Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

soundguys.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 431 posts

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#151

Post by ubercow13 »

BTCOG wrote: post #107
sascha_sl wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Bose 700 recently patched in EQ support, I'd say that's a reason.

So to each of you with the same response; You're totally ok being sold an unfinished product, paying too high of a price for it, and then having to opt into privacy violations to use a device which should have worked from day one out of the factory. Got it. Noise cancellation in headphones is a gimmick and a fad. High end studio monitors do not typically use it, and it distorts the experience. It makes sense if you'r…

How's it different to any other software? Why should I be sold an 'unfinished' PC operating system that requires updates? Is that asinine?

You don't have to update any firmware if you don't want to. It doesn't mean the product is unfinished. In the past, improvements to firmware would have just been kept for the next revision of a hardware product, requiring you to pay for a whole new physical product just to get that new software.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#152

Post by phreack »

vongomben wrote: post #138
sebastien_b wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Ask yourself (as the article does): why would they even need this data? (menstrual cycle?? Really!?!)

Well menstrual cicle is a gold mine. But I miss the connection with headphones...

The obvious reason is money and a lack of ethics, but the dogwhistle reason is that these headphones are supposed to be used with a health and fitness app.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#153

Post by JumpCrisscross »

organsnyder wrote: post #137
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they will last longer and thus be be better for the environment This isn’t necessarily true. My wireless headphones have been with me for years. My wired earbuds are cheap enough that I can lose or damage them without care. The former are far better for the environment.

Of course it's not a universal rule. But apples-to-apples, with a wired vs. wireless set of similar construction, cost, and intended use, the wired will outlast the wireless, solely due to the battery (not to mention the other complexities inherent to a wireless set).

> apples-to-apples, with a wired vs. wireless set of similar construction, cost, and intended use

These aren’t independent variables. Most consumers I know will pay more for wireless headphones. They’re more convenient, and they’re anchored at a higher price point.

As such, I’ve watched lots of friends go from buying cheap earbuds monthly to having a pair of AirPods for years.

There is a lot of moralising around wired versus wireless. I’m pushing back against that fad.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#154

Post by myth2018 »

Drugstores in Brazil are doing it and that concerns me A LOT.

Their modus operandi is to ask you your CPF (it's like an SSN, but not that secret and powerful) and, if you refuse to tell them, you are not eligible for some discounts which can reach 40% in some more expensive items.

Customers happily agree to give their CPFs, completely unaware they are of the potentially disastrous consequences, and we are not even offered something resembling a privacy policy.

Think of the uses of such data. Health insurers could use them to detect and even predict health issues. One could estimate menstrual cycles and even the size of your genitalia.

A Brazilian data protection law is about to become active within the next weeks, but honestly.. such data shouldn't even be collected at all.

I'm looking for support for a bill to forbid drugstores to collect CPFs and to offer any sort of discount to people who identify themselves, but I believe this should be more publicized before being discussed for voting by the Congress. The more active drugstores on the "data business" are part of huge chains and their lobby will definitely be massive. Society should be aware of that and counterbalance for such lobby.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#156

Post by Larrikin »

starky wrote: post #70
qmmmur wrote: post #51

Mine don't because they're hard wired into whatever device I use.

Exactly, it will be a cold day in hell before I buy a pair of headphones that I have to charge on order to make them work or have any "smart" features.

I broke down when I finally found good noise cancelling headphones that will continue working without battery. The annoying part now is that layering pass through audio of the outside world on top of what I'm listening to has become pretty nice.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#157

Post by pureliquidhw »

sascha_sl wrote: post #99
pureliquidhw wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you need the app to switch that to noise cancellation level from digital assistant activation.

the bose 700 has 3 buttons one for on/off, hold to pair, hold long to reset bluetooth one for noise cancellation one for assistant in addition it has the transport controls / battery response touch controls on the right earcup

I was referring to the parent's QC35II's which has an app configurable button for voice assistant OR noise cancellation adjustments.

The newer Bose 700's do have all that you have listed.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#158

Post by [deleted] »

zelly wrote: post #128
heavyset_go wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone, including headphone manufacturers, are trying to get in on the gold rush that is turning their customers into fonts of personal data that can be sold to the highest bidder.

I see this sentiment mentioned a lot, but who actually pays for this data? Is there a company I can call that will buy my amorphous "user data"? What are their names?

[deleted]

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#159

Post by ddingus »

Not mine with the simple wire.

The digital video transition has been a net good, though I will say analog output is easier, takes fewer resources, but those are plentiful. No worries.

Audio isn't the same. All existing gear remains relevant.

The data collection is something I hate viscerally.

Also why I do not stream music.

Re: Headphones are collecting too much personal data (2019)

#160

Post by lrnStats »

wbkang wrote: post #31
baochan wrote: post #22

How exactly does a headphone app have access to your alcohol use and menstruation history? Where is it pulling this data from?

It's one of the data types apple health can collect. The headphones app probably asked for all possible types of healthkit data.

If that stock takes a tumble, you can bet their marketing is going to drop the privacy branding.

Everyone knows their customers are highly susceptible to marketing, it would be a gold mine.

Post reply on HN