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Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

reuters.com

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Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#311

Post by mtnGoat »

spectramax wrote: post #305
Oblouk wrote: post #295

It will be interesting to see how Google uses the fitbit data. I could see them synchronizing a user's searches with their heartbeat information to try to gauge emotional response to topics.

This obsession of pervasive targeted ads, and A/B testing methods needs to stop. I have stopped using all google services except for search and YouTube. Apple Maps is fine now, if you need a free email account, you can get one on iCloud.com. Who are these soulless marketing execs that are OK with using this type of extremely personal health data!? There should be a moral objection, which evidently isn’t there. That’s…

sometimes i wonder if the oversized paychecks at some of these companies are for the people with the best skills, or the people with the least morals.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#312

Post by salsadip »

spectramax wrote: post #305
Oblouk wrote: post #295

It will be interesting to see how Google uses the fitbit data. I could see them synchronizing a user's searches with their heartbeat information to try to gauge emotional response to topics.

This obsession of pervasive targeted ads, and A/B testing methods needs to stop. I have stopped using all google services except for search and YouTube. Apple Maps is fine now, if you need a free email account, you can get one on iCloud.com. Who are these soulless marketing execs that are OK with using this type of extremely personal health data!? There should be a moral objection, which evidently isn’t there. That’s…

I guess moral only exists for things which were a problem for a long time. Mass data collection is a relatively new thing. So morals around data collection don't really exist; ask the average person on the street how much they care about this. Result is those non-existent morals weren't able to be codified in law hence no wonder somebody is out there 'exploiting' this.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#313

Post by [deleted] »

B1FF_PSUVM wrote: post #307
eckza wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not absolutely fucking horrifying or anything.

Around 2005 or so, Google floated (and let sink) the creepy idea that you should let them listen to your mic, so that they could supply useful info, for instance about the football game you were watching. This is now the new normal. Pretty sure whatever is now weird will soon be normal too, given a spreadsheet or two to push it through. (Heinlein was not nearly imaginative enough about the Crazy Years, no one could b…

[deleted]

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#314

Post by dwoozle »

ip26 wrote: post #136
not2b wrote: post #91

Very bad news for anyone who has a Fitbit device. Google tends to destroy any "smart" devices they acquire; first they tie it more closely to their ecosystem, too much for comfort, then they remove features, then they get bored and neglect it, then you have a brick.

Hoping this doesn't happen with the Nest Thermostat. The good news is the install base is huge, so it's not like they can just quietly brick them and have no one notice.

They have already taken out API support which for some smart home users was equivalent to bricking. I wonder if there will be a class action lawsuit.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#316

Post by TeMPOraL »

calypso wrote: post #273
dTal wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My EOL Pebble doesn't use any servers at all, with Gadgetbridge. Why should moving data from my watch to my phone, over bluetooth, require a server on the internet? Silliness.

An app store, watch face store, dictation, weather. those features are the reason it requires a server. That's what you give up by not using rebble or similar services.

You can sideload Pebble apps AFAIR. I vaguely recall doing that recently to restore the watchface on my wife's Pebble after migrating it to a new phone.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#317

Post by hirundo »

spectramax wrote: post #305
Oblouk wrote: post #295

It will be interesting to see how Google uses the fitbit data. I could see them synchronizing a user's searches with their heartbeat information to try to gauge emotional response to topics.

This obsession of pervasive targeted ads, and A/B testing methods needs to stop. I have stopped using all google services except for search and YouTube. Apple Maps is fine now, if you need a free email account, you can get one on iCloud.com. Who are these soulless marketing execs that are OK with using this type of extremely personal health data!? There should be a moral objection, which evidently isn’t there. That’s…

It's only horrifying if it's not opt-in.

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#318

Post by Wowfunhappy »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #316
calypso wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An app store, watch face store, dictation, weather. those features are the reason it requires a server. That's what you give up by not using rebble or similar services.

You can sideload Pebble apps AFAIR. I vaguely recall doing that recently to restore the watchface on my wife's Pebble after migrating it to a new phone.

You can. It's nice to have a working app store though!

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#319

Post by jammygit »

interestica wrote: post #271
gnicholas wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, we will continue to take measures to protect the confidentiality of personal information and give affected users notice before transferring any personal information to a new entity. from https://www.fitbit.com/legal/privacy-policy

"we're giving you notice. You can't do anything, but we are letting you know."

Can you not delete it first? If you really can’t do anything at all, that’s rough

Re: Alphabet in bid to buy Fitbit

#320

Post by lrem »

quickthrower2 wrote: post #242
TimMurnaghan wrote: post #76

Anybody know a good way to get your data out of fitbit? I've got a year's worth of decent data and it's obviously at risk if google shutter it. Also I don't want them to have it - so I guess I'm in the market for something independent.

Wait for Google to do the takeover, then do a Google takeout to get your data.

Doesn't help with GP not wanting the data in Google's systems.
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