HTPCs in the News - Samsung Smart TVs with Ears

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miracleed

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HTPCs in the News - Samsung Smart TVs with Ears

#1

Post by miracleed » Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:57 pm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2881712/ ... cerns.html

I read this in my Google feed today. Was nice to see HTPC being spoken of in the present.

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STC

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#2

Post by STC » Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:29 am

Confused, as using an HTPC with a smart TV would be the same thing.

Samsung did publicly comment that it's only when you see the microphone icon that the TV is listening. Some of this listened data is sent to a 'third party' server to be analyzed and a response sent back. This was apparently the third party that built the voice recognition software. Make of that what you will.
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newfiend

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#3

Post by newfiend » Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:31 am

My wife wasn't to impressed with this news since we just bought a Samsung TV =(
I'm disabling the Voice feature of the TV for now in settings. Nothing like constantly being watched by Big Brother.. *sigh*
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#4

Post by STC » Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:15 am

Wait till the camera pops up by itself :shock: /jk

I wouldn't be too worried newfiend. Only if you see the mic icon on screen is the mic active.
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#5

Post by Venom51 » Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:25 am

It amazes me how many people have no idea how anything works. Most should understand that Siri works exactly the same way but they don't.

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#6

Post by kmp14 » Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:14 pm

Samsung can SAY the microphone is only listening when the icon is visible, but how do we know for sure that is true? Also, they could allow for "disabling" the microphone, but again, can we be sure? (probably, just stirring the pot :twisted: )

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#7

Post by STC » Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:22 pm

Yeah I'd put that in the tin foil hat department ;)


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#8

Post by newfiend » Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:09 pm

I'm not happy about the news about the Samsung TV.. However I have an Xbox with Kinect (camera), PS3 with Camera, Cell Phone with... Cameras and Mic's.. There is no such thing as 100% privacy anymore.. The digital age is here and privacy is a thing of the past. Look at all the surveillance cameras that are now EVERYWHERE! I don't care too much that the TV has a mic that may pick up some idle conversations in my home.. but it bugs the crap out of my wife. I used to worry about posting certain things online years ago, Now with social media EVERYTHING is posted online. I don't get why everyone feels the need to post every little thing online but people do it everyday now.
I think Samsung should give the owner of the TV the option to disable this completely if desired and still allow you to use the tv and all its functions (minus voice) with the remote control, but I'm sure Samsung could care less what I think.

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#9

Post by Dkeyguy1 » Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:50 pm

This time of year I like to add another layer to my foil hat.

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#10

Post by Ed  » Tue Feb 10, 2015 11:56 pm

newfiend wrote:I'm not happy about the news about the Samsung TV.. However I have an Xbox with Kinect (camera), PS3 with Camera, Cell Phone with... Cameras and Mic's.. There is no such thing as 100% privacy anymore.. The digital age is here and privacy is a thing of the past. Look at all the surveillance cameras that are now EVERYWHERE! I don't care too much that the TV has a mic that may pick up some idle conversations in my home.. but it bugs the crap out of my wife. I used to worry about posting certain things online years ago, Now with social media EVERYTHING is posted online. I don't get why everyone feels the need to post every little thing online but people do it everyday now.
I think Samsung should give the owner of the TV the option to disable this completely if desired and still allow you to use the tv and all its functions (minus voice) with the remote control, but I'm sure Samsung could care less what I think.

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If the mic is only on the remote........... why not just program your Harmony to work with the Samsung TV? No remote with mic, then the TV can't hear anything, ever! Boom, done.

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#11

Post by STC » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:07 am

I believe the mic on the TV is also used
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#12

Post by newfiend » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:32 am

Ed.. Been there,done that.. :D just use the remote for settings from Samsung. I guess from reading an article at CNET today there is also one in the TV as well. :shock:

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#13

Post by STC » Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:40 am

The TV mic is for video conferencing et al.
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#14

Post by Ed  » Wed Feb 11, 2015 1:34 am

STC wrote:I believe the mic on the TV is also used
I had the problem solved, and you had to ruin it with 'facts'. I hope your happy :evil:

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#15

Post by newfiend » Wed Feb 11, 2015 2:05 am

Ed  wrote:
STC wrote:I believe the mic on the TV is also used
I had the problem solved, and you had to ruin it with 'facts'. I hope your happy :evil:
LOL :lol:

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#16

Post by JTScribe » Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:41 pm

How does it differentiate from dialogue in the movies or shows you're watching?

I'd hate to get raided by a SWAT team because I was watching Criminal Minds or something.

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