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Facebook Delays Home-Speaker Unveil Amid Data Crisis (bloomberg.com)
Bloomberg reports: Facebook has decided not to unveil new home products at its major developer conference in May, in part because the public is currently so outraged about the social network's data-privacy practices, according to people familiar with the matter. The company's new hardware products, connected speakers with digital-assistant and video-chat capabilities, are undergoing a deeper review to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data, the people said.
While the hardware wasn't expected to be available until the fall, the company had hoped to preview the devices at the largest annual gathering of Facebook developers, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal plans. The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook's collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes.
While the hardware wasn't expected to be available until the fall, the company had hoped to preview the devices at the largest annual gathering of Facebook developers, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal plans. The devices are part of Facebook's plan to become more intimately involved with users' everyday social lives, using artificial intelligence -- following a path forged by Amazon.com and its Echo in-home smart speakers. As concerns escalate about Facebook's collection and use of personal data, now may be the wrong time to ask consumers to trust it with even more information by placing a connected device in their homes.
That would be a great poll idea, wouldn't it?
Which smart speaker would you trust the most?
Apple HomePod
Amazon Echo
Google Home
Facebook what's-its-name
#DeleteFacebook
Who on Earth would want Facebook anything?
FTFY
#DeleteFacebook
to ensure that they make the right trade-offs regarding user data
There are things you just shouldn't have any authority to decide on trade-offs for, and especially trade-offs on the behalf of others.
I think this highlights why the US needs data protection regulations like the EU and other European countries have, where personal data is owned by the user, and not the company that collects it, and where companies who create databases of user data beyond what's needed for a transaction have to provide a justification and obtain a permit.
Giving them a carte blanche and letting them decide for themselves what "trade-offs" they want to play is stupid.
That would be a great poll idea, wouldn't it?
You're missing the last option.
In this case, I'd actually trust Cowboyneal listening in my living room more than any of the above.
I just picked Google because it seems like the worse actor between them and Amazon. I don't want any company having a mic in my house, but I'm not going to judge people who decide they value the convenience these devices add over their aversion to an open mic. Why any company? Because these devices provide value for some users and not everyone sees targeted advertising as an invasion of their privacy. If the mic doesn't bother somebody and they really want to be able to say, "Alexa play light jazz," that's not my decision to make for them.
Between Facebook, Google, and Amazon, I really don't trust any of them to be responsible with my data. Why can't Microsoft make one of these? Reliable, trustworthy Microsoft.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
...Alexa powered fleshlight...
I'd go with Alexa, but I'd be thinking of Siri.
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
I can't believe anyone wants this type of appliance in their place. First, if you want decent sound, you need two speakers, and none of these support that. Apple will in a future update, but not right now. Second, do I need another privacy violating device? Not really. My desktop machine doesn't have a mic or camera on it unless I plug in a headset, and that is fine with me.
What does this device give someone? If I want Siri or whatnot, my phone can handle that. If I want music, I have good Yamaha monitors that can be cranked, and give a far more accurate reproduction of sound than what Bluetooth can do. There isn't anything that this device gives that is worth having the extreme invasions of privacy that go with them. Plus, they are not cheap. For the price of one, I can get a decent set of decent speakers.
My wife's grandmother can' see a damned thing. For her, to be to ask a question and get an audible response is a real improvement to her quality of life.
But I wouldn't want that shit in MY house.