Shockingly, No One Trusts Facebook’s Portal Smart Displays
It’s a brave new world today: you can purchase a Facebook-powered smart display that lives in your home with a camera and always-on microphone. The are not the first smart displays with that sort of functionality, but this is Facebook. The remarkable thing about all the reviews is that everyone agrees the hardware is nice, and the video chat functionality is top-of-the-line. However, no one wants to recommend the Portal because no one trusts Facebook.
According to the rumor mill, Facebook was poised to announce the Portal and Portal Plus earlier this year, but the Cambridge Analytica scandal pushed those plans back.
Facebook has instituted new rules for apps and tightened access to its API as a result, but the site is still struggling to move past the debacle. The situation is not helped by Facebook’s apparent inability to control fake news in the News Feed. People don’t trust Facebook even if they continue to use the website. Adding a Facebook camera to the living room is a much tough well.
calls out Facebook’s trust problem in the title of its review. Meanwhile, says the device demands too much trust for too little functionality. It has very good video chat and person tracking features, but it only works with Facebook Messenger. The reviewer refused to even set the device up in her home. That’s a problem for Facebook.
The larger Portal Plus.
By contrast, look at how Google handled its smart display debut. While Google does have its own set of privacy issues, it’s more trusted than Facebook. After all, plenty of people have Google Home smart speakers with always-on listening around the home. However, when it came time to launch its smart display, Google did not equip the Home Hub with a camera. Facebook’s addition of a physical cover for the camera is insufficient.
If you, for some reason, want the Portal or Portal Plus, they’re available direct from Facebook for $199 and $349, respectively.
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