Google Clips AI-Powered Camera Has Been Discontinued (slashgear.com) 13
In addition to Daydream, Google is discontinuing its AI-powered Google Clips, a small camera designed to leverage modern technology in order to automatically capture and preserve life's most memorable moments. "The product page for the device is still featured on the Google Store website, but it now redirects users to other available devices," reports SlashGear. From the report: Put simply, Google Clips was a small square camera designed to automatically record memorable moments during your day. This ability relied on artificial intelligence, the idea being that by the time something interesting happens, it'll likely already be over by the time you pull out your phone to record it. Google Clips was unlike any other camera consumers were likely to encounter, one with the appeal of promising a hands-free experience (for the most part). Users could browse through the 7-second clips captured by the camera -- they were assembled from individually captured still images -- to see what Google's algorithm thought was interesting.
Ultimately, there were some issues with the device. For starters, the entire philosophy of the device required it to be worn or carried around frequently, otherwise it wouldn't have the opportunity to capture spontaneous moments. Many people report feeling uncomfortable interacting with others while a camera is present to watch the moment. Beyond that, many users and official reviews found that the camera didn't function quite as well as they'd hoped it would, resulting in many clips that weren't terribly interesting, ones completely devoid of audio. The utility of what was essentially a GIF-capturing device didn't appeal to many; years later, the product is officially discontinued.
Ultimately, there were some issues with the device. For starters, the entire philosophy of the device required it to be worn or carried around frequently, otherwise it wouldn't have the opportunity to capture spontaneous moments. Many people report feeling uncomfortable interacting with others while a camera is present to watch the moment. Beyond that, many users and official reviews found that the camera didn't function quite as well as they'd hoped it would, resulting in many clips that weren't terribly interesting, ones completely devoid of audio. The utility of what was essentially a GIF-capturing device didn't appeal to many; years later, the product is officially discontinued.
Arkangel beta is no more (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Well Google has a knack of being fickle when it comes to new products.
In fact, it's so tiring hearing that Google has discontinued X that can we just fold Google's new product announcements in with their inevitable cancellation to save everyone the time and effort? e.g.:
"Google has announced a new device, it'll be cancelled next year. The end."
It'd be better for all of us; no one has to waste money on their barrage of turds, we all get to save time reading about Google's ineptitude in one rather than multip
What will it take to make people happy? (Score:2)
Personally, I like tech like this. I have a pretty bad memory at this point in life. It helps immensely that I have every bit of tracking turned on that I can. Whenever I need to remember when I last went somewhere or where I went on some day, I can just look. As long as it wasn't more than about 5 years ago, it's just there. When I'm working on just about anything, I take pictures. If I need to know where I ran some wire inside a wall or where a water pipe is in a wall, it's in my pictures. I didn't have t
Re:What will it take to make people happy? (Score:5, Insightful)
> I would love it if my whole life were recorded and indexed for easy access and statistical analysis.
You say that (naively) now but there are serious consequences if that was possible. Every little thing you do, say, behave, etc. can and will be used against you at some point. Trust would be eroded as everyone becomes super paranoid about everyone else. Why believe what they have to say when we can just (re)view it ourselves?
Black Mirror did an episode The Entire History of You [wikipedia.org] about this very topic.
Not to mention the very act of writing / drawing something out helps us to remember it better via taking the time to recreate it. This is one of the reasons we took notes in class. Being dependent on "external" memory will further erode our ability to remember over time.
The danger of any tech. is that it can become a crutch.
Moreover, as geeks we aren't against people improving their lives -- we are against technology that will be abused more then it being used. ANY possible (good) tech tends to become "weaponized." At what point do we say enough?
But then again maybe radical honesty would be better off for society? It might (en)force integrity and help people get over being so butt hurt over every stupid little shit that happens. Who knows? I'm sure politicians will no doubt be against it as people would be able to hold them accountable.
Do you want to be judged for EVERY little thing that happens in your life?
The danger is that we can lose our humanity and compassion as a result.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm all for the radical honesty approach. There is a vast amount of injustice today due to laws being selectively applied. Selective application allows us to create unreasonable laws and then apply them to those we don't like. A thorough review of anyone's life today against all laws would generally reveal some felony crime.
With a better picture of reality and removal of the ability to selectively apply the law, we'd face the crisis of either putting everyone in prison or realizing that our expectations and
Re: (Score:2)
I would love to record everything that happens to me, but I also need control over the encryption keys. And I also need to control the software on the device so I know that encryption is meaningful. And I also need legal protection from being compelled to reveal the data.
I weep bitter tears (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks to The Google's fecklessness, "First Post Divorce Blowjob" will never be a reality, committed to digital media so that in my dotage I may recall treasured life moments in detail.
This to you is news? (Score:3)
It's not news when Google half-conceives a product and then cancels it without trying to fix it. It's only notable when they keep going with something long enough to make it work.
This is not news (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Hopefully the Google AI (the one that secretly runs Google, not the one in the camera) learned something about human nature this time. Small steps!
GIF (Score:2)
The utility of what was essentially a GIF-capturing device
Please slashdot. Don't fall for the bullshit that is imgurs .gifv switcher or giphycat. They are not fucking .gifs, they are videos with actual compression. This is not just me being pedantic because people will keep searching for 'how to make gifs' and they'll get told exactly how to make that shitty format that should have died the instant libvpx became popular.