G+_George Kozi Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 So let me get this clear: people are worried about: - a phone that always listens, - Google Glass, and - Xbox that always has to have a connection to the Internet. Right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but this thing is the equivalent of a black box and a transponder... Is it not? Leo Laporte Tom Merritt Jeff Jarvis Originally shared by Mike Elgan New minimalist activity tracker to be sold in Apple Stores. A startup called Misfit begins selling their wristwatch, called Shine, in Apple Stores this week. The startup was originally crowd-funded on Indiegogo. It's currently headed by former Apple CEO John Scully. You buy the round, metal center for $99, then you can buy a rubber or metal wristband, necklace or some other means of attaching it to your physical person. It measures your activity, which can be analyzed in an iPhone app. Interestingly, you synch the Shine by placing the circular gadget on the surface of the iPhone, and the data is transmitted. They say there's no pairing involved. To "read" the watch, you tap on the surface. Lights glow, which conveys information to you, such as the time or how far you've gone toward your daily movement goals. The battery is supposed to last longer than three months. A different picture of the Shine was today's Mystery Pic. Props to Bashir Dada for being first with the right answer! https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MikeElgan/posts/XFpmc89usxZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tanner Smith Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I'm not sure how you jumped from "fitness device" (a la Fitbit) to "blackbox and transponder"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 well, it registers your activity (black box) and sends out a unique signal to the phone (transponder)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tanner Smith Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 According to that it's no more dangerous than any other fitness activity tracker out there. One could argue that a computer mouse is a "black box" and a "transponder". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted August 6, 2013 Author Share Posted August 6, 2013 yep... I don't mind this thing, I don't mind google glass, Xbox and motoX either. One way or another we are all tracked by something... heck, we are on a camera or another the moment we leave the house. I'm just pointing out the inconsistency in attitude. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Tanner Smith Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 Ah, gotcha. I'm ok with the Misfit more so than the other devices you listed mostly due to the degree of control one has over the product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Joshua “Wizdum” Burgess Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 A fitness tracker is similar to a blackbox, but the others are not. Neither the xbox, glass, or phone are recording all the time. They are listening for a specific wake up interrupt. Its no different than putting a computer to sleep. Most of the time the device is powered down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Alexander Kohlhofer Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 You may buy and wear a fitness or activity tracker to track fitness or activity. You probably buy an xBox to consume media and play games - but not to be tracked by it in any way. There is a difference of intent. Same for a black box which is explicitly designed for its intended use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_George Kozi Posted August 7, 2013 Author Share Posted August 7, 2013 true, but intended use is not always all the possible use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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