Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

media.ccc.de

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 163 posts

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#71

Post by spondyl »

blacksmith_tb wrote: post #62
mattl wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s a WhatsApp bridge?

I haven't tried it, but it looks like it[1]! 1: https://matrix.org/bridges#whats-app

There is but it's powered by Whatsapp Web.

Essentially, you scan a barcode which means notifications are received via Matrix but only so long as your device is on.

If you have a physical server, you might want to opt for a cheap device that can sit next to your server, essentially meaning you're online 24/7

If you use a VPS, notifications will still be forwarded but only work while your phone is powered on. It's not a true replacement for Whatsapp as you still need it running on a device somewhere.

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#72

Post by inflatableDodo »

reaperducer wrote: post #67
schaefer wrote: post #38

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks... being aware of social sensitivities is a big part of being successful for projects that aim for broad adoption.

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks Yeah, it's a little tone-deaf. I understand it's meant to be tongue-in-cheek and all that. But if, for example, they used a swastika, even if they were using it in the context one of the dozens of cultures for whom it's a normal symbol, it would still be tone deaf. A lot of people here are saying it's just a symbol,…

One of the clear messages I get from looking at the past couple of thousand years of history is that I should really try and avoid getting hung up on symbols. Also looking to history, it is remarks such as this that will probably lead to that outcome.

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#73

Post by reaperducer »

inflatableDodo wrote: post #72
reaperducer wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks Yeah, it's a little tone-deaf. I understand it's meant to be tongue-in-cheek and all that. But if, for example, they used a swastika, even if they were using it in the context one of the dozens of cultures for whom it's a normal symbol, it would still be tone deaf. A lot of people here are saying it's just a symbol,…

One of the clear messages I get from looking at the past couple of thousand years of history is that I should really try and avoid getting hung up on symbols. Also looking to history, it is remarks such as this that will probably lead to that outcome.

That's great if you're Mr. Spock and the rest of the world is a bunch of Vulcans who can control their brains in the most logical way. But human beings create connections in their brains, and the whole purpose of symbols is to create a connection.

If you use a symbol that has a particular widespread meaning, then people are going to think of that meaning when you use the symbol, even if they then figure out what you really mean a second or two later.

That's why companies trademark logos, and why other companies trying to associate themselves with those companies try to make their logos look similar. (Think of all the knock-off Starbucks-themed coffee shops around the world.)

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#74

Post by inflatableDodo »

reaperducer wrote: post #73
inflatableDodo wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the clear messages I get from looking at the past couple of thousand years of history is that I should really try and avoid getting hung up on symbols. Also looking to history, it is remarks such as this that will probably lead to that outcome.

That's great if you're Mr. Spock and the rest of the world is a bunch of Vulcans who can control their brains in the most logical way. But human beings create connections in their brains, and the whole purpose of symbols is to create a connection. If you use a symbol that has a particular widespread meaning, then people are going to think of that meaning when you use the symbol, even if they then figure out what you…

Oh this is fun. I'm going to wait just a little longer...

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#75

Post by bscphil »

reaperducer wrote: post #67
schaefer wrote: post #38

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks... being aware of social sensitivities is a big part of being successful for projects that aim for broad adoption.

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks Yeah, it's a little tone-deaf. I understand it's meant to be tongue-in-cheek and all that. But if, for example, they used a swastika, even if they were using it in the context one of the dozens of cultures for whom it's a normal symbol, it would still be tone deaf. A lot of people here are saying it's just a symbol,…

> A lot of people here are saying it's just a symbol, etc... But if it was a Christian cross, I bet a lot of HN readers would flinch with "I'm not supporting some fundy company!"

I... sort of agree with you. It's generally desirable to make your products acceptable to everyone you can, and so the decision to include a pentagram is probably poorly calculated.

But on the other hand, the sort of people who would put a cross symbol in the corner of a video are probably for-real fundies, while it's obviously extremely unlikely that anyone involved in the making of this video is a for-real Satanist (in the religious sense of the term). So I think there might be some justification for differential treatment on the basis of this context.

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#78

Post by dkersten »

schaefer wrote: post #38

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks... being aware of social sensitivities is a big part of being successful for projects that aim for broad adoption.

It’s a CCC talk, millions of regular folks are not going to be watching CCC talks.

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#79

Post by lostgame »

schaefer wrote: post #38

The pentagram at the bottom left of the video is an instant deal-breaker for millions of regular folks... being aware of social sensitivities is a big part of being successful for projects that aim for broad adoption.

What? A regular, upright pentagram?

And also, you know some of us are actually practicing Ritual or Ceremonial Magick, and this is actually a sacred symbol for us?

I'd understand if it was upside down, which is part of the laughable LaVeyan Satanic cult, but I assure you there are likely people you know who may be members of very serious Magical Orders.

I will not mention my specific associations with any of these Orders, but even Freemasonry, which I was involved in for years, if studied carefully, has its roots in Ceremonial Magick.

Their use of the pentagram was highly attractive to me - and, furthermore, funny, and clearly educated in Magick to an extent - the I/O symbol at the top is an adorable nod to that being the node of the Spirit.

Re: A mobile phone that respects your freedom [video]

#80

Post by dkersten »

xvector wrote: post #54
mieseratte wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same thing? If you want mass appeal you must appeal to the masses. Using loaded symbology is a good way to torch your hard work.

Clearly, this phone is not intended for mass appeal, so I don't think this is an issue :)

If you check their website, the symbol isn’t anywhere to be seen (at least, I couldn’t find it)m so its clearly for the CCC talk only. CCC talks aren’t exactly meant for “mass appeal”.
Post reply on HN