Discussion (197 points, 8 months ago, 132 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44587018
Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
11–20 of 265 posts
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is for kids who don't yet have a smart phone, not as a smart phone replacement for kids who already had smartphones. I made something similar for my kids(basically, a phone with buttons that can call a fixed set of people), and my kids love it, and use it multiple times per day.
If the kid doesn't have a smartphone, and looks around and sees kids who do have one, they're gonna be envious and pissed when their parents tell them they can't have one. I know because it's analogous to what I felt when I was still slumming it with my TI-99/4A when every other kid had a NES back in the late 80s.
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is for kids who don't yet have a smart phone, not as a smart phone replacement for kids who already had smartphones. I made something similar for my kids(basically, a phone with buttons that can call a fixed set of people), and my kids love it, and use it multiple times per day.
If the kid doesn't have a smartphone, and looks around and sees kids who do have one, they're gonna be envious and pissed when their parents tell them they can't have one. I know because it's analogous to what I felt when I was still slumming it with my TI-99/4A when every other kid had a NES back in the late 80s.
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even if they play with it for 5 minutes it's a fun little science lesson if the parents bother to explain what is happening.
$100 is a lot for 5 minutes of fun.
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
Even if they play with it for 5 minutes it's a fun little science lesson if the parents bother to explain what is happening.
$100 is a lot for 5 minutes of fun.
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#16I read the previous discussion, oof:
S04dKHzrKT wrote
Make note of the privacy policy[1]. Some users may not like the data they collect. > Information Collected from Children: As detailed in Section 3.C, we collect voice audio during calls, call log information, and utilize the Parent-provided contact list in relation to the Child's use of the Tin Can Device. We may also collect device identifiers and technical usage data related to the Service.
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#17This is the ultimate "parents think it's great, kids will think it's lame" product. I mean, I like it. And just the name conjures images of GenXers yelling at clouds on TikTok about how they used to use tin cans or Solo cups connected with string to talk to their friends, so it's clear who they're targeting with the marketing. But if I were 11-13yo and I got this when all my friends got an iPhone? I'd be furious. But…
Two use cases: 1. Allowing the kids to call parents and no one else , without all the extra baggage that comes with a smartphone. 2. Multiple families getting together and deciding this is how their kids will communicate with each other (i.e. all agreeing not to get smartphones for their kids). > But if I were 11-13yo and I got this when all my friends got an iPhone? I'd be furious. If you've decided they're not gett…
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#18Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#19This is the ultimate "parents think it's great, kids will think it's lame" product. I mean, I like it. And just the name conjures images of GenXers yelling at clouds on TikTok about how they used to use tin cans or Solo cups connected with string to talk to their friends, so it's clear who they're targeting with the marketing. But if I were 11-13yo and I got this when all my friends got an iPhone? I'd be furious. But…
Re: Tin Can, a 'landline' for kids
#20> Alarmingly, some Gen Zers don't say "hello" when they answer a phone call; they expect the caller to just start talking. I'm an older Gen-X and I've stopped doing this unless I recognize the caller. I'm not going to give a scammer anything to build a voice print on. I also use the stock greeting for voicemail instead of a personal one.