Live data from Hacker News

Amazon Sidewalk

amazon.com

321–330 of 687 posts

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are oftentimes way more expense, I'm guessing because you aren't subsidizing the cost with your data.

More likely market segmentation- it's a lot easier to sell a panel to a business for $2000 than it is to sell the same panel to a consumer for $500.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#322

Didn't you see the part where it's been designed to protect your privacy? It's only there to make sure all the cameras and internet microphones around your neighborhood stay live. You know, to protect your privacy.

None of that actually refutes the parent commentators concerns though. That's what its designed for sure, but his concern is what if it is taken further down the road? It's a speculative question sure, but there is nothing wrong with asking it.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#323
post #15

Please don’t support Amazon from creating another network-effect product that creates vendor lock-in, and privacy issues. Convenience should not be the end-all goal, as the ad blatantly states, but instead interoperability and open-protocols.

Convenience is way too alluring for the general public I am afraid. But I completely agree.

I dont know how i feel about this comment. It's almost as if there's the perception that the general public are a bunch of robots/sheep incapable of making their own decisions. I can sympathize with that perspective but need to draw the line and believe that people have a choice. Perhaps I'm being too naive.

If we look beyond Amazon, Apple has basically built their entire business model under the guise of "convenience." It's so convenient that you never will leave their ecosystem. If/when you attempt to leave, they'll make it so painful that you'll give up in frustration.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So armed Amazon goons kicking down your door and bringing you to the dungeons of the Ministry of Customer Obsession to be tortured with fake cattle prod knockoffs?

Nope. Much more like this: You are legally obliged to install a smart meter, smart smoke detector and smart heating control in your home. If you rent, your landlord will install these things. If you own the authorities will inspect the presence and operation of these devices and fine you if you don't comply. All these devices will be offered by companies like amazon. Coincidentally, amazon lobbyists shape the laws th…

> You are legally obliged to install a smart meter, smart smoke detector and smart heating control in your home

If that's all they do, what's the problem here? All three have big and direct positives for everyone ( you, your home, your community) - a smart heating control saves energy ( climate catastrophe incoming, so could be useful), a smart smoke detector can alert the fire department if smoke is ongoing for more than X time, and a smart meter can be used to accurately predict, distribute, reduce and bill energy consumption. And if they all stay in their lane, there aren't many privacy downsides.

Edit: I'd appreciate a response to go with the downvotes and tell me what i'm missing

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#325
post #214
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…

These are private LANs. They don't own a public network. It will piggyback on your home ISP. I'm pretty sure this is just to simplify IoT network discovery

It will piggyback on any Echo (or compatible product) owner's ISP.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#326

Didn't you see the part where it's been designed to protect your privacy? It's only there to make sure all the cameras and internet microphones around your neighborhood stay live. You know, to protect your privacy.

None of that actually refutes the parent commentators concerns though. That's what its designed for sure, but his concern is what if it is taken further down the road? It's a speculative question sure, but there is nothing wrong with asking it.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#328
post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are oftentimes way more expense, I'm guessing because you aren't subsidizing the cost with your data.

I don't believe for a second that data is subsidizing anything. It's a revenue stream, sure, but prices haven't gone down as data collection went up.

Prices haven't gone down? So before smart TV's were a thing 70" 4K TVs could be had for $650?

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#329
Did anyone ask the lawyers about this one before they committed to this idea? I do not want a situation where individuals can have search warrants issued to Amazon who as a network provider can scan/canvas an entire neighborhood for a suspected crime. Encryption doesn't really cover the fact that it creates a universal backdoor to private networks that work with Amazon products. Just because they claim customer privacy does not insulate them from being served a legal order to produce records/provide access. This feels like a compute crime law nightmare.

Re: Amazon Sidewalk

#330

Didn't you see the part where it's been designed to protect your privacy? It's only there to make sure all the cameras and internet microphones around your neighborhood stay live. You know, to protect your privacy.

None of that actually refutes the parent commentators concerns though. That's what its designed for sure, but his concern is what if it is taken further down the road? It's a speculative question sure, but there is nothing wrong with asking it.

Parent comment was tongue in cheek.
Post reply on HN