I haven't seen any outlets report on this, but it's kind of important:
The new Stadia controller has a built-in mic, and works with Google Assistant just like Google Home devices.
Meaning it's listening to you.
Do not get these horrible things.
The new Stadia controller has a built-in mic, and works with Google Assistant just like Google Home devices.
Meaning it's listening to you.
Do not get these horrible things.
I don't know anyone who's really chomping at the bit to buy a Stadia controller, but it's one of those "informed consent" kind of things.
People who wouldn't touch a Google Home puck might get fooled because hey, it's just a game controller ...
People who wouldn't touch a Google Home puck might get fooled because hey, it's just a game controller ...
Supposedly you have to say the vocal activation before they listen to you, but that's been proven to be false.
The button isn't even a switch. It's just a software key, and if it's software then you're not really hitting a button to make something happen.
The button isn't even a switch. It's just a software key, and if it's software then you're not really hitting a button to make something happen.
This is a very, very important aspect of modern tech that few people seem to understand: any device you own that was built in the last decade or so doesn't have switches. Or buttons.
They have software keys. They don't actually break connections when you push them.
They have software keys. They don't actually break connections when you push them.
If you turn your phone "off," you're not severing the electrical connection between the battery and the motherboard like a real switch would.
You're sending a software command to power down. That means power is still available to the phone's motherboard regardless.
You're sending a software command to power down. That means power is still available to the phone's motherboard regardless.
It's the same for wireless connections, for bluetooth, and yes, even for the microphones in your devices.
Any button to turn something off doesn't actually turn it off. It just sets a software flag, and software flags can be overridden without your knowledge.
Any button to turn something off doesn't actually turn it off. It just sets a software flag, and software flags can be overridden without your knowledge.
The only physical switch on your PC is in the back, on the power supply. That one actually for real severs the flow of electricity.
None of the switches on the case or on the motherboard actually stop power reaching your machine. It's never really off.
None of the switches on the case or on the motherboard actually stop power reaching your machine. It's never really off.
Yeah, to use Stadia on your TV you have to have a Chromecast Ultra and a Stadia controller. No Xbox or PS4 or Apple TV apps for you.
And yes, it does defeat the purpose.
And yes, it does defeat the purpose.
If Stadia had just been an app for Xbox or Roku, even a sideloading app for Amazon Fire, it would have a better arguement for existing.
But tying it to proprietary hardware means not only is it just another console, it's one that never stops using your internet bandwidth.
But tying it to proprietary hardware means not only is it just another console, it's one that never stops using your internet bandwidth.
Yup. Your phone is never truly off. Even if the battery is supposedly drained, it's programed to retain an emergency reserve.
The only way to really turn a phone off is to remove the battery.
You know, the thing they don't let you do anymore.
The only way to really turn a phone off is to remove the battery.
You know, the thing they don't let you do anymore.
Again, I want to stress this: phones, computers, consoles, even modern TVs are never really "off." Their components are never "off." (This means cameras and mics.)
It sets a software flag. Translation: it *pretends* the mic or camera is off.
It can stop pretending at any time.
It sets a software flag. Translation: it *pretends* the mic or camera is off.
It can stop pretending at any time.
With a wall outlet, you can at least unplug the thing, or put it on a power strip (which has an actual honest-to-god connection severing switch).
But if it has a battery and that battery can't be removed, then the device is never really off and never stops listening.
But if it has a battery and that battery can't be removed, then the device is never really off and never stops listening.
ok boomer
I mentioned earlier up the thread: your battery doesn't die, because these devices are programmed to retain an emergency reserve.
You can't access it and you can't see it, but the battery is never 100% drained unless it's worn down.
You can't access it and you can't see it, but the battery is never 100% drained unless it's worn down.
We have had a decade of data breaches, of lawsuits, of companies behaving badly every single day. We've sat here and watched it all go down.
And I'm still getting a ton of "Y U NO TRUST CORPORATION" replies.
FFS how have these people not died forgetting how to breathe.
And I'm still getting a ton of "Y U NO TRUST CORPORATION" replies.
FFS how have these people not died forgetting how to breathe.
Case in point.
"U HAVE PUSH BUTTON STOOPID"
Even after I spent time explaining the button isn't a real button, it's a software command. It behaves however the developer tells it to behave.
Trust corporation. Corporation friend. Corporation no lie. Trust friend.
"U HAVE PUSH BUTTON STOOPID"
Even after I spent time explaining the button isn't a real button, it's a software command. It behaves however the developer tells it to behave.
Trust corporation. Corporation friend. Corporation no lie. Trust friend.
Modern device buttons don't deactivate anything. They don't turn anything off. They don't act to cause a break in the connection, the only real way to turn a device component off.
It's no different than tapping an icon on your phone screen. Identical, in fact.
It's no different than tapping an icon on your phone screen. Identical, in fact.
Either that or shove it in a box with sound dampening material or something.
Both options are ridiculous lengths, but this is where we are in the stupid dystopia.
Both options are ridiculous lengths, but this is where we are in the stupid dystopia.
Oh, dear lord.
Please, replace a switch in any given circuit with a capacitor.
PS have the fire department on speed dial.
Please, replace a switch in any given circuit with a capacitor.
PS have the fire department on speed dial.
And as for the phone having transistors also meaning it has physical switches ...
Oh, you pedantic prick. That's not what I was talking about and you know it.
Or maybe you don't, Mr. "Capacitors are the same as switches."
Jesus I hate people.
Oh, you pedantic prick. That's not what I was talking about and you know it.
Or maybe you don't, Mr. "Capacitors are the same as switches."
Jesus I hate people.
