3 ms·

The app connects to telemetrydeck.com. Sadly, couldn't find any opt-out setting.

hbn 2y ago
I'd really urge the author to rethink doing something like this at all. The app looks great but those stats on the front page were an immediate turn-off for me (not to mention how it pops up in what looks like an annoying cookie banner). You can talk about user activity on a web service where it makes sense to be hitting a server, but for a local app that should really just be a nice GUI for ffmpeg, I don't want my computer updating you whenever I use it with data about how I used it. And the types of users who are going to be using something like an ffmpeg wrapper are the types who are gonna care about something like that. It's not SaaS anyway, so why would I care about your current to-the-hour success metrics? Might as well just slap your amount of sales up there, it's less intrusive at least. Put some user testimonials, anything other than telemetry data.
- hieu_dinh 2y ago
  Below changes will be implemented this week: The website: Remove the pop-up & Update privacy & ToS to mention exact what data is tracked and how to opt-in/out from anonymous telemetry The app: Add the option to opt-in/out anonymous telemetry Thanks for the feedback
- ranger_danger 2y ago
  I highly disagree. I think the majority of people who would pay money for a barebones ffmpeg wrapper don't care about telemetry.
  - al_borland 2y ago
    Privacy should be the default, not something that is done only when users care enough to fight back.
    - ranger_danger 2y ago
      I agree with you to a point. The problem is that if most people turn it off, then developing the telemetry system was a huge waste of time and resources for not much gain. Valuable data that could have been used to improve the program without any extra work from others may be lost. Similar to Windows forcing users to update because most of them keep putting it off forever, hurting their own security.
      - phantompeace 2y ago
        Which users asked for devs to focus on developing a telemetry system (vs developing the app they bought)?
rpgbr 2y ago
Block this domain with a firewall or DNS filter like NextDNS?
- latexr 2y ago
  That’s at best a weak band-aid. Who knows if blocking that one domain stops everything? We shouldn’t have to resort to firewalls or DNS filters to stop local apps from collecting our information.
daniel_iversen 2y ago
I wouldn't worry about it if I was the developer. Many people on HN might care but most people on average (even semi-technical folks using a tool like this) probably don't care. Most products have some sort of telemetry capabilities built-in (and any smart developer should try and understand their audience and app usage) and the people who care probably tend to on average be more wary about downloading closed-source non-App Store apps anyway etc.
elondaits 2y ago
It's not mentioned in the terms of service either. I would recommend removing this because it's against the GDPR... and even foreign companies have to comply (for the protection of European citizens, wherever they are) if they offer goods and/ or services to citizens in the EU in some way (European region of an app store, ad campaigns in Europe, etc.) I also think that the GDPR is pretty correct in requiring opt-in consent before tracking, so it's "the decent thing".
- hieu_dinh 2y ago
  Thanks for the feedback. I will update it this week.

hbn 2y ago

I'd really urge the author to rethink doing something like this at all. The app looks great but those stats on the front page were an immediate turn-off for me (not to mention how it pops up in what looks like an annoying cookie banner). You can talk about user activity on a web service where it makes sense to be hitting a server, but for a local app that should really just be a nice GUI for ffmpeg, I don't want my computer updating you whenever I use it with data about how I used it. And the types of users who are going to be using something like an ffmpeg wrapper are the types who are gonna care about something like that. It's not SaaS anyway, so why would I care about your current to-the-hour success metrics? Might as well just slap your amount of sales up there, it's less intrusive at least. Put some user testimonials, anything other than telemetry data.

hieu_dinh 2y ago
Below changes will be implemented this week: The website: Remove the pop-up & Update privacy & ToS to mention exact what data is tracked and how to opt-in/out from anonymous telemetry The app: Add the option to opt-in/out anonymous telemetry Thanks for the feedback
ranger_danger 2y ago
I highly disagree. I think the majority of people who would pay money for a barebones ffmpeg wrapper don't care about telemetry.
- al_borland 2y ago
  Privacy should be the default, not something that is done only when users care enough to fight back.
  - ranger_danger 2y ago
    I agree with you to a point. The problem is that if most people turn it off, then developing the telemetry system was a huge waste of time and resources for not much gain. Valuable data that could have been used to improve the program without any extra work from others may be lost. Similar to Windows forcing users to update because most of them keep putting it off forever, hurting their own security.
    - phantompeace 2y ago
      Which users asked for devs to focus on developing a telemetry system (vs developing the app they bought)?

rpgbr 2y ago

Block this domain with a firewall or DNS filter like NextDNS?

latexr 2y ago
That’s at best a weak band-aid. Who knows if blocking that one domain stops everything? We shouldn’t have to resort to firewalls or DNS filters to stop local apps from collecting our information.

daniel_iversen 2y ago

I wouldn't worry about it if I was the developer. Many people on HN might care but most people on average (even semi-technical folks using a tool like this) probably don't care. Most products have some sort of telemetry capabilities built-in (and any smart developer should try and understand their audience and app usage) and the people who care probably tend to on average be more wary about downloading closed-source non-App Store apps anyway etc.

elondaits 2y ago

It's not mentioned in the terms of service either. I would recommend removing this because it's against the GDPR... and even foreign companies have to comply (for the protection of European citizens, wherever they are) if they offer goods and/ or services to citizens in the EU in some way (European region of an app store, ad campaigns in Europe, etc.) I also think that the GDPR is pretty correct in requiring opt-in consent before tracking, so it's "the decent thing".

hieu_dinh 2y ago
Thanks for the feedback. I will update it this week.