5 ms·

> Given a lot of the negative points were around the reaction of others to having a camera pointed at them, I never got why they didn't make it easy to flip up

> Given a lot of the negative points were around the reaction of others to having a camera pointed at them, I never got why they didn't make it easy to flip up the camera part as a way to physically indicate it wasn't in use. As one of the glass explorers (who still has and uses my explorer edition from time to time), this is something that I never understood. The entire prism would light up if the camera was in use (it's easy to see when the display is on). And you either have to use voice commands or would have to touch the device to take a picture, both of which are fairly obvious. It's much easier to take a discrete photo or video with a cell phone. But I suppose this is another case omitting one or two facts to completely change the narrative.

Dylan16807 7y ago
People don't innately understand exactly how the different pieces of hardware are tied together. You're pointing a camera at them, and even when you're right that a secret photo is currently impossible, it's one firmware update away from having a timelapse mode that doesn't show any sign of activity. The facts aren't missing to change the narrative, it's because the average person doesn't know and it could change, so those facts don't fix the problem.
Zeebrommer 7y ago
How are people supposed to know all this about a new device that they have only read stories about? Even then, a surprising amount of people in my well educated affluent high tech bubble tape their laptop webcams closed because they don't trust the indicator light right next to it.
- etatoby 7y ago
  What, you don't? That indicator light is one firmware hack away from being turned off. Granted, if someone gets into my laptop I have bigger worries than having stealth selfies stolen, but still.
  - marquis-chacha 7y ago
    The way I see it, if the adversary is able to remotely access my computer to the extent they're hacking the firmware, my webcam being turned on is the least of my concerns. In my eye, taping the webcam is akin to ROT13'ing my private keys.
    - stallmanite 7y ago
      Unless you keep a stash of pictures of yourself half-naked working from home, having tape on the webcam makes a difference. If you do, then sure an adversary having root is the same thing.
- nfoz 7y ago
  It's not just about hackers though. The tape over my webcam has been a lifesaver when joining a business conference call using software with aggressive "everyone should be sharing their webcam" defaults. A (male) coworker ended up sharing his webcam on a call with important clients -- while shirtless, in bed. I've had some close calls myself, and have seen some funny slip-ups. Regardless, even against hacking scenarios, the tape costs nothing and blocks out some ugly "what if" scenarios from consideration. So it just seems like the reasonable thing to do.
  - jcims 7y ago
    >business conference call using software with aggressive "everyone should be sharing their webcam" defaults. BlueJeans perhaps? Holy moly i ended up disconnecting my camera just to get it to shut up.
p1necone 7y ago
This is google we're talking about. Why the hell would anyone trust that?

Dylan16807 7y ago

People don't innately understand exactly how the different pieces of hardware are tied together. You're pointing a camera at them, and even when you're right that a secret photo is currently impossible, it's one firmware update away from having a timelapse mode that doesn't show any sign of activity. The facts aren't missing to change the narrative, it's because the average person doesn't know and it could change, so those facts don't fix the problem.

Zeebrommer 7y ago

How are people supposed to know all this about a new device that they have only read stories about? Even then, a surprising amount of people in my well educated affluent high tech bubble tape their laptop webcams closed because they don't trust the indicator light right next to it.

etatoby 7y ago
What, you don't? That indicator light is one firmware hack away from being turned off. Granted, if someone gets into my laptop I have bigger worries than having stealth selfies stolen, but still.
- marquis-chacha 7y ago
  The way I see it, if the adversary is able to remotely access my computer to the extent they're hacking the firmware, my webcam being turned on is the least of my concerns. In my eye, taping the webcam is akin to ROT13'ing my private keys.
  - stallmanite 7y ago
    Unless you keep a stash of pictures of yourself half-naked working from home, having tape on the webcam makes a difference. If you do, then sure an adversary having root is the same thing.
nfoz 7y ago
It's not just about hackers though. The tape over my webcam has been a lifesaver when joining a business conference call using software with aggressive "everyone should be sharing their webcam" defaults. A (male) coworker ended up sharing his webcam on a call with important clients -- while shirtless, in bed. I've had some close calls myself, and have seen some funny slip-ups. Regardless, even against hacking scenarios, the tape costs nothing and blocks out some ugly "what if" scenarios from consideration. So it just seems like the reasonable thing to do.
- jcims 7y ago
  >business conference call using software with aggressive "everyone should be sharing their webcam" defaults. BlueJeans perhaps? Holy moly i ended up disconnecting my camera just to get it to shut up.

p1necone 7y ago

This is google we're talking about. Why the hell would anyone trust that?