Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post:
I gave Amazon.com a key to go into my house and drop off packages when I’m not around. After two weeks, it turns out letting strangers in has been the least-troubling part of the experience.
Once Amazon owned my door, I was the one locked into an all-Amazon world.
And:
Make no mistake, the $250 Amazon Key isn’t just about stopping thieves. It’s the most aggressive effort I’ve seen from a tech giant to connect your home to the Internet in a way that puts itself right at the center.
And:
The Key-compatible locks are made by Yale and Kwikset, yet don’t work with those brands’ own apps. They also can’t connect with a home-security system or smart-home gadgets that work with Apple and Google software.
And, of course, the lock can’t be accessed by businesses other than Amazon. No Walmart, no UPS, no local dog-walking company.
And:
Amazon is barely hiding its goal: It wants to be the operating system for your home.
First things first, note that this article appeared in The Washington Post. The Post is owned by Jeff Bezos. Which tells me that Bezos truly is allowing the Post to be the Post, and that the Post is not afraid to bite the hand that feeds.
That said, the issue here is the walled garden. Once Amazon controls the lock on your door, they can control who has access to that lock, keeping out eventual home delivery by rivals like Walmart, and keeping rivals like Apple and HomeKit from offering door-unlocking services.
Very interesting.
People laughed at me when I said I won’t let Amazon or Google into my house with their devices. That I only trust Apple to treat me right.
Now who’s laughing?
Can totally see where you’re coming from here. I’ve got the same. I don’t want any Amazon/Google listening devices in my home and the HomePod is a music speaker more than it is a smart ‘listening’ speaker so I think I’ll be happy with that as long as it sounds good to replace my “dumb” Sonos 1 speaker!
I’d regret thinking about it.
The only Amazon listening device I have is with the Amazon FireStiick. With that, as you most likely know, you have to hold down a microphone button for “Alexa” to hear you.
I see your regret in thinking about it, and raise you regretting reading about people thinking about it. 🙂
I fold.
As Gruber likes to say: sounds like the DOJ should investigate Apple again.
We’re a tech-friendly house, but we don’t want our house to have an ‘operating system’ at all.
I’m laughing because people trust Apple. Even Google says don’t be evil – like Apple grabbing cash (inflated prices). I’ve seen much more community good coming from Google, from holistic perspective, ie. social benefits.
Please, don’t kid yourself that Google is somehow altruistic just because of that old slogan. All these publicly-traded companies are 100% focused on maximizing profit, as they have a fiduciary duty to be anyway. Google would happily kill your mother if they knew it would net them more money, and so would the other companies.
You are right that they are just corporate bullies. So far no benefits from money grabber Apple, but lots of free Google apps. I don’t fall into their traps easily. Amazon book reviews were useful & few good discounts.