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Apple is cracking down on apps that secretly record your screen
A recent report by TechCrunch and The App Analyst revealed that some major companies use an analytics tool that secretly record every swipe and tap you make within their applications. Now, Apple has started telling developers to remove that screen-recording code if they don't want their apps yanked from the App Store. See, most of the applications that use the tool don't ask for permission to record your activities and your screen. That goes against the tech giant's App Store Review Guidelines, which (as a spokesperson explained to TechCrunch) "require that apps request explicit user consent and provide a clear visual indication when recording, logging, or otherwise making a record of user activity."
Did you know these iPhone apps record your screen while you use them?
When an app says it's collecting data for technical support or analytics purposes, it seems innocuous but a report by TechCrunch and The App Analyst found a number of iOS applications that went much further without informing users. The apps mentioned, including Air Canada, Abercrombie & Fitch, Expedia, Hotels.com and others used analytics software from a company called Glassbox that embeds "session replay" tech to show them exactly what users are doing. Whatever buttons are pushed or information entered is recorded, and worse, while the feature can be configured to prevent recording of sensitive data like credit card numbers, they didn't always block it out fully. By using man-in-the-middle software to intercept data going to Glassbox's servers, The App Analyst showed how this happens in Air Canada's app, where it could screenshot credit card info and user passwords.
Glassbox sets SimCity ablaze in latest trailer
In reality, fire is a mysterious force that takes what it pleases and threatens to devour us whole in our sleep. Within the confines of a video game, however, the flaming beast can be controlled.
EA files trademark for 'SimOcean'
While that Atlantis management sim starring Aquaman – you know, our dream game – isn't likely to be made anytime soon, it seems EA is already laying claim to Sim-themed titles beyond 2013's "SimCity." A new trademark for something called SimOcean was filed earlier this week.The filing was made in Europe and spotted by Siliconera, and beyond that we don't know much else. Maxis produced a slew of Sim offshoots over the years, including SimHealth, SimTower, SimFarm and many more. We'll have to add SimOcean to that list if it ever becomes more than a trademark.
Take a (second) first look at SimCity's GlassBox engine, debug graphics and all
We gave you the first brief glimpse of the new SimCity in action back at GDC, albeit via shaky cam footage of a presentation. Today, we've got a much clearer look at similar footage, directly from EA's Maxis studio.Like the GDC clips, this video isn't meant to be a trailer or show off the game's graphical prowess. Instead, it's intended as a way to articulate SimCity's backend GlassBox Engine and how it assists in powering next year's series reboot. Unfortunately, this video features approximately 100 percent less fire ravaged houses. This is only the first video in a promised "Insider's Look" series, so we're holding out hope for flaming houses in the next installment.
