Google just solved m43 users storage problem. Unlimited for free!!!

[hindesite]

People (and corporations) in Australia, and I believe in the US, are worried about governments wanting to collect and store metadata for national security purposes. Lots and lots of hand wringing is published in the media because of this.

When you sign up to a Google account, you effectively authorise Google to collect information about you and everything that you do on the internet (stuff is stored on your computer, in part, to accommodate this). If you use an Android phone (especially a Google phone), you also allow mobile data to be collected, willingly or not.

Odd that no one seems to be worried about a private corporation collecting information, especially one whose very existance depends on collectiing everything conceiveable about people signed in, or not, to its services. And moreover, the data is then collected, stored and used by an entity that probably isn't even from your own country.

Bit of a laugh coming from a resident of a Five Eyes country (as I am myself).

You express concern that private corporations are collecting this information (and people are aware of this to some degree, and can take steps to mitigate the risk), yet your own government is busy spying on almost the entire rest of the world and increasingly, its own citizens, and sharing that data with other members.

And you don't even get great products like Google Search, Google Now or Google Plus in return.

In today's constantly surveilled society, being concerned about Google is close to the last thing you should be concerned about; it is way, way too late for that.

 

[OzRay]

People (and corporations) in Australia, and I believe in the US, are worried about governments wanting to collect and store metadata for national security purposes. Lots and lots of hand wringing is published in the media because of this.

When you sign up to a Google account, you effectively authorise Google to collect information about you and everything that you do on the internet (stuff is stored on your computer, in part, to accommodate this). If you use an Android phone (especially a Google phone), you also allow mobile data to be collected, willingly or not.

Odd that no one seems to be worried about a private corporation collecting information, especially one whose very existance depends on collectiing everything conceiveable about people signed in, or not, to its services. And moreover, the data is then collected, stored and used by an entity that probably isn't even from your own country.

Bit of a laugh coming from a resident of a Five Eyes country (as I am myself).

You express concern that private corporations are collecting this information (and people are aware of this to some degree, and can take steps to mitigate the risk), yet your own government is busy spying on almost the entire rest of the world and increasingly, its own citizens, and sharing that data with other members.

And you don't even get great products like Google Search, Google Now or Google Plus in return.

In today's constantly surveilled society, being concerned about Google is close to the last thing you should be concerned about; it is way, way too late for that.

 

[hindesite]

People (and corporations) in Australia, and I believe in the US, are worried about governments wanting to collect and store metadata for national security purposes. Lots and lots of hand wringing is published in the media because of this.

When you sign up to a Google account, you effectively authorise Google to collect information about you and everything that you do on the internet (stuff is stored on your computer, in part, to accommodate this). If you use an Android phone (especially a Google phone), you also allow mobile data to be collected, willingly or not.

Odd that no one seems to be worried about a private corporation collecting information, especially one whose very existance depends on collectiing everything conceiveable about people signed in, or not, to its services. And moreover, the data is then collected, stored and used by an entity that probably isn't even from your own country.

Bit of a laugh coming from a resident of a Five Eyes country (as I am myself).

You express concern that private corporations are collecting this information (and people are aware of this to some degree, and can take steps to mitigate the risk), yet your own government is busy spying on almost the entire rest of the world and increasingly, its own citizens, and sharing that data with other members.

And you don't even get great products like Google Search, Google Now or Google Plus in return.

In today's constantly surveilled society, being concerned about Google is close to the last thing you should be concerned about; it is way, way too late for that.

 

[OzRay]

My reason for especially not liking Google, is that it embeds software in your PC and assumes certain control over your PC. Google doesn't ask you (other than in some convoluted terms of service agreement) it just does it of it's own accord. It's not the only company that tries this, but Google is one of the most pervasive about.

Be as speechless as you wish, I don't go looking for 'Reds under the bed' and, after checking, your 'Five Eyes' is nothing more than a intelligence gathering collaborative agreement between nations like any other that have been in existence for decades. I see nothing to worry about in that regard, it's what nations do for their national interest; Google does their thing for personal gain.

 

[DavidH202]

My reason for especially not liking Google, is that it embeds software in your PC and assumes certain control over your PC. Google doesn't ask you (other than in some convoluted terms of service agreement) it just does it of it's own accord. It's not the only company that tries this, but Google is one of the most pervasive about. Google does their thing for personal gain.

