is so massively intrusive and greedy to claim ownership of anything you post when using their services, and it's certainly *not* neccessary at all.

Service provider TOS (terms of service) are not flippantly worded. They are carefully crafted legal statements specifically designed to withstand scrutiny in court. Nowhere in Google's TOS do they claim ownership of your data. It's still yours, you haven't been forced to surrender anything.

Some of Google's TOS are, in fact, required for them to perform basic services like move your mailbox from one data center to another ("reproduce"), display your email without using HTTPS ("publicly display"), make your Blogger posts available to people who speak other languages ("translate"), and provide your G+ posts to the world ("publish"). Google does not attempt to conceal the fact that Gmail is a platform for advertisers, and that your email content will become the basis for showing relevant ads ("other companies...relationships...syndicated services"). All Google services require Internet access, rely on the Internet for bringing other people to your content, and sometimes traverse public Internet exchange points ("distribute...over various public networks").

That said, Google has come under fire for having probably the most onerous TOS of any provider. Given that you as an individual can choose to use their services (or not), you can also choose whether to be bound by their terms (or not). And remember this: the definition of customer is one who pays. Users of Google's free services are definitely not the customers -- the advertisers are the customers. Users are the product. If you don't want to be a product, don't use Google. It is for this reason that I have practically eliminated Google from my own online behavior. Eric Schmidt, kiss my binary digits.

[Stosskraft]

Does a TOS mean anything now that whole gov. taking what they want from our online habits? I am waiting for this startmail, my research is showing hushmail no better than the rest. GMX is ok, but I am not a fan of the interface.

[SteveRiley]

Does a TOS mean anything now that whole gov. taking what they want from our online habits?

I think it's a little early to speculate on that right now. The USA PATRIOT Act already grants over-broad powers; this latest revelation is just more of the same. What I hope happens is that it sparks a national conversation about unnecessary intrusion and how we are being forced to relinquish the very individual freedoms we claim to be fighting for elsewhere in the world.

[Stosskraft]

what would you suggest is the best way for people to protect themselves? I am a Canadian that lives in Vietnam and I just read an article that whenever a Canadian citizen travels abroad the Canada government will inform the US government. What can non-technical people do to protect some privacy, I know getting away from google is a big one but it doesn't look like you can get away from the American government.

[SteveRiley]

I am a Canadian that lives in Vietnam and I just read an article that whenever a Canadian citizen travels abroad the Canada government will inform the US government.

Would you provide a link to that article? I'm suspicious of the claim.

[Simon]

Wha? I am a Canadian too. I am also very paranoid... but I think this is right up there with the hoax about all the US phone calls are listened to by a super "magical" computer that trips a red flag when you say "bomb"... Having what my friends call a "funny accent", would throw the machine off, if I am talking to my friend Bob. LoL

I have made a few trips to Japan because my parents are native to that country and moved back a few years ago. But I seriously doubt the US monitors all Canadian movement. The resources needed would be far too enormous... wait... maybe that is why they are having finance problems. The US debt is caused by Canada. We're sorry.

[kubicle]

I am also very paranoid...

Or are you?

[whatthefunk]

But I seriously doubt the US monitors all Canadian movement. The resources needed would be far too enormous...

I dont know if they do or not, but it would probably be very, very easy. I bet I could even set up a system that could do that. Every time you go through immigration in just about any country, they scan your passport. All that would need to be done is for that to be logged and sent to the US government.