Facebook's $149 Portal TV brings video calling to the living room

[Shawn Knight]

A hot potato: Facebook's biggest hurdle with Portal TV will be itself - that is, convincing users that it is safe to bring into their home. Given Facebook's spotty track record with protecting user data over the past couple of years, that won't be easy. Fortunately, devices like smart speakers and smartphones have indoctrinated consumers into lowering their guard as it relates to personal privacy.

Facebook on Wednesday added three new members to its Portal video chat family including the Portal TV, a unique device that brings video chat to the living room.

Not to be mistaken for Microsoft’s Kinect, Portal TV is a video calling device meant for use with your television. It sits on top or below your set and connects via HDMI. Portal TV features a 12.5-megapixel camera with 120-degree field of view that pans and zooms automatically to keep everyone in the frame.

An array of eight linear microphones helps to accurately track sound. There is even a physical camera cover and electronic mic / camera disable button for added privacy and security. Wireless connectivity takes place over 2.4GHz / 5GHz Wi-Fi and you also get a remote control for input.

Portal TV is more than a basic video calling device. With it, you can make video calls with Messenger and WhatsApp, interact with Amazon Alexa and even co-watch content on Facebook Watch with friends and family. It’s not a bona fide TV-watching device as it lacks many of the features and content found on dedicated products like Apple TV or Roku but the co-watching feature shows that Facebook is at least thinking with such a future in mind.

Portal TV is available to pre-order from today priced at $149. It ships in the US, Canada and Europe on November 5, just in time for the holidays.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/81957-facebook-149-portal-tv-brings-video-calling-living.html

 

[QuantumPhysics]

Zuckerberg will get nothing more from me than memes, stolen memes and off-color commentary.

The answer is NO... I would not invite Facebook into my house.

Nor Alexa speaker.

Nor Siri speaker.

Nor Google Home.

Nor Amazon.

Nor Kinect.

Nor PS4 camera.

I don't care how cheap or affordable you make it out to be.

I don't care if you want to give me one as a free gift with my groceries.

Someone may claim I have a tin foil hat.

These companies - each and every one has already admitted to misusing our private information.

You might as well write letters and mail evidence against yourself and your family direct to the FBI.

 

[wiyosaya]

You might as well write letters and mail evidence against yourself and your family direct to the FBI.

or hackers aiming to steal your identity.

and NO, fakebook has no place in my home.

 

[Uncle Al]

The only room Fakebook is welcome in at my home is the bathroom where I can simply render my opinion in solid form and flush them both!

 

[PEnnn]

I bet it'll function as 2 way mirror with Facebook agents on the other side...........!

 

[ZackL04]

[QUOTE="QuantumPhysics, post: 1772871, member: 404383". You might as well write letters and mail evidence against yourself and your family direct to the FBI.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with you except for that last part, totally makes you sound like a crazy person with something to hide IMO.

Having quote trouble today...

 

[ET3D]

It's not a real Portal TV if I can't step through it and out the other portal.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

[QUOTE="QuantumPhysics, post: 1772871, member: 404383". You might as well write letters and mail evidence against yourself and your family direct to the FBI.

I totally agree with you except for that last part, totally makes you sound like a crazy person with something to hide IMO.

Having quote trouble today...[/QUOTE]



I have lots to hide.

And that's the point.