26 ms·

What Google Just Announced Is a Bombshell

9 points by neilunadkat12 11y ago

thescrewdriver 11y ago
Sounds more creepy than anything else. Why would I want Google examining text elements in every app I'm using?
- wingerlang 11y ago
  Because you specifically asked it to do just that?
  - thescrewdriver 11y ago
    Which is likely going to be on and harvesting my data by default, just like gmail.
    - VikingCoder 11y ago
      In the demos, you're holding down the home button on your phone. I'm guessing Now on Tap doesn't scan content, until you activate it.
      - thescrewdriver 11y ago
        Surely it would be to Google's advantage to scan as much as they can in the background for targeting ads, even if they actual search is activated on demand.
        VikingCoder 11y ago
        ...but that doesn't mean that's what they do.
        pdkl95 11y ago
        So because Google is currently not taking the tiny step that would allow them to collect even more data (even though their business model is all about spying on people for all the data they can get), this somehow say anything about what their actions will be in the future? Just like how Google still has the "Don't be evil" slogan? They promise[1] not to abuse the software that just happens to require hooking into the OS in such a way that they could spy on everything. Google's pattern has been to introduce products that people find useful, then log everything they can get access too once they have a large enough market share (usually taking advantage of the general ignorance about what can be done with the modern networked computer). To suggest that somehow this time Google will act differently is to ignore the last decade of history and their publicly stated business plan. [1] ...actually, I haven't seen such a promise, just people assuming so. Maybe I missed something.
        VikingCoder 11y ago
        What would it take to convince me? Proof (which shouldn't be too hard) that they're scraping apps without Now on Tap being invoked. What would it take to convince you? Nothing. There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you. Which one of us has a position based on reason? === And as to the "spying" thing... If you find Google's tools useful, then use them. If you don't, then don't. I get an email about my flight, and my hotel. Google Now pops up to let me know it's time to leave for the airport, and reminds me where I parked my car. When I get close to the airport, it lets me know my flight is delayed, so I take it easy. It tells me what gate my flight is leaving. If you say it's "spying" on me to provide me that service...? You and I just flat-out disagree about what "spying" is. If I had a secretary as useful as Google, I'd give that secretary praise and raises. Why, when it's a company providing software instead, do you automatically attribute malice to it?
        pdkl95 11y ago
        > What would it take to convince me? Source code in all cases would be a good start. Earning a good reputation over time would be the real way. The fact that it is harder for Google to regain reputation is their problem, not mine. > Proof Gmail. google-analytics. Chromebook, Android and everything else Google has that specifically designed to send all your data to google under the guise of "cloud storage" and "single sign-on". I doubt you have somenow missed the last few years of drama over how much data Google collects. > scraping apps If you mean emulating the Tap behavior, that was clearly somethging I claimed they would eventually do. You seem to think this behavior will continue into the future, contrary to everything else Google does. > There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you. Projection and/or lies. See above. > Which one of us has a position based on reason? Using someone's record as a heuristic about their future behavior isn't based on reason? Do you also get angry with people who stop going to a particular store after being ripped off or sold a lemon?
SQL2219 11y ago
Wow a persistent pop-up on all your apps, what a great idea.
- wingerlang 11y ago
  Seems literally no different from having access to notification center on your phone. In terms of the "always there" point you're making.
qubex 11y ago
Another great entry to the gallery of over-hyped, poorly thought-out clickbait. What this is, as far as I can understand, is a creepy, invasive ‘service’ that for the benefit of alleviating the users of the need to select whatever text they are interested in finding out more about and pasting it into a search-box will cost them an eternal window into their behaviour in the context of whichever app they are using. Also, it seems to me that this is the ultimate defeat for Google, not a stunning advance: retreating to the God Of The Gaps. I might be wrong (I usually am), but “oh wow” was not the first thing I thought when I heard of this, it was more along the lines of “oh yuck”. For how much longer will Android/Google users realise that they are the product and that all these actions are simply aimed at mining them more deeply?
ramon 11y ago
Coming up on Tap: What's Jessica Alba doing right now?
alooPotato 11y ago
Does anyone know how this actually works? Will there be an API for any app to build something like this (an overlay that scans content)
pdkl95 11y ago
In addition to giving Google even more access to data, I wonder what the antitrust implications could be. Will 3rd parties also be able to user the same hooks that given them access to every other app's text? Wouldn't that turn into a nasty free-for-all where every app tries to steal as much data as possible, now that they can bypass the few restrictions Android imposes? If access is limited to Google - that is, that this is some "OS feature" instead an app that uses features available to any developer, isn't this effectively the same issue as United States v. Microsoft Corp.?

