I had just recently purchased a Ring doorbell. I debated between Ring and Skybell. I should have gone with Skybell. Trying not have 1 company know everything about me (I know...probably impossible).
Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
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Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#72Crap. I guess I won't be buying one then. Amazon also just gobbled up the maker of my home security cameras (Blink). I really would prefer my home monitoring devices to be separate from the giant tech companies that I'm trusting less and less.
You could always invest in IP cameras, and manage where the data goes yourself. No reason a 24/7 video stream of your home needs to be sent to a big tech company's data centers, anyway, or any data center for that matter.
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#73Curious if amazon would buy irobot.
irobot has lots of sensors (spying potential)
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
Amazon is typically a good steward in their acquisitions though. Twitch.tv, Zappos, imdb, audible as some examples of how they really do keep these purchases as pretty close to the original/successful idea of the company and sometimes even better. I'd say Amazon are maybe the best at not destroying what they buy. Amazon usually buys because the company is a success and not just for tech or to shut down / acquihire et…
That's comforting from one angle, but I'm still concerned about the privacy implications. I feel like a giant megacorp like Amazon is in a much better position to both mine the data and also be more resistant to criticism.
True but as Ring progressed and the metrics guys come in, they would have been selling that data anyways. At least now you know what it will be used for, Amazon home delivery systems and to sell you products on Amazon.
Amazon is in that stage of power where they are still beneficial and innovating, kinda like Microsoft with the desktop/internet in the 90s and AT&T with their labs that made C++ and the modern application/software in the 80s, even Apple in the 00s with the smart phone and their power. I think when Amazon stops innovating or get to the state where they aren't fully research and development focused, that is where you have to worry when revenues get tight and they have to start selling your private data. Right now ONLY Amazon wants that from this acquisition, they don't want anyone else to have it, Ring probably would have had to let others have it earlier.
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#75While I do think I understand why Amazon would want to purchase Ring (the company), I don't fully understand why consumers would want to buy Ring (the product). The number one use I seem to see from it is people taking video and posting it on nextdoor (package thief alert, car prowler alert, etc.) followed by other people talking about how the neighborhood is going downhill and lamenting about how the police don't do…
Do you really not see the value of a live feed of who's at your door and a clear 2 way audio feed? The current existing solution either have really poor quality, are complicated to install (require technician), and don't integrate with your smartphone. I'm not talking about the Ring specifically, there are other competitors too such as Nest Hello, but the idea seems pretty straight-forward and valuable to anyone with…
Honestly, not really. Or at least nothing so far that has compelled me to buy one.
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#76Home login system
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#77Sudden vision: you request Amazon home delivery -- the delivery person comes to the door, holds up a smartphone showing a nonce QR code, the Ring doorbell checks the nonce with Amazon, says, "Checks out" and unlocks the door.
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#78Ring was on the TV Show Shark Tank, and all the sharks passed on the deal. It was $700K for 10% of the company. And now it sold for more than 1 billion $.
There was just another example of this - A company called Plated, Cuban agreed to invest during the show then backed out during due diligence. I guess Mr. Wonderful found out and called them up to invest later. Plated just got sold to Albertsons for 300m, and O’Leary claims to have made 1300%+ return on his investment. Poor Mark. I love the show, I don’t think any of the sharks are “dumb money,” but I don’t think it’…
If you like Shark Tank, check out The Pitch podcast. It's very similar in concept, but in execution, I like it a lot better:
- It's one pitch per episode, which allows a bit more depth
- It's narrated, which let's the host cut in to explain nuances
- They circle back to find out what happened after the pitch if the investments actually close
- No gimmick companies
- No Kevin O'Leary
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#79Sudden vision: you request Amazon home delivery -- the delivery person comes to the door, holds up a smartphone showing a nonce QR code, the Ring doorbell checks the nonce with Amazon, says, "Checks out" and unlocks the door.
Yes, this is an actual service they offer - https://www.amazon.com/Introducing-Amazon-Key-In-Home-Kit/dp...
Re: Amazon to acquire video doorbell maker Ring
#80While I do think I understand why Amazon would want to purchase Ring (the company), I don't fully understand why consumers would want to buy Ring (the product). The number one use I seem to see from it is people taking video and posting it on nextdoor (package thief alert, car prowler alert, etc.) followed by other people talking about how the neighborhood is going downhill and lamenting about how the police don't do…
Do you really not see the value of a live feed of who's at your door and a clear 2 way audio feed? The current existing solution either have really poor quality, are complicated to install (require technician), and don't integrate with your smartphone. I'm not talking about the Ring specifically, there are other competitors too such as Nest Hello, but the idea seems pretty straight-forward and valuable to anyone with…
How is it valuable, exactly? What's the gain?