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Introducing Cover

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Re: Introducing Cover

#11

Post by cik »

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access.

How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my data back?

Re: Introducing Cover

#12

Post by ev9 »

srhngpr wrote: post #8
fidotron wrote: post #5

This is a neat idea, however, I fail to see either why it requires so much funding ($1.7m according to TechCrunch) or any server backend whatsoever.

I agree with you. I like the idea and concept, but I prefer that apps like this actually let me do some of the teaching manually. Perhaps try to define the apps I want to appear at certain times of the day. One of the reasons I stopped using Aviate was that I felt like their scenes just didn't really match what i was doing at the time.

I'd assume you prefer to do it yourself is because you haven't found a system that does it well enough for you to let go of control? Or are you just the kind of person who tends to like to do things the harder way?

I wouldn't blame you for being the latter - it's kind of like people who prefer to drive a manual transmission to automatic.

Re: Introducing Cover

#13

Post by ev9 »

ejp wrote: post #4

This looks really slick! How well does it work with some kind of lock-screen security? The UX for that is always a hassle, and I'd love to find someone who is doing it well.

I'd imagine they're ignoring lock screen stuff for the moment. When you send them your email address they ask if you use a lock screen. I bet they're filtering invites to those who don't. MVP, and whatnot.

Re: Introducing Cover

#14

Post by zwily »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

Isn't this just an extension of what Google Now does? Do you mean that you'll never be okay with the idea, unless it's Google doing it?

Re: Introducing Cover

#15

Post by tene »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

So, let's say your worst fears are true, and it's sending up a log of every app you use. What happens then? What's the harm? I'm not being rhetorical, I really don't follow what the fear is here. I can't imagine how my life would be any different if some company knows that I launched chrome at 12:22, then hangouts at 12:30, then some half-assed game at 12:35.

Re: Introducing Cover

#16

Post by what_ever »

sscalia wrote: post #2

Neat idea, elegantly executed. Exceeds the design standards typical of Android apps. I've never liked Android's implementation of home/app screens (widgets + some apps, tap to reveal all your apps). I guess if you want a lot of clocks, Android is great. This adds another app/button layer...

Hah, widgets is the feature which makes Android great for me. I don't need to open each and every app every time to see the state and I can see multiple things right on my homescreen at the same time. It's so much more than "lot of clocks". In fact lock screen widgets are even better since I don't even have to unlock my phone to see widgets and updates.

I suppose the app drawer concept is the same between iOS and Android and I get an option - (which is important) if you don't like having multiple homescreens, you can just disable it. I can arrange all work related apps and widgets on left homescreen, all personal on the right. And all the other apps remain in the drawer. On iOS, I don't get this option.

Re: Introducing Cover

#17

Post by avree »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

How do you know that Google is not doing all this as part of the Android OS? Or any other app on your phone that requests network access?

Secondly, why would you care?

Re: Introducing Cover

#18

Post by bitwizzle »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

Apps on your phone (that have the right permissions) already have the ability to do everything that this app does. Did you personally audit the source code/reverse engineer every app to find out whether it is abusing these privileges? Do you trust the author of every privileged app on your phone?

This is the reality of smart phones. The only difference with this app is that it is upfront about profiling you. Coverscreen has a lot to lose if it anyone finds out they are misusing your data. You should be more worried about apps that aren't telling you how you're being profiled/monitored.

Re: Introducing Cover

#19

Post by [deleted] »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

[deleted]

Re: Introducing Cover

#20

Post by MWil »

cik wrote: post #11

This terrifies me. There's an instant problem of paranoia, and trust here. I would never be okay with the idea of an application monitoring what I'm doing, in order to reorder itself. Mind you, I say all this without knowing if it requests network access. How do I know you're not sending my usage patterns upstream to CoverCorp? How do I know that you're not reading the Android Music Provider database, and sharing my…

I agree. Wouldn't an optimal solution (from both consumer and business viewpoints) be to have 3 "chips" that use NFC or some other touch enabled technology - home, car, work. You stick them wherever you want actually.
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