Hacker News Reader

Comment by meandyounowhere | Hacker News Reader

Disagree a bit. Even though google knows where am I or my cell phone data I have choice to turn off GPS, can turn off cell phone. Can you afford to turn off thermostat ? Also, as of now they don't collect data. What is guarantee that they won't do in future ? All they say is we have changed our terms and conditions and don't even ask or care about whether we accept or not. Having motion sensor that sense your presence and having that data on someone's server is always scary. Right now Google is king, but will it always be, given the race to top in SV ? So why won't they make further efforts to collect more data ? Not that I am naysayer but I didn't like the news when I read it yesterday.

View on HN

> All they say is we have changed our terms and conditions and don't even ask or care about whether we accept or not.

Well, in that scenario you can always change to a different thermostat...

> Having motion sensor that sense your presence and having that data on someone's server is always scary.

Is Google more scary than Nest? You signed up for that data to live on someone's server when you bought a Nest, the only difference now is that it's Google's servers instead of a small startup's.

>Is Google more scary than Nest? You signed up for that data to live on someone's server when you bought a Nest, the only difference now is that it's Google's servers instead of a small startup's.

Uh, yes. A lot scarier. Google is already collecting data on many other aspects of our lives and linking it together. Nest was just collecting data from our thermostats.

Why does Nest need to store data on a server? I could understand an optional network connection to download weather reports, but what user state needs to be stored on a server instead of the thermostat itself?

That's the entire selling point of the Nest, the online smart connectedness thingy. Remote control & machine learning to avoid spending 30 seconds programming a thermostat.

To be fair, Iv'e considered a Nest for the main reason that my programming changes every few weeks - weather gets colder, folks visiting, kids get sick, etc etc. These events last several days or weeks.

I want something that learns and adapts constantly. I'd really love something that also controlled window openings and my whole-house fan, but for now I'll take something that controls the central air/heat.

Do they need it? Probably not. But having it is of value to them - and Google just paid a hefty price to get access to that stream of information. Nest could always sell the "need" as a way for them to optimize their algorithms for maximum energy efficiency or something that the vast majority of its customers wouldn't read nor question - so even though there may be a vocal minority that finds the practice distasteful - I seriously doubt it'd ever be widespread enough concern to hurt sales ... an assumption supported by the apathy with which the NSA revelations have been perceived by the general public.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com