Andrew wrote:
> Paul wrote on Sat, 29 Jun 2024 03:47:18 -0400 :
>
>> You can ask ecosystem questions, of Copilot.
>
> Hi Paul,
> I studied AI in the late 1970's in grad school, and it bored me even then
> (at that time it was all about probabilities and correcting them
> endlessly), so I haven't kept up with the capabilities of AI lately.
>
> Googling...
>
> 1. Copilot (Microsoft, previously BingChat, included in Windows 11,
> apparently Copilot is on Windows 10 but in some limited fashion)
> í°  <https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-use-microsoft-copilot-ai-what-to-try>
> í°  <https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/welcome-to-copilot-on-windows-675708af-8c16-4675-afeb-85a5a476ccb0>
> 2. Gemini (Google, requires account, privacy implications)
> <https://dorik.com/blog/how-to-use-gemini-ai>
> 3. ChatGPT (apparently it does not require a login to work via text only)
> <https://chatgpt.com/auth/login>
> <https://www.howtogeek.com/how-to-run-chatgpt-as-a-windows-app/>
> 4. Apple AI (doesn't actually work in the real world, only iPhone 15 Pro,
> & doesn't work in Europe, etc., so it's mostly mere marketing fluff)
> í°  <https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/06/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac/>
> 5. Others?
>
> The trick, of course, at least for free, is to get one of these to work via
> voice alone (STT and then TTS), which I do not think exists yet. Does it?
>
>> *******
>>
>> Question for CoPilot:
>>
>> Of all the Apple hardware products, which products require a
>> cloud login to function day-to-day ?
>>
>> Answer:
>>
>> Apple's hardware products are designed to work seamlessly with their
>> ecosystem of services. While most Apple devices can function independently
>> without a constant cloud connection, some features and services do rely
>> on cloud integration.
>>
>> Here are the key products and scenarios where cloud login is relevant:
>>
>> 1. **iPhone and iPad**:
>> - **iCloud**: iPhones and iPads heavily rely on iCloud for features
>> like device backup, photo synchronization, Find My iPhone,
>> and seamless app data sharing across devices.
>> - **App Store**: To download apps from the App Store, users need an
>> Apple ID (which is tied to iCloud).
>>
>> 2. **MacBooks and iMacs**:
>> - **iCloud**: Similar to iOS devices, Macs use iCloud for data synchronization, Keychain, and Find My Mac.
>> - **App Store**: To download apps from the Mac App Store, users need an Apple ID.
>>
>> 3. **Apple Watch**:
>> - **iCloud**: Apple Watches sync health data, watch faces, and settings through iCloud.
>> - **Activation Lock**: If the watch is lost or stolen, Activation Lock prevents unauthorized use.
>>
>> 4. **Apple TV**:
>> - **Apple ID**: Users need an Apple ID to access the App Store, stream content from
>> Apple TV+, and use features like HomeKit.
>>
>> 5. **HomePod and HomePod mini**:
>> - **Apple ID**: HomePods require an Apple ID for setup and access to
>> Apple Music, HomeKit, and personalized features.
>>
>> 6. **AirPods and AirPods Pro**:
>> - While AirPods themselves don't require cloud login, features like
>> automatic switching between devices and Find My AirPods rely on iCloud.
>>
>> 7. **Apple Services**:
>> - **Apple Music**: Requires an Apple Music subscription and iCloud Music Library
>> for seamless music streaming across devices.
>> - **Apple TV+**: Subscribers need an Apple ID to access Apple's streaming service.
>> - **iMessage and FaceTime**: These messaging services work across devices using iCloud.
>>
>> 8. **HomeKit-Compatible Devices**:
>> - Devices like smart lights, thermostats, and security cameras integrated with
>> HomeKit require an Apple ID for setup and remote control via iCloud.
>
> This is a good summary Paul. Very good. Thanks. AI is useful I guess.
>
> Notice that the users' App Store login is required ONLY on Apple devices;
> it is not required on Android or Linux or Windows (AFAIAA).
>
> I haven't had any Google (or Samsung) account on my Galaxy for years, and I
> can easily download off the Google Play Store repository without it.
>
> Having said that, I do realize most people log into their Google Account to
> download apps from the Google Play Store; but it turns out that there are
> FOSS Google Play Store clients (such as Aurora) that negate that need.
> <https://aurorastore.org/> & <https://auroraoss.com/>
>
> Same with YouTube, where there are FOSS YouTube clients which negate the
> need to create an account on your phone & still get full functionality.
> <https://newpipe.net/>
>
> Same with the MUA, where there are plenty of privacy-aware MUAs on Android.
> <https://email.faircode.eu/>
>
> I don't know all that it's missing but I know it's missing the fact that
> the messaging app, the way 99.99% of Apple users use it anyway, requires
> logging into the Apple Messaging servers. Which is a horrible privacy hole.
>
> The Apple users "think" they have privacy; but it's only because Apple
> cleverly advertises that - but in reality - Apple knows EVERY message they
> make (due to the extensive metadata that Apple gets from the login action).
>
> Note: The iOS messages app can work with SMS/MMS *without logging into*
> Apple's servers, but only 0.01% of Apple users would even know that, and
> even fewer would do that because they then lose the walled-garden niceties
> that the dumb-terminal design of the iPhone/iPad provide those users.
>
> Bear in mind, the dumb-terminal design has merits even in non Apple worlds.
>
> If Linux/Android/Windows users felt like logging into an Internet server,
> they too would have all that walled-garden magic - plus compatibility.
> <https://home.pulsesms.app/overview/>
>
> Speaking of all the nice things that happen when you log into Internet
> servers, I'm sure WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and many others using the
> dumb-terminal concept also get those niceties - but since they're not
> required to use messaging on Android, Linux and Windows, they're extras.
