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Amazon Sidewalk

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Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#51

Post by contravariant »

bijant wrote: post #20

This is a blatant attempt at using their market power to gain a dominant position in IoT connectivity by creating a parallel Network where Net Neutrality does not apply. If this succeeds, only Amazon approved devices will be allowed on this global Network connecting only to aws provided services thereby establishing a monopoly on non-cellular IoT connectivity. After Apples recent move in the same direction with their…

I can't help but feel that this is only a net neutrality issue because we've already given up on letting people freely choose what kind of mesh-networks (if any) their devices get to participate in.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#52

Post by martin8412 »

BrentOzar wrote: post #4

"when you share your Bridge’s connection with Sidewalk, total monthly data used by Sidewalk, per account, is capped at 500MB" Given that it's US-only, where most internet plans have pretty high caps, it's hard for me to get upset about this. I would have expected my Echoes alone to use more than that during normal monthly operation, playing music, fetching news, etc.

Most countries don't have the concept of caps at all except for cellular connections(for obvious reasons)

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#54

Post by KingOfCoders »

lullibrulli3 wrote: post #26
wilde wrote: post #7

TBH the title is a bit misleading. Amazon plans to use your internet for API calls related to its devices, similar to Apple’s Find My network. I’m more curious about the location sharing bit.

sometimes I would love to see an A/B test on HN: swap Amazon and Apple here, call it "Find my Homepod" and see the reactions.

Why an A/B test? Everything Apple and Tesla does is brilliant, everything anyone else does is evil. Thank me later.

Putting that in the HN FAQ would prevent new users losing karma points.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#55

Post by jordz »

"Amazon does not charge any fees to join Amazon Sidewalk"

Not to the end customer anyway. To organizations and developers building on top of the APIs...

Completely against this idea though its a shame its not... "Get paid for hosting a network using the devices you purchase from us"*

Lastly, it is a cost albeit negligible to the end user who installs the device (power, bandwidth, etc).

*I know it wouldn't amount to anything but its a interesting way to think about it.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#56

Post by adam0c »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #54
lullibrulli3 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

sometimes I would love to see an A/B test on HN: swap Amazon and Apple here, call it "Find my Homepod" and see the reactions.

Why an A/B test? Everything Apple and Tesla does is brilliant, everything anyone else does is evil. Thank me later. Putting that in the HN FAQ would prevent new users losing karma points.

name one original thing apple has done that is even good, besides the original ipod? even that isn't! original

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#57

Post by FartyMcFarter »

> helps devices like Amazon Echo devices, Ring Security Cams, outdoor lights, motion sensors, and Tile trackers work better at home and beyond the front door.

I hope they inform their customers that filming and recording public spots or other people's houses in Europe requires advertising the presence of CCTV and adhering to data protection laws.

I have a feeling that in the coming years the number of neighbours suing each other for this kind of thing will become more prevalent.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#58

Post by hownottowrite »

“Preserving customer privacy and security is foundational to how we’ve built Amazon Sidewalk.“

I love that this is the opening line in two back to back FAQ entries. I'm going to make Alexa read it to me for full effect.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#59

Post by fastball »

bijant wrote: post #20

This is a blatant attempt at using their market power to gain a dominant position in IoT connectivity by creating a parallel Network where Net Neutrality does not apply. If this succeeds, only Amazon approved devices will be allowed on this global Network connecting only to aws provided services thereby establishing a monopoly on non-cellular IoT connectivity. After Apples recent move in the same direction with their…

I'm not sure I see how the customer is hurt in this case (or in the case of Apple's AirTags)?

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#60

Post by choeger »

squarefoot wrote: post #50

So, if I buy a so called Smart-TV (not because I like it but because traditional ones are getting harder to find) but don't set up it on my home network so it can't phone home, it could scan around anyway and find other open devices more than willing to participate in my personal data exfiltration? If the Amazon project succeeds, I would expect in a few months most home devices manufacturers, to partner to implement…

This.

That move is just one step further in removing control. They now have sealed devices that can have who knows what functions but are confined to the network. Next step is to have a concealed upstream. After that they will somehow get a legal mandate to force such devices on you (like the EU did with cars). Maybe they will use smoke detectors or "emergency" services. In the end, this is exactly like in 1984.

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