I own and operate a small town retail Custom Picture Framing and Art business for the past 21 years.

Over a year ago I got a automated phone message saying "the business owner needed to verify the listing information (dial1 to speak to a representative). I did so, and was told that there would now be a one time $300 fee for the internet search engine web designers to list my business on the Google seach ( had been there for years) I was told by the rep that "if I didn't pay the $, I would loose business because something like 80% of the people looking for a business use the Google search engine and I would not be found.

I told this person I was not interested since I depended on local business, and just about everyone knew where we were located. I felt this was tantamount to extortion. None of the other search engines partake in this behavior!

Ever since, I have been harassed on a daily basis by automated calls requesting the same reply.

It starts with one Phone # and if I do not answer (thank heaven for caller ID). The call round robin forwarded to yet another Google office in another part of the country within 10-15 minutes and it comes in again under a different phone # and area code.

Not only am I receiving these calls from Google Search, but also Google Maps, and Google + !

Despite placing my phone on a Do Not Call List I have been repeatedly harassed for over a year with at least 2-4 calls daily. It stopped for a couple of weeks once, but resumed again.

I wish there was some way to get the FCC after them.

F**K Google!!!!

 

[OzRay]

Yeah, on the face of it, many people look on Google and say what a great company, 'Do no Evil' and look at all the great technology things they give us, 'For Free!'. When you really look into it, Google's tentacles are reaching everywhere, with greater expansion happening, or being tested, all the time.

I'm saying that everything that they do is 'evil, but they seem to be gaining a lot of control and influence on so many aspects of people's lives, often in a very intrusive way. I've never looked at it in a great deal of depth, but this thread made me do some more research and it's interesting that I'm not the only one that feels this way.

Perhaps a bit far fetched: http://uproxx.com/technology/2014/06/google-skynet-video/, but more down to earth:

.

 

[007peter]

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

OK so I did an experiment, uploaded my 16MP high res picture to Google and let it save in high quality (Compressed) mode. Then downloaded the google version and cropped it along with the original one. Can someone tell me which one is original and which one is Google's ?

I am actually quite impressed by the amount of detail retained by Google's version. Original file was 17.5MB and Google's compressed was 5.5MB

Thanks for the comparison photo. I see that no WHINERS dare to take this Challenge. Their avoidance just prove your point. Nicely done.

 

[OzRay]

Thanks for the comparison photo. I see that no WHINERS dare to take this test!

What do you mean?

 

[grcolts]

My reason for especially not liking Google, is that it embeds software in your PC and assumes certain control over your PC. Google doesn't ask you (other than in some convoluted terms of service agreement) it just does it of it's own accord. It's not the only company that tries this, but Google is one of the most pervasive about. Google does their thing for personal gain.

I own and operate a small town retail Custom Picture Framing and Art business for the past 21 years.

Over a year ago I got a automated phone message saying "the business owner needed to verify the listing information (dial1 to speak to a representative). I did so, and was told that there would now be a one time $300 fee for the internet search engine web designers to list my business on the Google seach ( had been there for years) I was told by the rep that "if I didn't pay the $, I would loose business because something like 80% of the people looking for a business use the Google search engine and I would not be found.

I told this person I was not interested since I depended on local business, and just about everyone knew where we were located. I felt this was tantamount to extortion. None of the other search engines partake in this behavior!

Ever since, I have been harassed on a daily basis by automated calls requesting the same reply.

It starts with one Phone # and if I do not answer (thank heaven for caller ID). The call round robin forwarded to yet another Google office in another part of the country within 10-15 minutes and it comes in again under a different phone # and area code.

Not only am I receiving these calls from Google Search, but also Google Maps, and Google + !

Despite placing my phone on a Do Not Call List I have been repeatedly harassed for over a year with at least 2-4 calls daily. It stopped for a couple of weeks once, but resumed again.

I wish there was some way to get the FCC after them.

F**K Google!!!!

The business where my wife works is experiencing the exact very thing to them too.

She and several other business people I know do not have kind things to say about Google.

GR

 

[hindesite]

My reason for especially not liking Google, is that it embeds software in your PC and assumes certain control over your PC. Google doesn't ask you (other than in some convoluted terms of service agreement) it just does it of it's own accord. It's not the only company that tries this, but Google is one of the most pervasive about. Google does their thing for personal gain.

