Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says • Hacker News Board

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#101

Post by portlander12345 » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:24 PM UTC

wyager wrote: post #94

philfrasty wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have a better suggestion for bluetooth + active noise cancelling please...be my guest...

If you don't mind IEMs, they offer superior sound blocking to over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, especially with foam earpieces. If that works for you, get any decent pair of Shure IEMs (or anything that uses the MMCX connector). Then you can purchase a Bluetooth receiver that connects to any brand of MMCX IEMs. This is nice because now the most expensive part (the IEM) you can keep using for as long a…

Ok, what if you do mind IEMs?

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#102

Post by raspasov » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:28 PM UTC

krrrh wrote: post #70

raspasov wrote: post #57

Ok, this is DEFINITELY NOT cool (+ the fact I own those and I have the app installed). One small note of optimism (but not coming from Bose) is this: http://imgur.com/a/ezLUi (i.e. the iOS on/off setting for Background App Refresh - I have it globally off for the whole device, always). So I don't think once the app is not running that there's an easy/Apple approved way for them to keep running to app to transmit data…

It could easily store and forward data the next time you open the app though.

Correct, if it has meaningful storage on the headphones - anyone know if that's the case?

In any case, I would encourage everyone to delete the app at this point.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#103

Post by mahyarm » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:30 PM UTC

ungzd wrote: post #32

Reading about spying headphones on website where video with sound starts automatically and continues to play when pressing pause (but jumps to right corner, just like hoaxes for Windows 95 where "start" button evaded mouse) — we're living in adtechpunk world.

We need in-page javascript popup blockers like we needed normal popup blockers 14 years ago.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#104

Post by DavidTWco » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:36 PM UTC

throwasehasdwi wrote: post #58

ungzd wrote: post #32

Reading about spying headphones on website where video with sound starts automatically and continues to play when pressing pause (but jumps to right corner, just like hoaxes for Windows 95 where "start" button evaded mouse) — we're living in adtechpunk world.

Enable the tab mute button that's existed in chrome for years but is still hidden: Go to URL chrome://flags in a new tab Search for the ‘Enable tab audio muting UI control’ flag Hit the ‘Enable’ link Relaunch Chrome when prompted (on Chrome OS a full restart is required) Now you can click the little speaker that appears next to the tab's close button when a tab is playing sound to stop that tab from playing audio. Go…

You can right click the tab and "Mute Tab" without having to enable anything in the flags.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#105

Post by snovv_crash » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:44 PM UTC

0x0 wrote: post #25

crazygringo wrote: post #22

I would understand it if the app were tracking how often the headphones were connected, when they were actually being used, or possibly even which app is playing audio (e.g. how much are the headphones being used for listening to music vs podcasts vs videogames) -- although this should all be done anonymously. But the idea that the app can detect which music or podcasts I'm listening to, and build a profile from that…

The app shows metadata about the currently playing track, such as title and artist, so it really does look like it has full access to what is currently playing. This is discomforting. What if I am playing a locally synced file "board meeting xyz company case abc something secret in the title.mp3"

Or even worse, something HIPPA protected. They could be in for a world of hurt here.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#106

Post by burntwater » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:44 PM UTC

linker3000 wrote: post #71

throwasehasdwi wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also have two sets, they....were... awesome. I can't believe Bose would betray users trust like that when they're known for high quality products.

/Not sure if serious.

I assume you're wondering if the "high quality" part is serious. The fact is, they do generally make good quality products. They may be overpriced for what they are (the "Bose tax"), but they're still good quality. Their current noise canceling headphones are considered among, if not the, best ones available right now.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#107

Post by theseatoms » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:45 PM UTC

Is anyone compiling a black-list of companies that implicitly charge users by quietly (or not-so-quietly) collecting their data? This is increasingly becoming the consumer protection issue of our time.

A white-list of companies that do NOT do this could also be useful, especially as alternatives to companies on the black-list.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#108

Post by snovv_crash » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:47 PM UTC

ohstopitu wrote: post #74

wow! I own a couple of these headsets, and while I've never used the app (I don't feel the need to install an app for an headphone device thank you very much), I'm disappointed in Bose. Does anyone know any other headphone manufacturer that's got as good a sound + build quality as Bose?

I'm loving my Sennheiser Momentum wireless phones. However, apparently the current king of the hill is the new Sony MDR-1000X. Better noise cancelling than Bose, and sound quality as good as the Sennheiser.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#109

Post by orthecreedence » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:48 PM UTC

heyravi wrote: post #97

Soo. Do we get money? Or smth. I use bose wireless headphones.

Yes, look out for your $2.4M check in the mail.

Re: Bose Headphones Spy on Users, Lawsuit Says

#110

Post by chronic940 » Wed, Apr 19, 2017, 6:50 PM UTC

squarefoot wrote: post #18

Arizhel wrote: post #8

What I think would be interesting is: what if a company like this made an app like this, but then clearly stated to users that it'd be collecting data on them and sending it to marketers? They could even pitch it as helping to keep prices "low". How much would this hurt sales? Would it even hurt sales at all? Given the proliferation of "smart TVs" and various IoT devices, I'm extremely skeptical that a company would…

The problem is that they could do some damage to the user even in perfect good faith. Just think about someone who listens music at unusually high levels or with channels heavily unbalanced compared to someone with normal hearing abilities. That innocuous information if leaked could hurt the user insurance or job opportunities. I have no idea if their app collects this information too, but it's just a matter of time…

> Just think about someone who listens music at unusually high levels or with channels heavily unbalanced compared to someone with normal hearing abilities. That innocuous information if leaked could hurt the user insurance or job opportunities.

A person who listens to music at unusually loud levels SHOULD be charged more for insurance. Just as a 24 year old Asian single male software engineer in Mountain View gets charged more for car insurance. And if you have poor hearing skills, I sure as hell don't want you on my Marvel Studios audio engineering team (example)

It seems that your really want everyone to be treated equally when in reality it will never happen, and in fact comments like yours increase the disparity.