5 ms·

This is a neat idea, however, I fail to see either why it requires so much funding ($1.7m according to TechCrunch) or any server backend whatsoever.

srhngpr 13y ago
I agree with you. I like the idea and concept, but I prefer that apps like this actually let me do some of the teaching manually. Perhaps try to define the apps I want to appear at certain times of the day. One of the reasons I stopped using Aviate was that I felt like their scenes just didn't really match what i was doing at the time.
- typicalbender 13y ago
  Just out of curiosity how long did you use Aviate for. I would assume their algorithm just keeps track of how many times you use an app at a specific location and then the premise would be after some amount of time it would reach a general consistency. To speed up that process It would be nice to be able to define a list of apps up front which have a greater weight and then hopefully it will reach a list of apps that you actually use over time.
- ev9 13y ago
  I'd assume you prefer to do it yourself is because you haven't found a system that does it well enough for you to let go of control? Or are you just the kind of person who tends to like to do things the harder way? I wouldn't blame you for being the latter - it's kind of like people who prefer to drive a manual transmission to automatic.
  - radley 13y ago
    Or perhaps it's faster, easier, and more accurate to place your own five icons that to wait for an algorithm to try and figure it out.
mortenjorck 13y ago
The real product here is almost certainly an analytics service. From Cover's privacy policy at https://www.coverscreen.com/privacy https://www.coverscreen.com/privacy: Cover records the following items: The list of apps installed on your phone, including which apps are on your homescreen and dock The number of times you run an app, including the time and place where you ran it (specifically, the cell tower or wifi network you were connected to, or that you were located within a geographic area you identified such as home or work) The number of times you turn on your phone (i.e. view your Cover lockscreen), and what you do subsequently: launch an app, slide open the cover, or simply turn the screen back off (e.g. just glance at the clock). Information from connected Bluetooth devices, such as the Bluetooth device ID of your car. Information from the sensors in your phone, such as the accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS (though GPS is used exceptionally sparingly in order to save your battery). The system starts to collect data as soon as you install Cover. The data collection continues until you remove Cover from your phone. The data is uploaded from your phone over a secured connection to our servers. Cover is tracking every app you launch on your phone, when you launch it, where you are when you launch it, and even what angle you're holding your phone when you launch it. Privacy concerns notwithstanding, sounds like valuable data.
- jqueryin 13y ago
  I'd suggest that a portion of the funding go towards a re-write of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm not one to mess with having holes in legal documents that could later bite me in the ass. It's glaringly obvious they did not hire a lawyer to write their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service. I understand they mention "human readable" in the beginning of the Privacy Policy, but does this really hold up in court? In the Terms of Service, they make mention to "You" as opposed to "Client", "Customer", etc, with no definition.
  - jelled 13y ago
    Hold up in court to what?
- e12e 13y ago
fbnt 13y ago
I could build you one of those without privacy intrusion, and add the ability to switch from home/work/car automatically using GPS. I'd be happy with 1% of what they raised , anyone interested? :(
- etler 13y ago
  Judging by the reaction here, I think people would.
- DigitalSea 13y ago
  Do it and I'll donate money to make it happen. I am being serious.
- scep12 13y ago
  ... and I could help by suggesting that you shouldn't use GPS for trying to figure out home/work/car, but rather a combination of WiFi and accelerometer data. Using GPS often will drain a battery faster than your users will uninstall the app.
- radley 13y ago
  Don't need GPS - WIFI connection can cover home and work. I personally don't suggest any automation for car mode. It should be manually started / stopped for safety sake unless you have an accurately-made car dock.
- metabren 13y ago
  Kickstarer campaign?
- bitsweet 13y ago
  We could do it all together on assembly - I can fast track through to assemblymade.com/ideas (Disclaimer: founder)
  - fbnt 13y ago
    Dude, can I just say I wanna make love with the idea behind assembly? I just saw the website and video and it makes so much sense!!

srhngpr 13y ago

I agree with you. I like the idea and concept, but I prefer that apps like this actually let me do some of the teaching manually. Perhaps try to define the apps I want to appear at certain times of the day. One of the reasons I stopped using Aviate was that I felt like their scenes just didn't really match what i was doing at the time.

typicalbender 13y ago
Just out of curiosity how long did you use Aviate for. I would assume their algorithm just keeps track of how many times you use an app at a specific location and then the premise would be after some amount of time it would reach a general consistency. To speed up that process It would be nice to be able to define a list of apps up front which have a greater weight and then hopefully it will reach a list of apps that you actually use over time.
ev9 13y ago
I'd assume you prefer to do it yourself is because you haven't found a system that does it well enough for you to let go of control? Or are you just the kind of person who tends to like to do things the harder way? I wouldn't blame you for being the latter - it's kind of like people who prefer to drive a manual transmission to automatic.
- radley 13y ago
  Or perhaps it's faster, easier, and more accurate to place your own five icons that to wait for an algorithm to try and figure it out.

mortenjorck 13y ago

The real product here is almost certainly an analytics service. From Cover's privacy policy at https://www.coverscreen.com/privacy https://www.coverscreen.com/privacy: Cover records the following items: The list of apps installed on your phone, including which apps are on your homescreen and dock The number of times you run an app, including the time and place where you ran it (specifically, the cell tower or wifi network you were connected to, or that you were located within a geographic area you identified such as home or work) The number of times you turn on your phone (i.e. view your Cover lockscreen), and what you do subsequently: launch an app, slide open the cover, or simply turn the screen back off (e.g. just glance at the clock). Information from connected Bluetooth devices, such as the Bluetooth device ID of your car. Information from the sensors in your phone, such as the accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS (though GPS is used exceptionally sparingly in order to save your battery). The system starts to collect data as soon as you install Cover. The data collection continues until you remove Cover from your phone. The data is uploaded from your phone over a secured connection to our servers. Cover is tracking every app you launch on your phone, when you launch it, where you are when you launch it, and even what angle you're holding your phone when you launch it. Privacy concerns notwithstanding, sounds like valuable data.

jqueryin 13y ago
I'd suggest that a portion of the funding go towards a re-write of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. I'm by no means an expert, but I'm not one to mess with having holes in legal documents that could later bite me in the ass. It's glaringly obvious they did not hire a lawyer to write their Privacy Policy or Terms of Service. I understand they mention "human readable" in the beginning of the Privacy Policy, but does this really hold up in court? In the Terms of Service, they make mention to "You" as opposed to "Client", "Customer", etc, with no definition.
- jelled 13y ago
  Hold up in court to what?
e12e 13y ago

fbnt 13y ago

I could build you one of those without privacy intrusion, and add the ability to switch from home/work/car automatically using GPS. I'd be happy with 1% of what they raised , anyone interested? :(

etler 13y ago
Judging by the reaction here, I think people would.
DigitalSea 13y ago
Do it and I'll donate money to make it happen. I am being serious.
scep12 13y ago
... and I could help by suggesting that you shouldn't use GPS for trying to figure out home/work/car, but rather a combination of WiFi and accelerometer data. Using GPS often will drain a battery faster than your users will uninstall the app.
radley 13y ago
Don't need GPS - WIFI connection can cover home and work. I personally don't suggest any automation for car mode. It should be manually started / stopped for safety sake unless you have an accurately-made car dock.
metabren 13y ago
Kickstarer campaign?
bitsweet 13y ago
We could do it all together on assembly - I can fast track through to assemblymade.com/ideas (Disclaimer: founder)
- fbnt 13y ago
  Dude, can I just say I wanna make love with the idea behind assembly? I just saw the website and video and it makes so much sense!!