Google Home • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Home

#11

Post by vox_mollis » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:37 PM UTC

free2rhyme214 wrote: post #10

Competition against Amazon Echo is always positive for consumers.

Perhaps, but bear in mind that Google is a PRISM partner, whereas Amazon is not. The NSA will likely record every sound from your house, if you own this.

Edit: Downvoters, please educate me on where I am wrong. Thanks.

Re: Google Home

#12

Post by Sir_Cmpwn » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:40 PM UTC

bbunqq wrote: post #8

You too can bring a slice of 1984 into your home with this lovely crafted listening device!

It's scary how close this is to being one of 1984's telescreen devices. I might even argue that it basically _is_ a telescreen considering Google's previous dealings with state actors, though with some of the 451-style "you asked for this" as opposed to the 1984-style "this is forced on you".

Re: Google Home

#13

Post by will_brown » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:40 PM UTC

When Windows10/Cortana was released my buddy attached a mixer/switch to his PC allowing him to wire input mics and sound speakers to every room in his house.

And though I can't see any personal uses for such a device, he swears it has changed his life, and the only thing I believe he does with it is tells Cortana to play Van Halan first thing when he wakes up.

Re: Google Home

#14

Post by cookiecaper » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:41 PM UTC

izolate wrote: post #6

Looks like something that should've been under the Nest brand. Whatever happened to that?

This is competing with the Amazon Echo. It's more oriented toward the Google brand because it's about searching for information. Obviously, Google still wants people to think of Google whenever they want to know something, even if the search is conducted by voice.

Re: Google Home

#15

Post by balls187 » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:41 PM UTC

free2rhyme214 wrote: post #10

Competition against Amazon Echo is always positive for consumers.

Yes, except I trust Google FAR less than I trust Amazon--simply because Google has permeated in many more facets of my digital life (gdocs, gmail, chrome, maps, search, etc).

Amazon just has my shopping history.

Re: Google Home

#16

Post by dominotw » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:42 PM UTC

bbunqq wrote: post #8

You too can bring a slice of 1984 into your home with this lovely crafted listening device!

Google phone can now do 'ok google' behind lock screen.

Re: Google Home

#17

Post by romanovcode » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:43 PM UTC

Haha, no thank you. i don't want google to listen to everything I say in my house.

Next thing you know it's going to tell me is "Smith! Put more effort in those crunches!".

Re: Google Home

#18

Post by jredwards » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:43 PM UTC

Google Nope

Re: Google Home

#19

Post by cheald » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:46 PM UTC

When I was younger, I dreamed of something like this. Voice control for my home! A Star Trek computer that I can interact with conversationally! I just say what I want and it happens!

Now, I just see an internet-connected microphone in a software black box which I can only interpret as a giant frickin' security liability. I want this, but unless it's open source top-to-bottom, I won't ever actually put one in my home. We know too much about how these things can be abused for me to ever seriously consider it without being able to verify for myself what it's doing and why.

Re: Google Home

#20

Post by fizzbatter » Wed, May 18, 2016, 5:48 PM UTC

I'm dying for an Echo / Home that is fully api friendly and allows custom keywords. I want to buy an interface to my own home assistant. I want a hackers friend.

Sure, offline-capable would be great too, but for now just give me the damn api hooks. :s

edit: Note that i believe Echo has a pretty good API. I just don't want to talk to echo haha. I want to talk to my system.