4 ms·

I think the key term is "consumer-centric". Ring and other home cams are necessary peace of mind for a lot of people.

runjake 7y ago
Non-DIY plus subscriptions plus corporations rarely leads to "consumer-centric". More often it's almost solely profit-driven.
- criddell 7y ago
  What's wrong with subscriptions? If you are getting an ongoing service (like Spotify, or HBO, or magazine delivery, etc...) it seems that an ongoing fee makes sense.
  - TeMPOraL 7y ago
    Products turning into services, that's what wrong. You stop paying, the devices stop working. Or, they decide they're bored with providing the service, and pivot or get acquihired (or just decide to prod you into upgrading), the devices stop working. Plus, it seems that the new breed of service companies isn't satisfied with just providing a service in exchange of money. They also use the opportunity to exfiltrate as much data about you as they can get.
    - mynegation 7y ago
      That is fine. I am happily paying for Spotify as they provide me with tremendous value day over day. I spend much less on music than in the days of buying CDs and Have access to a huge catalogue, instantly.
    - criddell 7y ago
      You don't subscribe to cable tv or netflix?
      - TeMPOraL 7y ago
        I do, but a) problems of these businesses are well-known, and b) there's a difference between a subscription to entertainment and subscription to necessities (or at least things with higher impact on one's life). Also, in case of cable/Netflix, a lot of downsides are mitigated by piracy. There's no worry you'll be cut off from the entertainment you want, because you can always Torrent it if push comes to shove.
- eladgil 7y ago
  One could argue that for most non-engineers, non-DIY is crucial for most products. For example, in the 90s a lot of people thought everyone would host their own email servers. In reality, consumers flocked to Y! mail and later Gmail, since most people really can't or won't do this themselves. Most people also do not change the oil on their own car (at least in the USA) etc. In my mind the question is can you develop a great product in this area. It is possible (and sad) that Ring or Nest is as good as it gets (or have default won due to superior distribution). But I do think there are a lot of features I would want as a consumer that would make this experience better for me.
kec 7y ago
Consumers can be assholes as well. I was harassed by one of my neighbors and the police because their ring camera caught me walking through the parking lot in front of my building on the same afternoon this neighbors car was broken into.
asdff 7y ago
Eventually it's going to come to a head that these cams do little at all for security. I have a wyze cam that I use to watch my pet, but I'm well aware that even if it caught a burglar in the act that the LAPD isn't going to do anything with that video or the case.
- Falling3 7y ago
  I agree with you, but I think that particular example says more about our police than it does about the cameras.

Non-DIY plus subscriptions plus corporations rarely leads to "consumer-centric". More often it's almost solely profit-driven.

criddell 7y ago
What's wrong with subscriptions? If you are getting an ongoing service (like Spotify, or HBO, or magazine delivery, etc...) it seems that an ongoing fee makes sense.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago
  Products turning into services, that's what wrong. You stop paying, the devices stop working. Or, they decide they're bored with providing the service, and pivot or get acquihired (or just decide to prod you into upgrading), the devices stop working. Plus, it seems that the new breed of service companies isn't satisfied with just providing a service in exchange of money. They also use the opportunity to exfiltrate as much data about you as they can get.
  - mynegation 7y ago
    That is fine. I am happily paying for Spotify as they provide me with tremendous value day over day. I spend much less on music than in the days of buying CDs and Have access to a huge catalogue, instantly.
  - criddell 7y ago
    You don't subscribe to cable tv or netflix?
    - TeMPOraL 7y ago
      I do, but a) problems of these businesses are well-known, and b) there's a difference between a subscription to entertainment and subscription to necessities (or at least things with higher impact on one's life). Also, in case of cable/Netflix, a lot of downsides are mitigated by piracy. There's no worry you'll be cut off from the entertainment you want, because you can always Torrent it if push comes to shove.
eladgil 7y ago
One could argue that for most non-engineers, non-DIY is crucial for most products. For example, in the 90s a lot of people thought everyone would host their own email servers. In reality, consumers flocked to Y! mail and later Gmail, since most people really can't or won't do this themselves. Most people also do not change the oil on their own car (at least in the USA) etc. In my mind the question is can you develop a great product in this area. It is possible (and sad) that Ring or Nest is as good as it gets (or have default won due to superior distribution). But I do think there are a lot of features I would want as a consumer that would make this experience better for me.

kec 7y ago

Consumers can be assholes as well. I was harassed by one of my neighbors and the police because their ring camera caught me walking through the parking lot in front of my building on the same afternoon this neighbors car was broken into.

asdff 7y ago

Eventually it's going to come to a head that these cams do little at all for security. I have a wyze cam that I use to watch my pet, but I'm well aware that even if it caught a burglar in the act that the LAPD isn't going to do anything with that video or the case.

Falling3 7y ago
I agree with you, but I think that particular example says more about our police than it does about the cameras.