Don't Want Google In Your House? Here Are a Few Home-Tech Startups To Watch

curtwoodward writes: Google bought Nest. Then Nest bought Dropcam. Then Nest opened up its platform to tech partners, including... Google. This may not creep everyone out, but for those who don't like the idea of Google's all-seeing eye owning their smart-home devices, there are some small, independent companies developing alternatives. Maybe they'll survive long enough to get acquired by a company that doesn't make 90 percent of its money from advertising — right?

Re:I don't want "smart-home"

[CanHasDIY]

So then don't buy and install these products.

Remember when people used to say that about GPS-enabled cell phones? "Well, if you don't want one, don't buy one."

Now every cell phone is GPS-enabled.

So much for that non-solution. Got any other ideas?

Home Brew

[SuperTechnoNerd]

I rather make my own devices and sensors. Much more fun and they will do exactly what you want them to do.

Re:I don't want "smart-home"

[Bing Tsher E]

GP probably knows quite well where he is. The point is it's nobody else's business where he is and just because there's a little clicky on a menu in the phone that says the GPS is disabled doesn't mean that it's the case in all circumstances. Nothing that the big telecom providers, and Google and the like have been doing recently inspires our confidence.

Soon there may be websites with information on how to disable features you don't like on your eDevices. With informative pages that feature nice illustrations showing were to drill with a #44 drill bit and how deeply, to disable the GPS and no other function on the phone.

The time is certainly right for sites like that to emerge.

But yeah, duh, we're all luddites if we don't bow and kiss the ring.

Re:apple homekit

[rogoshen1]

Oh but they will; they may not advertise it, or do it to the same extent as Google, or even put a shiny spin on it.. but they will track you, and will sell that data -- eventually.

With shareholders completely focused on short term profits what do you think will happen when the idevice market truly becomes saturated? Ethics and morality are not represented on the balance sheet, and untapped revenue streams will not be tolerated.

Besides, look at the Apple user base, they are probably a much more sought after demographic in terms of peer influence and disposable income. Think Costco vs Sam's Club.

Trusting any company to not retroactively change their labyrinthine TOS and abide by any kind of personal privacy standards is silly.

Re:I don't want "smart-home"

[uCallHimDrJ0NES]

Ultra64, are you expecting us to believe that you genuinely don't understand the fears of those in this forum who oppose your optimistic view of the way data collected on customers of these services will be used? Or are you just baiting and enjoying the argument? If the former, you are one interesting character, and the conversation should proceed. If the latter, you're a troll, and fun as it may be, we should all stop feeding you.

You are the product

[used2win32]

Remember: With a normal company you are the customer buying their products. With Google ~you~ are the product they sell to advertisers. They gather and sell your information, you are the product.