As the NSA’s PRISM program has been unveiled – or leaked, in some cases – Google has taken to the web to make their involvement (or lack thereof) completely transparent. What’s been noted this afternoon comes from Google CEO Larry Page and Google Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, and suggests that until yesterday, Google had
Before the Xbox One was announced, the Internet was inundated with rumors about how you wouldn’t be able to play used games on the console, how it was going to require an Internet connection and how its brand new Kinect is sorry, but it’s afraid it can’t let you do that Dave. Now the inundation begins anew, with many of the rumored restrictions confirmed by Microsoft itself on the official Xbox site.
The Xbox site has a series of articles dedicated to explaining what the player may or may not do – and in some instances has to do – in order to use the console. The articles themselves are explained in simple language and are quite brief. But in case you’re busy preparing a petition urging the White House to send all Xbox One units to the Marianas Trench, the picture below – which as far as I can tell was originally posted at a thread in the 360crunch.net forums – summarizes the articles, albeit with a decidedly negative tone.
After reading the articles themselves, I can confirm most of what’s written on the picture, except for a few things. First of all, the 24-hour restriction only applies if you’re playing on your primary console. If you sign in to your account on another console, the restriction gets worse: that console has to connect at least once an hour for you to keep playing:
I also didn’t see anything in the Xbox One site that explicitly says that you cannot disconnect the Kinect. The closest that I read that was related to this was that “…you can pause the Kinect.” Microsoft didn’t say that you can’t disconnect it, but it also didn’t say that you can disconnect it or that you can turn it off completely, short off unplugging the console:
The green poster above is also incorrect in saying that it’s impossible lend games. It’s actually possible. It’s to just nearly impossible. You can lend a game disc to someone, as long as you follow the rules outlined above for selling. There’s also another form of lending or sharing that the Xbox One allows: “Xbox One will enable new forms of access for families. Up to ten members of your family can log in and play from your shared games library on any Xbox One.” The thing is, I don’t know how Microsoft can distinguish who your “family” is:
Overall, I think we can take away seven things with these revelations. First, if you’re planning on buying an Xbox One, you should read the articles on the Xbox One website. Yes, they are restrictive and confusing, but at least Microsoft finally came clean. The information is there, so it’s your fault if you remain uninformed.
Second, we would be fools to assume that the PlayStation 4 would have none of the Xbox One’s restrictions, especially when it comes to lending, sharing or trading-in used games. Why? Because the publishers will be the ones to decide whether you can trade-in, sell or lend Xbox One game discs, NOT Microsoft:
It stands to reason that many of those publishers will also want those same policies to be available with Sony’s console. So if you’re truly concerned about these policies, don’t pre-order a PS4 just yet. Wait until Sony reveals its policies as well.
Third, even if you’re not planning on buying an Xbox One, as long as you’re a gamer you still have to be concerned about this. These are paradigm-shifting declarations from one of the world’s most powerful forces in the videogame industry. If they don’t meet much resistance, then other companies and people will follow suit and these declarations will become status quo. And what exactly are these declarations? That there is no such thing as a second hand game unless they say so, and that it is okay to assume that ALL gamers are software pirates and thus must be controlled and policed without exception. Yes, even Dave’s 5-year-old brother.
Fourth, clearly no one at Microsoft’s Xbox departments – and possibly at Sony’s PlayStation departments – has ever bought or will buy a second-hand item. Clearly they wouldn’t buy a second hand novel because the writer doesn’t make money off that right? They wouldn’t buy a third hand house because the original owner doesn’t make money off that right? And they wouldn’t buy second-hand gadgets because the electronics maker doesn’t make money off that right?
Fifth, we have access to the Internet at all times, and game companies never have connection problems on their end. The launch days of SimCity, Diablo III and all MMORPGs ever made all went smoothly without zero problems.
Sixth, Dave is so screwed.
Seventh, the worst thing you can say while someone else is playing on the Xbox One is “Xbox Off.”
