My 70 year old neighbor was able to figure out facetime rather quickly on her ipad and loves it.
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Facebook Debuts Video Conferencing Device 'Portal' Starting at $200
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Yeah, that's cool. My grandmother is in her 90s and gets around the Mac with reasonable proficiency too. But at the same time her neighbor can barely figure out her phone. Different people have different levels of technical proficiency and/or willingness to figure stuff out.
Ridiculous product!!
Facebook is really a big laugh lately, such stupidities. Totally lost trust in them.
Just #deleteFacebook.
Facebook is really a big laugh lately, such stupidities. Totally lost trust in them.
Just #deleteFacebook.
I bet you anything people who hate or don’t trust Google or Amazons Echo go out and buy this! Despite Facebook actually being a corporation who sells your data for profit, data mines the hell out of everyone, and is more then happy to breach data protection laws for profit.
I always say it, Zuckerberg would sell your soul if he could get it.. never have or will trust Facebook.
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So do you think Facebook has thousands and thousands of people listening and watching all the users of this device 24/7? Or that they have gigantic underground bunkers full of endless endless endless severs recording all the video and sound, which people then sift through later?
Which conspiracy theory is it? And I hate Facebook, but I always wonder what mindset people have who accuse companies like Amazon or Facebook of recording or watching and listening to every single thing their devices pick up?
I always say it, Zuckerberg would sell your soul if he could get it.. never have or will trust Facebook.
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So do you think Facebook has thousands and thousands of people listening and watching all the users of this device 24/7? Or that they have gigantic underground bunkers full of endless endless endless severs recording all the video and sound, which people then sift through later?
Which conspiracy theory is it? And I hate Facebook, but I always wonder what mindset people have who accuse companies like Amazon or Facebook of recording or watching and listening to every single thing their devices pick up?
Was this supposed to be released in 2008 not 2018? Why would anyone want this to replace a current phone or tablet? Facebook desperation reaching a new high!
Thats awfully ballsy of Facebook given their recent issues. I cant wait to see how well this plays out for them.
Well, yes I do. That's literally a feature of Nest Cam, so without question this exists. Everything is recorded 24/7, analysed automatically by an AI (including face recognition), and I can sift through it later. When that kind of technology is available over the counter to consumers, it seems almost impossible that rich, powerful corporations wouldn't also be making some use of it. And many times individual employees have been found to abuse a system that might otherwise be used for "reasonable" purposes. Corporations have also been found to be repeatedly lying and purposely circumventing privacy settings, software, and even laws.
Yes at first they dont listen to you, but then they update their terms and conditions and to keep using the device you already bought you have to accept they are going to be listening...
Facebook today announced "Portal," a new communications device for the home aimed at connecting friends and family members through video chat.
There are two models of Portal: the 10-inch base model and a 15-inch "Portal+" model with a display that pivots between portrait and landscape modes. Each device includes AI technology, a Smart Camera, and Smart Sound. The Smart Camera follows where you move around a room and automatically pans and zooms to keep everyone in view, while Smart Sound minimizes background noise and enhances the voice of who is talking.
Portal connects to your friends list on Facebook Messenger, and you can call them even if they don't have a Portal. Calls made via Portal will also be sent to Messenger apps on iOS and Android smartphones, and Portal supports group calls of up to seven people at the same time.
The video calling device supports hands-free voice control, so you can start a video call by saying "Hey Portal" and following up with who you want to call. Alexa is built into the device, so you can also ask about the weather, news, traffic, control smart home products, and more on Portal.
With Portal, you can listen to music together with a friend or even watch a television show with another Portal user, through connected partnerships with Spotify Premium, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Facebook Watch, Food Network, and Newsy. Portal video calls also support AR effects, filters, and stickers.
In terms of audio, Facebook says Portal has two full-range drivers, while Portal+ has two tweeters with high-range frequency and a single 4" bass speaker.
Facebook is launching Portal in the middle of a turbulent year, following months of news coverage over its ties to data mining firm Cambridge Analytica. A Facebook-branded smart speaker with video capabilities was previously rumored, and then delayed following the scandal.
For the new device, Facebook says Portal is designed with privacy and security in mind:
Portal and Portal+ are available to pre-order in the United States on Facebook.com, Amazon, and Best Buy. Portal is $199 and Portal+ is $349, while a bundle of two regular Portal devices is $298.
