• Los Angeles Times et al., Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:55 PM

Further testing consumers' patience over privacy and personal information sharing, Apple is now reportedly collecting the "precise," "real-time geographic location" of iPhone, iPad and even computer users.

To cover its back, "In an updated version of its privacy policy, the company added a paragraph noting that once users agree, Apple and unspecified 'partners and licensees' may collect and store user location data," reports The Los Angeles Times.

"This sounds reasonable, except that all iPhone users who want to download applications or media via the iTunes Store are forced to agree to the policy," writes MobilBeat. "Otherwise they are blocked from downloading anything, so it really isn't an option."

And while, "The company says the data is anonymous and does not personally identify users," the Times adds. "Analysts have shown, however, that large, specific data sets can be used to identify people based on behavior patterns."

Quoting directly from the LA Times coverage of the news, CNet writes: "Apple's policy update appears to be causing a small bit of alarm because of the phrase 'real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device,' though Apple is clear about saying that the location data is collected in a way that does not identify the person who owns the device and that it is used expressly 'to provide location-based services.'"

"Apple's same privacy policy doesn't give iPhone users any choice when it comes to location data on their phones - -it is tracking their location, and reserves the right to share it with 'partners and licensees,'" writes MediaMemo. "Whether or not that creeps you out likely depends on your attitude toward services like Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter: If you spend your time broadcasting your status to the world, it's hard to get riled up about Apple keeping tabs on you, too."

What's more, Apple has added a "Location Services" page, which allows users to prevent apps from using location information. "However, there's nothing to indicate that these settings prevent Apple itself from gathering and storing location data from Apple devices," notes the LA Times.

Notes ReadWriteWeb: "It would be nice if Apple were more specific on how long its partners are allowed to retain your information."

Read the whole story at Los Angeles Times et al. »