Microsoft Can Be Trusted With Privacy, Says Departing CEO

[Lovely Mixture]

That's right gamers! I'm trustworthy!
You should make a contract with me, to get a brand new game system!
All it takes is a wish!

In all fairness, Kyuubey is a lot more charismatic than Microsoft despite not even being a human.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Of course Microsoft can be trusted with this sort of thing. It's not like they've ever abused such things before, for example promising a data security feature built-in to Windows to encrypt one's hard drive, then releasing a program [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Online_Forensic_Evidence_Extractor] that bypasses the feature entirely making supposedly secure data readily accessible. Nor do they make what should be a user's private data readily available [http://www.eweek.com/security/microsoft-helped-nsa-bypass-cloud-encryption-report/] to US authorities without need for a warrant, process or cause.

Absolutely Microsoft are trustworthy with user's data and having an always-on camera able to log and record user's actions, expressions, gestures and conversation is totally not open to abuse. Also, it's very unlikely they'll sell this information on to advertisers to spam targetting ads at customers who paid money for a console just so they could be advertised at.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I love that "to the extent permitted by the law". Doesn't that mean that they'll have to give everything (again) to the NSA (or any other government agency) if they're told to?

 

[freedash22]

It's like hearing someone say "Hey you can trust the devil with your soul! I guarantee you he'll take good care of it and eventually send it to heaven."

Steve has to understand that genuine trust is built through a long track record of good actions and not words. And if in the off-chance that they actually don't gather data, someone, legal or otherwise, eventually will.

 

[Zipa]

It's actually because of all of these leaks that Russia actually started using typewriters again when recording down stuff. Sure the paperwork can be messy and cluttered, but you can't exactly leak it onto the internet and get away with it as easily.

It's funny, because I remember my electronics instructor talking about several other instances in which Russia's solution to high tech issues was to go low tech.

I mean, everyone sort of snickered but....It's not necessarily a bad idea.

My favorite one is that NASA spent millions trying to get a pen that would write while in space for their astronauts. Russia's answer? Send their cosmonauts up with pencils.

 

[nickpy]

It's actually because of all of these leaks that Russia actually started using typewriters again when recording down stuff. Sure the paperwork can be messy and cluttered, but you can't exactly leak it onto the internet and get away with it as easily.

It's funny, because I remember my electronics instructor talking about several other instances in which Russia's solution to high tech issues was to go low tech.

I mean, everyone sort of snickered but....It's not necessarily a bad idea.

My favorite one is that NASA spent millions trying to get a pen that would write while in space for their astronauts. Russia's answer? Send their cosmonauts up with pencils.

That's not actually true - BOTH space programs used pencils initially, and then switched to special space-pens (in the case of NASA) and ordinary ball-points (in the case of whatever russia's space agency was called). They switched from pencils because trying to sharpen them with the little bits of wood floating off and getting stuck in things, plus the carbon in the pencil lead is conductive so you certainly don't want it anywhere near a control panel....

Yes, basically, pencils are actually a terrible idea in space. The real stupidity of NASA is that they developed special space-pens that were pressurised and so on in order to work correctly in space, entirely unnecessarily... normal ball-points actually work better in space than on earth in that they work any way up in space.

 

[smithy_2045]

I get what he's trying to say here, but it's yet another case of Microsoft saying something that really doesn't need to be said, but saying it anyway regardless of possible negative implications. Anyone who's into the whole "Microsoft is watching you masturbate" theory isn't going to be persuaded by the outgoing CEO, and those who don't have any particular concerns are more likely to have concerns as a result of such an announcement. Someone needs to teach that entire company about effectively communicating with consumers.

 

[Zipa]

It's actually because of all of these leaks that Russia actually started using typewriters again when recording down stuff. Sure the paperwork can be messy and cluttered, but you can't exactly leak it onto the internet and get away with it as easily.

It's funny, because I remember my electronics instructor talking about several other instances in which Russia's solution to high tech issues was to go low tech.

I mean, everyone sort of snickered but....It's not necessarily a bad idea.

My favorite one is that NASA spent millions trying to get a pen that would write while in space for their astronauts. Russia's answer? Send their cosmonauts up with pencils.

That's not actually true - BOTH space programs used pencils initially, and then switched to special space-pens (in the case of NASA) and ordinary ball-points (in the case of whatever russia's space agency was called). They switched from pencils because trying to sharpen them with the little bits of wood floating off and getting stuck in things, plus the carbon in the pencil lead is conductive so you certainly don't want it anywhere near a control panel....

Yes, basically, pencils are actually a terrible idea in space. The real stupidity of NASA is that they developed special space-pens that were pressurised and so on in order to work correctly in space, entirely unnecessarily... normal ball-points actually work better in space than on earth in that they work any way up in space.

Cool, the more you know I guess. I just assumed that they would use a new pencil instead of sharpening them because of the floating issue.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Tit-for-tat Mr. Ballmer, because trust is a two-way street.
Trust ME with Microsoft's information, then I'll consider.

