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Will the iPad require activation?

E

ericinboston

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jan 13, 2008
2,050
538
I am considering buying an iPad. However, I a bit of a privacy freak.

Will the iPad require me to connect to the internet and talk to Mothership Apple and transmit information such as my name, device serial #, device specs, etc? I'm talking about the WIFI edition only...not the 3G.

I understand I will likely need to connect it to iTunes at least once...but there's a difference.

On a side note, I thought when I bought my Mini a few years ago I was forced to transmit data to Apple. Maybe I was misinformed.

Anyway, any info would help!

-Eric
 
ericinboston said:
On a side note, I thought when I bought my Mini a few years ago I was forced to transmit data to Apple. Maybe I was misinformed.
Click to expand...

If you are referring the "Register" page, you could have pressed CMD+Q on your keyboard to skip it.
 
alphaod said:
If you are referring the "Register" page, you could have pressed CMD+Q on your keyboard to skip it.
Click to expand...

I am referring to the initial setup of the iPad...and possibly any times that iTunes may secretly transmit the stuff.

I understand that if I wish to purchase something through iTunes, it will at least need my name and credit card info...but even on that scale, what's to stop iTunes from transmitting all sorts of other info about my iPad, my computer, what's on iTunes, etc?

Likely I will never buy anything via iTunes (I've been using iTunes since it was released and still have never purchased anything...I rip my own cds).

So maybe my question is really 2 questions...1)does the iPad itself need to connect to Apple for any kind of info transfer and 2)does iTunes (when I am and have never purchased anything) transfer stuff to Apple from time to time without my permission? I can bring question #2 to the iTunes forum.

-Eric

-Eric
 
Should work straight out of the box and you can set your iTunes account right on the device and start downloading Apps via Wi-Fi right away. To load your CDs you would have to connect the device.

iPhone reguires it because it is a different kind of device.
 
Julien said:
What about Apps. Without Apps what is an iPad for?:confused:
Click to expand...

Well, ya, I guess I would get some apps (my iPhone's apps are all free).

I'm just more concerned about plugging the iPad in the first time and Apple instantly knowing my device info, serial #, version of iTunes & Windows, etc. I'm not a fan of secret transmissions. Lots of software and devices do it (try installing a new application sometime with your internet connection off and you will likely see error messages...or enable your firewall to log what comes and goes when you install a new app on your computer).

Very likely I would use the iPad mainly as a web surfing device. Maybe someday down the road I will use it more but I just don't see the point in having it be a 9.7" iPod...or a small 9.7" movie player (small screen, no surround sound, not true HD, limited storage of movies, but again, that's me). Maybe an e-magazine reader if the mags are attractive but that's a big if for me.

-Eric
 
Eric - Do you already have an iTunes account? you say you have free apps for your iphone so I would assume the answer is yes. If so any info they would get from the new iPad they would already have a from your iPhone. Also if you don't want a credit card on file with iTunes you can just get iTunes gift cards.
 
For such a privacy freak, I know your name and where you live just by looking at your screenname ;)
 
ericinboston said:
Well, ya, I guess I would get some apps (my iPhone's apps are all free).

I'm just more concerned about plugging the iPad in the first time and Apple instantly knowing my device info, serial #, version of iTunes & Windows, etc. I'm not a fan of secret transmissions. Lots of software and devices do it (try installing a new application sometime with your internet connection off and you will likely see error messages...or enable your firewall to log what comes and goes when you install a new app on your computer).

-Eric
Click to expand...
If apple were doing that you'd definitely see a huge scandal unfold. It's a huge company, someone would find out.
 
NT1440 said:
If apple were doing that you'd definitely see a huge scandal unfold. It's a huge company, someone would find out.
Click to expand...

It's not really a scandal...it's a way of doing business (usually the info they gather helps them create better apps or understand your computing habits). Tons of software companies bury in the legal mumbo jumbo in their Terms & Conditions/License agreement that you agree to fork over a bit of information...even if it is somewhat anonymous.

I just hate apps calling the mothership when I explicitly do not tell them to do so.

-Eric
 
Your iTunes account is assosiated with you. Your ipad and iPhone will be attached to this account. Stop freaking out
 
Never understood the paranoia behind anonymous usage activities being sent back to the mother ship.

Now, stuff like contact information and my address maybe I'll get pissed if I was not asked, but that's how demographic information is handled these days. Purchases made with a credit card all get back to someone who eventually sells it to some marketing group and with such info is how they learn to better market to consumers.

Can it be more open? Yeah of course, but unless you want a pop up box every time you load up an app or read or listen to something just for permission, it's not going to happen. You will leave a digital trail just like you leave a paper trail.
 
TrunksGoku said:
Never understood the paranoia behind anonymous usage activities being sent back to the mother ship.

Now, stuff like contact information and my address maybe I'll get pissed if I was not asked, but that's how demographic information is handled these days. Purchases made with a credit card all get back to someone who eventually sells it to some marketing group and with such info is how they learn to better market to consumers.

Can it be more open? Yeah of course, but unless you want a pop up box every time you load up an app or read or listen to something just for permission, it's not going to happen. You will leave a digital trail just like you leave a paper trail.
Click to expand...
Papers are burnable, the internet is not. They are only allowed to do so when you gave permission (which you probably did by accepting the TOS or something like that).
 
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