I own and operate a small town retail Custom Picture Framing and Art business for the past 21 years.

Over a year ago I got a automated phone message saying "the business owner needed to verify the listing information (dial1 to speak to a representative). I did so, and was told that there would now be a one time $300 fee for the internet search engine web designers to list my business on the Google seach ( had been there for years) I was told by the rep that "if I didn't pay the $, I would loose business because something like 80% of the people looking for a business use the Google search engine and I would not be found.

I told this person I was not interested since I depended on local business, and just about everyone knew where we were located. I felt this was tantamount to extortion. None of the other search engines partake in this behavior!

Ever since, I have been harassed on a daily basis by automated calls requesting the same reply.

It starts with one Phone # and if I do not answer (thank heaven for caller ID). The call round robin forwarded to yet another Google office in another part of the country within 10-15 minutes and it comes in again under a different phone # and area code.

Not only am I receiving these calls from Google Search, but also Google Maps, and Google + !

Despite placing my phone on a Do Not Call List I have been repeatedly harassed for over a year with at least 2-4 calls daily. It stopped for a couple of weeks once, but resumed again.

I wish there was some way to get the FCC after them.

F**K Google!!!!

Wow, now there's a coincidence! I often get phone calls from Microsoft, telling me that there may be something wrong with my computer. Ever had those?

You are being taken in by a scam; Google does not make such phone calls (hint - neither does Microsoft). Your ire is directed entirely in the wrong direction.

 

[Billy Ray Valentine]

My reason for especially not liking Google, is that it embeds software in your PC and assumes certain control over your PC. Google doesn't ask you (other than in some convoluted terms of service agreement) it just does it of it's own accord. It's not the only company that tries this, but Google is one of the most pervasive about. Google does their thing for personal gain.

I own and operate a small town retail Custom Picture Framing and Art business for the past 21 years.

Over a year ago I got a automated phone message saying "the business owner needed to verify the listing information (dial1 to speak to a representative). I did so, and was told that there would now be a one time $300 fee for the internet search engine web designers to list my business on the Google seach ( had been there for years) I was told by the rep that "if I didn't pay the $, I would loose business because something like 80% of the people looking for a business use the Google search engine and I would not be found.

I told this person I was not interested since I depended on local business, and just about everyone knew where we were located. I felt this was tantamount to extortion. None of the other search engines partake in this behavior!

Ever since, I have been harassed on a daily basis by automated calls requesting the same reply.

It starts with one Phone # and if I do not answer (thank heaven for caller ID). The call round robin forwarded to yet another Google office in another part of the country within 10-15 minutes and it comes in again under a different phone # and area code.

Not only am I receiving these calls from Google Search, but also Google Maps, and Google + !

Despite placing my phone on a Do Not Call List I have been repeatedly harassed for over a year with at least 2-4 calls daily. It stopped for a couple of weeks once, but resumed again.

I wish there was some way to get the FCC after them.

F**K Google!!!!

That is not Google. There are tons of companies that are trying to make $$$ trying to tell you they can move you up in the search rankings.

Search the phone numbers on the web and you will understand.

 

[peppermonkey]

Wow, now there's a coincidence! I often get phone calls from Microsoft, telling me that there may be something wrong with my computer. Ever had those?

You are being taken in by a scam; Google does not make such phone calls (hint - neither does Microsoft). Your ire is directed entirely in the wrong direction.

 

[DavidH202]

You are being taken in by a scam; Google does not make such phone calls (hint - neither does Microsoft). Your ire is directed entirely in the wrong direction.

Facinating,

I never considered this possibility, as the recordings are very convincing that they are in fact Google.

I will indeed try and track those numbers !

 

[OzRay]

An interesting article: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-li...ith-centralised-settings-page-20150602-ghejri.

 

[Guy Parsons]

An interesting article: http://www.theage.com.au/digital-li...ith-centralised-settings-page-20150602-ghejri.

That bombed to 404 error but I found the same article here http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/...entralised-settings-page-20150602-ghejri.html

Regards...... Guy

 

[OzRay]

Ah, the full stop at the end killed the link. Funny how this happens sometimes, but not always.