![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
New info - Apple's kb article - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303066
\"iTunes sends data about the song selected in your library to the iTunes Music Store to provide relevant recommendations. When the MiniStore is hidden, this data is not sent to the iTunes Music Store.\"
Commentary from Slashdot - http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/06/01/12/1513223.shtml
Well, I look at it this way. The ministore\\'s function is just an extension of the itunes music store, an easy-to-use search based on the song you click when the ministore is open.
See apple\\'s page - http://www.apple.com/itunes/playlists/ - it says \\\"Tap into the 2-million-song treasure chest of the iTunes Music Store through the new MiniStore.\\\" (I would think it would be obvious that some information gets sent.)
Now, iTMS is already built into iTunes with its own privacy policy. (Not the clearest policy, I agree) How is the ministore any different from the stuff you click on in iTMS?
However, I do agree that certain things need to be better spelled out, somewhere. But the EULA might not be the best place for this information (as we only generally see that once during the install). I think that a separate privacy policy would be better.
Example: I like how google\\'s toolbar works: If you want features a, b & c, google will collect these particular bits of information, otherwise don\\'t use these functions and we won\\'t collect this data.
When this story hit a variety of sites, especially Slashdot, it was blown a little out of proportion.
Apple does need to improve their privacy policy, whether or not the ministore is there. We should be griping about Apple\\'s general privacy policies, especially concerning iTMS integration.
Though, I will admit that the addition of a company like Omniture does make me worry. How do they fit into the scheme and how much control does Apple have over the data Omniture sees?