Amazon Echo

Post by Karunamon » Thu, Nov 06, 2014, 6:54 PM UTC

Someone1234 wrote: post #59

andrewstuart2 wrote: post #4

> With enhanced noise cancellation, Echo can hear you ask a question even while it's playing music. I read: "Our cloud servers can hear you, no matter what." It's a killer idea. It's too bad privacy concerns might lead it to an early grave.

I grow tired of this pathetic baseless fear mongering every single time anything is posted with voice control. You people completely ignore the mode of operation and start making idiotic claims about "well NSA!" In this case, as the website makes clear, you have to say the word "Alexa" for it to start listening. If you had been paying attention to the mobile scene even a little bit you'd know that this is on-chip lis…

Post by melling » Thu, Nov 06, 2014, 6:54 PM UTC

hackuser wrote: post #257

melling wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I was just having this conversation 4 days ago. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8545144 There's always a guy on HN who wants to warn everyone like we're all a bunch of idiots. It's ok to be paranoid but we should file it under an FAQ. Our time is probably better spent discussing the value of the product itself. Hopefully, we get to that today.

> idiots > paranoid I don't see much difference between calling someone an "idiot", and calling them "paranoid" and dismissing their concerns to an FAQ. > Our time is probably better spent discussing the value of the product itself. Confidentiality has a large impact on the product's value, at least for many people. I don't see them as independent issues. If you feel, like many, that confidentiality is necessary to i…

Post by hackuser » Thu, Nov 06, 2014, 6:55 PM UTC

anigbrowl wrote: post #248

chatmasta wrote: post #87

This "internet-of-things" trend coincides unfortunately with the "dragnet surveillance" trend. With every new product launch from a "cloud company," I increasingly feel as if I'm reading the tombstone of modern society. The selling point behind these devices is convenience, but at the cost of security. I don't think I need to explain to HN why an always-on, internet connected voice recording device is something to ke…

Most people don't care because they're not culpable enough to feel paranoid. Some percentage of people will be unjustly exploited, but probably not enough to offset the economic benefits that technology like this brings to its users. I think your focus on 'the people vs the government' is misplaced, because government is just a sort of social technology which can be used and abused like any other technology depending…

Post by dewang » Thu, Nov 06, 2014, 6:56 PM UTC

jewel wrote: post #259

dandroid1 wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worst case, it's a music streaming speaker that doesn't require you to stream via bluetooth. I wonder how the audio stacks up against something like the Bose SoundLink.

I've been using a chromecast + an HDMI audio splitter as a cheap way to stream. It works really well for apps that support chromecast, such as pandora.

Post by isomorphic » Thu, Nov 06, 2014, 6:56 PM UTC

javert wrote: post #235

chatmasta wrote: post #87

This "internet-of-things" trend coincides unfortunately with the "dragnet surveillance" trend. With every new product launch from a "cloud company," I increasingly feel as if I'm reading the tombstone of modern society. The selling point behind these devices is convenience, but at the cost of security. I don't think I need to explain to HN why an always-on, internet connected voice recording device is something to ke…

> Yes, I'm trying to get on a list at the NSA I have a running joke about this with my mom. The particular list that people like you and me get put on is called the "patriot file." Fortunately, it's way too big of a list for them to follow up on thoroughly, so if your phone conversation (or comment) ends up there, you're really OK.