[via Xbox via Xbox-Scene]
Microsoft wasn’t terribly clear on certain aspects of the Xbox One upon its unveiling, and one area that raised concerns was a claim that the device was “always on,” serving as a type of spy in your living room listening to your conversations and peeking at your activities. Microsoft made a couple attempts to clear
Yesterday, it was revealed that a secret court order initiated by the FBI strong-armed Verizon into handing over detailed phone records of millions of US consumers to the NSA. Such an action made it obvious that other activities of a similar nature are likely taking place, something confirmed today by The Washington Post, which says
Your private conversations aren’t that private.
We live in a time when cameras are in the hands of nearly every individual, as well as mounted in store corners, on top of utility poles, and more. Anyone can snap a picture of you when you’re in public, often without your knowledge, and concerns about privacy in this area are increasing as devices
Yahoo’s been on a bit of a warpath lately, shuttering old services and streamlining existing ones — the firm classic email interface, slated to discontinue tomorrow, June 3rd, is the latest to get the axe. We knew this was coming, of course, but its more than a mere visual update: users who choose to upgrade to the new interface will have to agree to Yahoo’s updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Yahoo’s own help documentation points out why this matters, explaining that the new ToS includes “the acceptance of automated content scanning and analyzing of your communications content, which Yahoo users to deliver product features, relevant advertising and abuse protection.”
Nothing new for Gmail users, but a change worth consideration. The company says users can opt out of contextual advertising or otherwise dodge it with a desktop email client, but will still need to accept the new ToS to continue using Yahoo Mail. Mostly par for the course, but if you’re concerned about privacy, you can read up on the changes for yourself at the attached source link.
Filed under: Internet
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Yahoo
Google Glass presents a lot of exciting possibilities, but a fairly equal amount of concerns, one in particular being facial recognition and potential privacy issues that could result. On May 17, Congress sent a formal letter to Google addressing several privacy concerns, one of which was facial recognition. It has been a couple weeks, and now Google has stated it won’t approve facial recognition apps until privacy issues have been addressed.
In the Congressional letter, which was delivered to Google CEO Larry Page, one question was specifically posed concerning facial recognition: “Is it true that [Glass] would be able to use Facial Recognition Technology to unveil personal information about whomever and even some inanimate objects that the user is viewing? Would a user be able to request such information? Can a non-user or human subject opt out of this collection of personal data? If so, how? If now, why not?”
Google has not yet responded to the letter, and has a day over two weeks yet to do so. It has, however, made a public statement on its Google+ regarding Glass, facial recognition, and privacy, saying that no Glassware with such a feature is going to be approved any time soon. It doesn’t say when such apps will be available, with the issue being dependent on many factors related to privacy.
Google goes on to say that it has had a stance for “several years” that it will not implement any sort of facial recognition technology into any of its products until “strong privacy protections” are established. Such a process will take time, and is multi-faceted. We may get a look into where Google is at now in the process next month when it responds to the government’s privacy concerns, but for now Google simply assures worried voices that the feature won’t be hitting the average consumer any time soon.
Facial recognition isn’t the only area where privacy concerns lie, however. Many cite the camera on Glass as a point of concern, which wearers being able to take images wherever they’d like with a simple wink. Many places have already banned the devices, including a bar in Seattle.
SOURCE: Google+
Google says no to facial recognition Glassware until privacy issues are addressed is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
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A dumpster-looking personal fortress of solitude where you can play games in total privacy? Count me in. “The Box” is a custom-built personal gaming chamber for those who have no friends and want none.
It’s for sale on Craigslist in Ohio. It has everything you could ever want in a gaming chamber: surround sound, air conditioning/heat, the smell of your own sweat and urine when you refuse to leave (or get locked in by others) as well as the smell of stale Cheetos and Mountain Dew.
It’s only $2500 (USD). Never be distracted again by “life”. No worries. Girls won’t find you in this thing and you will be doing all of them a favor by living in this thing.
[via Geekologie]
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