>
>> Remember that while cloud login enhances the user experience by enabling synchronization
>> and seamless transitions between devices, it's not strictly necessary for basic functionality.
>> Users can choose to use local accounts for some features and services.
>
> The cloud itself isn't required for "basic functionality", but you can't do
> all the messaging things Apple owners crow about (like saving all your
> messages) without the dumb-terminal logging into the mainframe server - as
> most of those magical things (like the end-to-end encryption) require the
> metadata-saving account on the server.
>
>
>> Source: Conversation with Copilot, 6/29/2024
>> (1) Introduction to Apple platform security - Apple Support.
>> https://support.apple.com/guide/security/intro-to-apple-platform-security-seccd5016d31/web
>>
>> (2) Apple at Work - Platform Security.
>> https://www.apple.com/business/docs/site/AAW_Platform_Security.pdf
>>
>> (3) How to use Apple's advanced iCloud security tools.
>> https://www.computerworld.com/article/1618339/how-to-use-apples-advanced-icloud-security-tools.html
>>
>> *******
>>
>> Question: When using ChromeOS, do I need a cloud login to make it work ?
>>
>> **ChromeOS**, the operating system developed by Google, is designed to
>> work seamlessly with cloud-based services. Here are some key points regarding ChromeOS and cloud login:
>>
>> 1. **Cloud-Centric Approach**:
>> - **ChromeOS** is inherently cloud-centric. It relies heavily on cloud services for
>> storage, synchronization, and application functionality.
>>
>> - When you sign in to a Chromebook or ChromeOS device, you typically use your
>> **Google Account** credentials. This account serves as your gateway to
>> the cloud-based ecosystem.
>>
>> 2. **Google Account Sign-In**:
>> - **Users must enter their Google Account username and password each time they
>> sign in to their device**.
>>
>> - If your organization uses **SAML single sign-on (SSO)** for devices, users
>> are directed to the SAML identity provider (IdP) page without manually
>> entering their email address².
>>
>> 3. **ChromeOS Flex**:
>> - Google offers **ChromeOS Flex**, a secure, cloud-based OS for PCs and Macs.
>> It brings the benefits of ChromeOS to existing devices.
>>
>> - With **ChromeOS Flex**, you can make your existing PCs and Macs faster and
>> more secure. It offers features like 6-second boot-up times and automatic background updates.
>>
>> - Set-up is straightforward: create a bootable ChromeOS Flex USB drive, install
>> it on your PC or Mac to replace the existing operating system, and upgrade
>> other legacy devices via USB or network deployment¹.
>>
>> 4. **Offline Capabilities**:
>> - While ChromeOS is cloud-centric, it does have **offline capabilities**.
>> You can work offline with certain apps and files.
>> - However, the full power of ChromeOS is realized when connected to the internet,
>> as it leverages cloud services for data storage, synchronization, and collaboration⁵.
>>
>> In summary, while ChromeOS doesn't strictly require a cloud login, its
>> design philosophy revolves around cloud integration. Whether you're using
>> a Chromebook or ChromeOS on other devices, having a Google Account enhances
>> the experience by enabling seamless access to cloud-based services.
>
> Thank you for bringing up ChromeOS, which has a dumb-terminal use model
> much like Apple does, so it's relevant even as I didn't even think of it.
>
> Come to think of it, like ChromeOS, the Windows S also seems to be designed
> like Apple products are as dumb terminals logging into mainframe servers
> for most of the functionality - even if much of that is simply cloud
> storage (and in the case of Windows S, it's also the Microsoft App Store).
>
> Delving deeper, we have to remember that even the HP Stream devices when
> converted from Windows S to Windows 10 Home or Windows 11 Home are more of
> a dumb-terminal logging-into-a-mainframe-server concept in that they have
> so small of a C:\ drive that you're pretty much "almost" forced into using
> cloud storage (as you can't even pin an app icon onto the Windows task bar
> if you've installed it onto an sdcard in the D:\ drive on HP Stream PCs.
>
>
>> Source: Conversation with Copilot, 6/29/2024
>> (1) Set ChromeOS device policies - Chrome Enterprise and Education Help.
>> https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/1375678?hl=en
>> (2) Upgrade Your PC: Faster and More Secure with ChromeOS Flex.
>> https://chromeos.google/products/chromeos-flex/
>> (3) Chrome OS offline: Can you really use a Chromebook without the cloud ....
>> https://www.computerworld.com/article/1485641/chrome-os-offline-can-you-really-use-a-chromebook-without-the-cloud.html
>>
>> (4) Google: We don't need Chrome OS, we want cloud login for PCs.
>> https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-we-dont-need-chrome-os-we-want-cloud-login-for-pcs/ <==== Year 2011
>>
>> (5) Get started with Chrome & ChromeOS device management.
>> https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/13781354?hl=en
>>
>> Article number (4) there, highlights the financial importance of
>> associating an account with an advertising profile you have for sale.
>
> In short, it seems that ChromeOS and Apple's iOS are both designed, from
> the start, as dumb terminals which are basically non functional if you're
> not constantly logging into the mainframe servers.
>
> The problem with that use model is that without the Internet, almost
> nothing works - and worse - even with the Internet - that one account knows
> every single thing you are doing in terms of metadata collection & storage.
>
> Remember, no other operating system but iOS puts a unique code unique to
> your Apple ID into every IPA app you install - even Google doesn't do that.
>
> Certainly Linux & Windows don't insert a unique ID unique to you for every
> app you've installed.... do they?
>

How many years has it been since apple first started shitting on you?

Man, you should fight back!