@Carl
Please understand that because of this situation my response will be as understanding as regrettably harsh. I believe corporate arrogance warrants this. I'm a linguist by trade so, yeah, I'm going to pick this apart. Your words are italics.
Friends
Now see, right there, off to a bad start. If my condo neighbor was routinely stealing my wifi without my knowledge and gumming up my network, and I caught him doing so, I wouldn't be so sure we were friends any longer. And I know I wouldn't like his explanation starting with, "Listen, we're friends, right?"
We take our users - and their data privacy - very seriously.
Again, poor word choice. Lots of us will see the phrase that resides within that sentence: we take our users data. Also: if this is a very serious matter why is this response hidden in the forums but not featured as one of the big six stories on the community page?
While data collection is a standard industry practice
Is it true that taking telephone numbers, MAC Addresses and WiFi information is a standard industry practice?
OnePlus devices using OxygenOS securely transmit analytics in two different streams, usage analytics and device information.
This ain't a knock at you or OnePlus. But there's really no such thing as secure anymore. T-Mobile was just hit. So was Disqus. Yahoo was ganged raped a while ago.
The reason we collect usage analytics through the user experience program is so we can better understand general phone behavior and optimize OxygenOS for a better overall user experience. At any time, users can opt-out of usage analytics collection by navigating to 'Settings' -> 'Advanced' -> 'Join user experience program'.
For the record and fairness this switch was already off on my OP3. I do not recall ever reading it should be turned off or turning it off and so I believe it shipped this way. And I appreciate that.
The reason we collect some device information is to better provide after-sales support. If you opt out of the user experience program, your usage analytics will not be tied to your device information. We'd like to emphasize that at no point have we shared this information with outside parties.
Yeah, I caught that. I would like to see you edit this to read: We'd like to emphasize that at no point have we shared or sold any information we've collected with any parties outside of OnePlus.
If that's what you meant to say, say it. If not -- explain what you're actually saying.
By the end of October, all OnePlus phones running OxygenOS will have a prompt in the setup wizard that asks users if they want to join our user experience program. The setup wizard will clearly indicate that the program collects usage analytics.
The choices should be YES, NO, and DECIDE LATER. And every type of analytic should be defined. If you ever add an analytic -- the sharing turns off and asks for new approval. Perhaps it automatically turns off at each major update.
In addition, we will include a terms of service agreement that further explains our analytics collection.
Nobody reads this stuff. Which makes users nervous. What I just explained above is better. Of course for legal reasons you need to put it in writing somewhere.
We would also like to share we will no longer be collecting telephone numbers, MAC Addresses and WiFi information.
Go a BIG step further. State that absolutely no information of any kind will be collected that isn't specified in the user experience program.
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Some thoughts --
1. I felt this response took a little too long to arrive. Now I'm not saying you should have rushed it. But perhaps a post asking for a little time to get this response right was warranted. It appeared you didn't give a damn for two full days.
2. I've said it before and I'll say it again: you've got to lose this #NeverSettle crap. Because -- yet again -- what are you asking your users to do at this moment? Settle. For crappy behavior. You're right: I should never settle for this kind of bullshit. No one should.
3. I've had a OnePlus phone for about a year now. My first Android. I wouldn't use an iPhone if you gave me one for free. Thank you for my most excellent first experience.
I intend to upgrade my phone a year from now. I must say a OnePlus 6 (or 6T, or whatever will be new at that point) isn't as attractive as it used to be.
Your company has this shenanigans thing that has to stop. That with guaranteed price hikes is a really lethal combination. I've said it before and I'll say it again: OnePlus needs two tiers of phones. The $399 and the $Pricier99. A solid phone and a status phone. Bases covered.
The only way I can recommend iPhone and Samsung users your way is 1.) an affordable entry level or 2.) an amazingly valued flagship and 3.) the knowledge that the company doesn't fornicate with users. You're currently only meeting one of these three criteria.
Which makes it a tough sell right now. To them and now me.
Last edited: Oct 17, 2017