What? You have no reason to trust me? Well, how convenient, neither do I to trust you.

 

[nickpy]

It's actually because of all of these leaks that Russia actually started using typewriters again when recording down stuff. Sure the paperwork can be messy and cluttered, but you can't exactly leak it onto the internet and get away with it as easily.

It's funny, because I remember my electronics instructor talking about several other instances in which Russia's solution to high tech issues was to go low tech.

I mean, everyone sort of snickered but....It's not necessarily a bad idea.

My favorite one is that NASA spent millions trying to get a pen that would write while in space for their astronauts. Russia's answer? Send their cosmonauts up with pencils.

That's not actually true - BOTH space programs used pencils initially, and then switched to special space-pens (in the case of NASA) and ordinary ball-points (in the case of whatever russia's space agency was called). They switched from pencils because trying to sharpen them with the little bits of wood floating off and getting stuck in things, plus the carbon in the pencil lead is conductive so you certainly don't want it anywhere near a control panel....

Yes, basically, pencils are actually a terrible idea in space. The real stupidity of NASA is that they developed special space-pens that were pressurised and so on in order to work correctly in space, entirely unnecessarily... normal ball-points actually work better in space than on earth in that they work any way up in space.

Cool, the more you know I guess. I just assumed that they would use a new pencil instead of sharpening them because of the floating issue.

Then you'd need an inordinate quantity of pencils, and cost was measured in millions of dollars per kilo. Plus, even if you never sharpen them, the leads can and do break off accidentally, which brings us back to the conductive material floating + electrical control panel scenario.

 

[nuttshell]

This is not even funny anymore. At best, I can get a tortured grin on my face and at worst, I vomit over my router and windows...yeah, over my Windows 7 copy too.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

First, I don't trust your PR lies.

Second, You are departing, so your statement is invalid as soon as new CEO is in his power.

 

[Psychobabble]

"After he was done speaking the mysterious glowing red dot that had been on his forehead the entire time suddenly winked out."

 

[Roxor]

This is the funniest thing I've read all day.

If Ballmer were laying it on any thicker, he'd be driving a manure spreader.

 

[Strazdas]

The mere fact that this power exists means that someone WILL abuse it eventually, in some capacity, somewhere. And if the government did use connect to spy on people, and I'm sure they'd love to, I doubt we'd know about it until it was too late. I find the mere fact that we have to have this discussion disturbing.

As long as the camera can be turned off I can see major problems being avoided, but the idea that the federal government can spy on people in any capacity is disturbing.

Same argument can be made about every laptop that has integrated camera, which is every laptop. And then we can extend it to phones (mine has two cameras front and back, though the front one i never use).

Really the only positive thing you can say about Microsoft here is that unlike Google ad-revenue isn't their main source of income. They're still a big corporation though and revenue is profits for the shareholders, that's the only thing you can count on really.

advertisement on XBL has been a very nice revenue stream for them, so dont put that behind them.

 

[Fox12]

The mere fact that this power exists means that someone WILL abuse it eventually, in some capacity, somewhere. And if the government did use connect to spy on people, and I'm sure they'd love to, I doubt we'd know about it until it was too late. I find the mere fact that we have to have this discussion disturbing.

As long as the camera can be turned off I can see major problems being avoided, but the idea that the federal government can spy on people in any capacity is disturbing.

Same argument can be made about every laptop that has integrated camera, which is every laptop. And then we can extend it to phones (mine has two cameras front and back, though the front one i never use).

Both of which have been hacked in the past. Phones can be used to spy on their owner, and can also be used to listen in on their owner unawares. What I'm saying is that I'm against the use of modern conveniences to spy on their owners, especially i a day and age when the government doesn't need any over site. Hacker groups have also proven themselves up to the task. Just because other devices are in the wrong doesn't mean the Xbox is excused. They're all in the wrong.

But all that aside, we all know they'd love to use the device for ad purposes.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

Well Google spies on emails for advertising purposes and no one bitches about that. All companies and most websites spy on the users. Its to late to change anything anymore.

 

[Strazdas]

Both of which have been hacked in the past. Phones can be used to spy on their owner, and can also be used to listen in on their owner unawares. What I'm saying is that I'm against the use of modern conveniences to spy on their owners, especially i a day and age when the government doesn't need any over site. Hacker groups have also proven themselves up to the task. Just because other devices are in the wrong doesn't mean the Xbox is excused. They're all in the wrong.

But all that aside, we all know they'd love to use the device for ad purposes.

*puts on tinfoil hat*

Yeah, the point was is that your still going to be using such devices. Kinect is not magically much worse just because it can be hacked into because every device now can. i agree that it is bad that they get hacked into it but that does not mean we should remove cameras and microphones from them. in fact that would kinda make phones pointless as you couldnt talk to others.