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Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

techcrunch.com

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Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#21

Post by thehappypm »

jdlyga wrote: post #2

We use BlueJeans at work, and for my part time master's program. It doesn't have virtual backgrounds like Zoom, but it is very reliable and easy to use.

Despite numerous installs, I can't actually directly open BlueJeans. If I open it from the start menu it hangs. If I open a direct link, it works (usually) and takes me right to the meeting, then I can end the meeting and use the program as normal.

The lack of quality control that means a program can't be simply opened cold is baffling.

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#22

Post by Traster »

tetrisgm wrote: post #9

I've seen about 10 different articles against Zoom during the past 3 days. I really don't enjoy using Zoom, but the volume and frequency of criticism is odd. Has anyone figured out where it's coming from?

Zoom has gone from being a boring piece of enterprise software to being central in lots of engineers lives and unfortunately they were in the "grow quickly and apologise later" section of their development cycle when they suddenly were big and were apologizing.

They prioritzed ease of use on the engineering side, and corporate sales on the business side. They never planned ot be mission critical, but don't think for a second that ever stopped any of their sales team.

The backlash is well deserved, entirely inevitable, and incredibly unlikely to make any difference.

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#23

Post by thehappypm »

y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #6

Reliability goes a long way and Zoom is very reliable, especially considering the recent spike of users. I value privacy, but I think the jury is still out on this company. They need time to react to the public scolding they're enduring as of late. Hopefully things change for the better and they take security more seriously after this. EDIT: A word

Seriously. They made a great product that just works in a space where most competitors (BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime) just have crazy drawbacks. Give them a chance to make things right ffs.

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#24

Post by gowld »

thehappypm wrote: post #23
y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #6

Reliability goes a long way and Zoom is very reliable, especially considering the recent spike of users. I value privacy, but I think the jury is still out on this company. They need time to react to the public scolding they're enduring as of late. Hopefully things change for the better and they take security more seriously after this. EDIT: A word

Seriously. They made a great product that just works in a space where most competitors (BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime) just have crazy drawbacks. Give them a chance to make things right ffs.

Didn't they have a chance, and intentionally made things wrong, repeatedly, for years?

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#25

Post by sneak »

thehappypm wrote: post #23
y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #6

Reliability goes a long way and Zoom is very reliable, especially considering the recent spike of users. I value privacy, but I think the jury is still out on this company. They need time to react to the public scolding they're enduring as of late. Hopefully things change for the better and they take security more seriously after this. EDIT: A word

Seriously. They made a great product that just works in a space where most competitors (BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Skype, FaceTime) just have crazy drawbacks. Give them a chance to make things right ffs.

This would be a legitimate argument if their pervasive shadiness and deployment of dark patterns were an accident, or an error. It's not. They have already done things "right" in their view, and it is reflected consistently in their actions.

If they make any corrections now, it will be on a PR basis in response to perceived customer upset, not because they are sorry or wish to respect users or privacy. They've been actively and plainly lying throughout this thing.

You can't even use Zoom without agreeing (via their abusive TOS) give up your civil rights.

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#26

Post by sneak »

tetrisgm wrote: post #9

I've seen about 10 different articles against Zoom during the past 3 days. I really don't enjoy using Zoom, but the volume and frequency of criticism is odd. Has anyone figured out where it's coming from?

With more widespread use, it is becoming obvious to more people that they are shady liars.

https://daringfireball.net/linked/2020/03/31/zoom-e2e

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#28

Post by hodgesrm »

y-c-o-m-b wrote: post #6

Reliability goes a long way and Zoom is very reliable, especially considering the recent spike of users. I value privacy, but I think the jury is still out on this company. They need time to react to the public scolding they're enduring as of late. Hopefully things change for the better and they take security more seriously after this. EDIT: A word

I'm optimistic. Overall they got basic technology and market fit right in a very competitive market. They have had security issues but don't seem anywhere near the worst offender. That honor probably goes to Windows OS releases of yore.

The security problems seem fixable if they put their minds to it. Other companies have messed this up but later regained trust.

Re: Maybe we shouldn’t use Zoom after all

#29

Post by Animats »

dumbfoundded wrote: post #4
bryan_w wrote: post #3

Whoever is orchestrating this hitjob against zoom, is doing a bad job of it. Most people are going to ignore articles like this. After a certain amount of stories, outrage fatigue sets in and people start to see it as a hit piece and dismiss it, no matter how bad it really is.

No one forced Zoom to do any of the shady things they're doing. The idea of it being a "hitjob" feels silly given all of the article's claims have evidence. It's simply what you get for going in the spotlight. That being said, I do feel the tech industry gets more than it's fair share of criticism. Maybe it's just we've become complacent with the ways that other industries abuse their customers.

No one forced Zoom to do any of the shady things they're doing.

I wonder how much Facebook is paying Zoom to snoop on Zoom's customers.

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