9 points by neilunadkat12 11y ago

thescrewdriver 11y ago

Sounds more creepy than anything else. Why would I want Google examining text elements in every app I'm using?

wingerlang 11y ago
Because you specifically asked it to do just that?
- thescrewdriver 11y ago
  Which is likely going to be on and harvesting my data by default, just like gmail.
  - VikingCoder 11y ago
    In the demos, you're holding down the home button on your phone. I'm guessing Now on Tap doesn't scan content, until you activate it.
    - thescrewdriver 11y ago
      Surely it would be to Google's advantage to scan as much as they can in the background for targeting ads, even if they actual search is activated on demand.
      - VikingCoder 11y ago
        ...but that doesn't mean that's what they do.
        pdkl95 11y ago
        So because Google is currently not taking the tiny step that would allow them to collect even more data (even though their business model is all about spying on people for all the data they can get), this somehow say anything about what their actions will be in the future? Just like how Google still has the "Don't be evil" slogan? They promise[1] not to abuse the software that just happens to require hooking into the OS in such a way that they could spy on everything. Google's pattern has been to introduce products that people find useful, then log everything they can get access too once they have a large enough market share (usually taking advantage of the general ignorance about what can be done with the modern networked computer). To suggest that somehow this time Google will act differently is to ignore the last decade of history and their publicly stated business plan. [1] ...actually, I haven't seen such a promise, just people assuming so. Maybe I missed something.
        VikingCoder 11y ago
        What would it take to convince me? Proof (which shouldn't be too hard) that they're scraping apps without Now on Tap being invoked. What would it take to convince you? Nothing. There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you. Which one of us has a position based on reason? === And as to the "spying" thing... If you find Google's tools useful, then use them. If you don't, then don't. I get an email about my flight, and my hotel. Google Now pops up to let me know it's time to leave for the airport, and reminds me where I parked my car. When I get close to the airport, it lets me know my flight is delayed, so I take it easy. It tells me what gate my flight is leaving. If you say it's "spying" on me to provide me that service...? You and I just flat-out disagree about what "spying" is. If I had a secretary as useful as Google, I'd give that secretary praise and raises. Why, when it's a company providing software instead, do you automatically attribute malice to it?
        pdkl95 11y ago
        > What would it take to convince me? Source code in all cases would be a good start. Earning a good reputation over time would be the real way. The fact that it is harder for Google to regain reputation is their problem, not mine. > Proof Gmail. google-analytics. Chromebook, Android and everything else Google has that specifically designed to send all your data to google under the guise of "cloud storage" and "single sign-on". I doubt you have somenow missed the last few years of drama over how much data Google collects. > scraping apps If you mean emulating the Tap behavior, that was clearly somethging I claimed they would eventually do. You seem to think this behavior will continue into the future, contrary to everything else Google does. > There is literally nothing anyone could say to convince you. Projection and/or lies. See above. > Which one of us has a position based on reason? Using someone's record as a heuristic about their future behavior isn't based on reason? Do you also get angry with people who stop going to a particular store after being ripped off or sold a lemon?

SQL2219 11y ago

Wow a persistent pop-up on all your apps, what a great idea.

wingerlang 11y ago
Seems literally no different from having access to notification center on your phone. In terms of the "always there" point you're making.

qubex 11y ago

Another great entry to the gallery of over-hyped, poorly thought-out clickbait. What this is, as far as I can understand, is a creepy, invasive ‘service’ that for the benefit of alleviating the users of the need to select whatever text they are interested in finding out more about and pasting it into a search-box will cost them an eternal window into their behaviour in the context of whichever app they are using. Also, it seems to me that this is the ultimate defeat for Google, not a stunning advance: retreating to the God Of The Gaps. I might be wrong (I usually am), but “oh wow” was not the first thing I thought when I heard of this, it was more along the lines of “oh yuck”. For how much longer will Android/Google users realise that they are the product and that all these actions are simply aimed at mining them more deeply?

ramon 11y ago

Coming up on Tap: What's Jessica Alba doing right now?

alooPotato 11y ago

Does anyone know how this actually works? Will there be an API for any app to build something like this (an overlay that scans content)

pdkl95 11y ago

In addition to giving Google even more access to data, I wonder what the antitrust implications could be. Will 3rd parties also be able to user the same hooks that given them access to every other app's text? Wouldn't that turn into a nasty free-for-all where every app tries to steal as much data as possible, now that they can bypass the few restrictions Android imposes? If access is limited to Google - that is, that this is some "OS feature" instead an app that uses features available to any developer, isn't this effectively the same issue as United States v. Microsoft Corp.?