Article Link: Facebook Debuts Video Conferencing Device 'Portal' Starting at $200
This must be why they don't let Facebook users opt out of Messenger. You can't turn it off at all. I can only imagine the ads they will start showing on this thing!
Really, NEST camera records to the cloud 24/7? Is that in HD and with sound? How much do you pay for that a month?
It’s a ridiculous thing to believe, it would cost them millions and millions to setup and maintain for no use what so ever, Amazon does NOT record everything you say 24/7, fact. You can even set it so nothing is fed back too. I can’t see Google doing this either, they would rather use their expensive data farms for the services they offer, not recording endless video and sound.
And Facebook ignores privacy laws.
- Yes, 24/7
- Yes, 1080P for security cameras or 1200P for the doorbell
- Yes, sound too, but I have that turned off*
- I pay annually, but it works out to $4.17 per month for first camera and $2.50 for each additional
Whatever you think of Facebook, this is a very very smart play. For every person who doesn’t trust Facebook, there’s 10 middle aged moms or distant grandparents who will buy this themselves or be gifted it to keep in touch with their families.
Apple has shown the software world that the real money is to be made in giving away software and selling hardware that makes it work better. Hardware is going to become the next huge leap in revenue for Zuckerberg.
Facebook is positioning itself to be ubiquitous in the home. They’re already in a great position to have Portal surpass Google Home quickly and Alexa in the longer run. Amazon is big in the US with niches in a handful of other countries. Facebook is big in every corner of the Earth.
Apple has shown the software world that the real money is to be made in giving away software and selling hardware that makes it work better. Hardware is going to become the next huge leap in revenue for Zuckerberg.
Facebook is positioning itself to be ubiquitous in the home. They’re already in a great position to have Portal surpass Google Home quickly and Alexa in the longer run. Amazon is big in the US with niches in a handful of other countries. Facebook is big in every corner of the Earth.
You can't help those people who buy that one.
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They had a phone???
The smart camera is actually a cool idea. This is what Apple could do... if it had something like Portal or Amazon Echo Show.
There's a market for such device. It's like a videophone/home assistant of the future. No need to track and mess around with your phone and apps and settings, unlocking it or powering on your computer if you need to videochat with someone. Just tell the device what you need and it'll do it. And when you don't need it, it stays calmly in the corner not bothering you with various notifications.
What Apple could possibly do here (if it doesn't want to release such video device), is making a usable Siri (on par with Alexa), adding a similar smart camera feature to iPhone, and releasing a stand for iPhone with some built-in speakers. So a user could come home, plug iPhone in and turn it into a similar standalone assistant. Kind of marry the iPhone and the HomePod.
There's a market for such device. It's like a videophone/home assistant of the future. No need to track and mess around with your phone and apps and settings, unlocking it or powering on your computer if you need to videochat with someone. Just tell the device what you need and it'll do it. And when you don't need it, it stays calmly in the corner not bothering you with various notifications.
What Apple could possibly do here (if it doesn't want to release such video device), is making a usable Siri (on par with Alexa), adding a similar smart camera feature to iPhone, and releasing a stand for iPhone with some built-in speakers. So a user could come home, plug iPhone in and turn it into a similar standalone assistant. Kind of marry the iPhone and the HomePod.
In terms of design, the Portal+ looks nice. Other than that, this is pointless. $350 for a 1 trick pony device, and FaceBook at that (worst social media site). I'll pass. Maybe older folks would want this.
Yes, and it even had a dedicated Facebook button on the physical keyboard. They partnered with HTC.
https://www.wired.com/2011/11/android-facebook-phone-htc/
Just what I'd want in my home...a camera and a mic provided by Facebook....ah no. Next up will be the under 13 version you can put in all your kids bedrooms. It will be named the Facebook Science Pedo Companion Device. It will have a random creepy recording of Zuck as it scans the child's room saying "Are you still there? There you are."
But why though? Pretty much any smartphone made in the last decade can do this. Is this for elderly folks who still use flip phones to video chat with? But for the cost of these you can get a half-decent entry level smartphone.
Also, putting a Facebook designed and powered webcam device in my home? Nah.
Also, putting a Facebook designed and powered webcam device in my home? Nah.