Gadget News : Prying phone apps, Palm’s tablet, iTunes share, hard drive with trackpad

While Palm’s new tablet Topaz is leaked to the press, there is a totally different leaking which is happening in the mobile app world. A hard drive with trackpad is showing the sign of things to come. iTunes has a near monopoly in digital music market which Amazon is finding hard to digest. And finally we will all know how to pronounce ASUS. I know you do but pronouncing the right way.

Your phone Apps are prying on you

All apps – Android and iOS – are born equal when it comes to prying on user data. This WSJ report has some startling facts which are a result of analyzing more than 100 apps. Broadcasting your geo-location and becoming the mayor of a coffee shop might look cheesy but there is a lot going on. Unique ID’s were sent by some apps, age, gender and location information is sent by some apps. And these aren’t sent inadvertently. They are being sent to different companies. You might be wondering who are these app developers sending their data to? Who else. Our dear advertisers. Don’t we love them?

Palm tablet “Topaz” leaked

Tablet names are getting nothing but innovative. Palm’s tablet is called Topaz and it is leaked. Not the typical leak and there is no mugshot of the tablet yet. There is an accessory of the tablet which is a Bluetooth keyboard having “Windows key” on it. The tablet is due in early 2011. Palm better release it.

iTunes holds 66% of digital music market

The good news is iTunes holds 66% of the digital music market. And the bad news is, as per some estimates, iTunes share can go up to 90%. Amazon, which started selling digital music in 2007, is iTunes closest rival with 13.3% share for the third quarter. Something strange going on with the digital music buying as cost didn’t effect iTunes share. Amazon which is undercutting price and absorbing losses couldn’t dent much in to iTunes share. Why do you think that is?

Hardrive with Trackpad

A hard drive concept is being floated where a hard drive is equipped with a trackpad. This would make the hard drive self-sufficient. The trackpad itself cannot make the hard drive self-sufficient and there will be an entourage which goes in to the hard drive – the OS, and other good stuff. There are indications that this could become a full-fledged touch screen. All it needs is a nice monitor to set-up your rig. A computer in your pocket waiting for a monitor.

Pronouncing ASUS

If you have always wondered how to pronounce ASUS, then this video might help.