Asher, As An Anal Sex Expert, Do You Think Microsoft Was Just Penetrated Anally?

[self biased]

also:

[kentonio]

Just as soon as you cite something establishing that I'm wrong in the first place.

Enjoy.

Privacy by Design: How Xbox One and the New Kinect Sensor Put You in Control


You are in control of what Kinect can see and hear: By design, you will determine how responsive and personalized your Xbox One is to you and your family during setup. The system will navigate you through key privacy options, like automatic or manual sign in, privacy settings, and clear notifications about how data is used. When Xbox One is on and you’re simply having a conversation in your living room, your conversation is not being recorded or uploaded.

You are in control of when Kinect sensing is On, Off or Paused: If you don’t want the Kinect sensor on while playing games or enjoying your entertainment, you can pause Kinect. To turn off your Xbox One, just say “Xbox Off.” When the system is off, it’s only listening for the single voice command -- “Xbox On,” and you can even turn that feature off too. Some apps and games may require Kinect functionality to operate, so you’ll need to turn it back on for these experiences.

You are in control of your personal data: You can play games or enjoy applications that use data, such as videos, photos, facial expressions, heart rate and more, but this data will not leave your Xbox One without your explicit permission. Here are a few examples of potential future scenarios:
A fitness game could measure heart rate data to provide you with improved feedback on your workout, allow you to track your progress, or even measure calories burned.
A card game could allow you to bluff your virtual opponent using your facial expressions.

http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/privacy

Seriously, if you think this console would be allowed anywhere near the EU if it was as bad as people have been muttering about, you're deluding yourself. We have some pretty strict data protection and privacy laws over here you know.

[kentonio]

Halo was a game I decided on playing when drunk, because, what the **** does it matter if you miss out on immersion as there is none. It's frighteninly bland.

I wouldn't mind it if it wasn't for those stupid mushroom things. They make my eyes and ears sad.

[Elok]

Okay, I guess I can see a lot of kids, especially the younger set, not caring. I can't see their parents not having a moral panic over it, though.

XPost; okay then, WhyTF did they announce that it wouldn't run without the eyes and ears on? Did they just feel like lying?

And, why on earth would you expect me to know anything at all about EU data protection regulations?

[Guynemer]

Enjoy.



http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/privacy

Seriously, if you think this console would be allowed anywhere near the EU if it was as bad as people have been muttering about, you're deluding yourself. We have some pretty strict data protection and privacy laws over here you know.

After the recent news of PRISM, I don't trust Microsoft at all when it comes to this issue. Nor do I trust their security to prevent enterprising hackers from gaining access to your Kinect camera.

[Colon™]

I wouldn't mind it if it wasn't for those stupid mushroom things. They make my eyes and ears sad.

I can't remember that (drunkness), but I do remember the squeaky noises the baddies made. A proud tradition of gore established ever since Wolfenstein and the baddies go "squeek". Which would be fine it were humorously, but the game was dead serious. Scary.

[Wiglaf]

I'm still gonna buy the new xbox. Just saying. And the Wii U. In fact, the only one I'm likely not to get is the PS4.

Kinect always-on: Electrical tape!
Microphone always-on: 60 ohm resistor!
Phoning home every 24 hours: They're gonna remove that, probably.

Why do you assume kinect can't tell if it is obstructed? It can tell your heart rate..

[regexcellent]

I'd just put a picture of Humphrey Bogart in front of it.

[Elok]

Okay, re-reading what Ken posted: it appears the thing always needs to be attached and technically "on," even if utterly non-functional. So, IIUC, it's not a privacy issue so much as a "we're forcing you to use our dinky peripheral as an excuse for price-gouging, and we covered for it with an explanation that sounds even worse" issue. Kind of like the PS3 and Blu-Ray. I guess that's better, sort of.

EDIT: Nah, not really like PS3 and the Blu-Ray, that was a totally different strategy, n/m.

[Wiglaf]

I'd just put a picture of Humphrey Bogart in front of it.

Would the picture have a heart rate? Would it feel?

[DaShi]

Would it dream?

[Wiglaf]

Sent from my iPhone

[Wiglaf]

Also the picture would need skeletal muscles..

[Elok]

Would the picture have a heart rate? Would it feel?

It would feel consistently hardbitten and/or stoic. The strategy is to make the Kinect swoon from his sheer manliness.

[Hauldren Collider]

Assuming you're right about the auto-update bit, what if the system depends on those parts not only being on but receiving input they can understand? I assume they wouldn't insist on them being on all the time if they weren't determined to be gathering useable data (for some arcane purpose) frequently.

It'll understand 60 ohms as "no sound going into the microphone" and it'll understand electrical tape as "the lights aren't currently on in the room".