Meh, humans are pretty much the same no matter where they’re physically located. Some are decent enough — a small percentage are even quite good — but the large majority are varying degrees of shitty, with a small number (e.g. the “one percenters”) being irredeemably so.

Just long enough to finish the job.

Huh, you’re right. Guess I just assumed it no longer had them since I dismissed getting one because it was such a downgrade in terms of other hardware. I’d only just found out about the FLX1 about a month before they switched them out, and was pissed about the downgrade because I was saving up to get the original. They lost some sales over that.

Could you be a bit more specific - is what true?

The month must’ve gone by too “fast” for you to post the “Furryosa.”

(Yeah, I know I’m mixing movie franchises - please just go along with it.)

Well, that sounds expensive.

This “opinion” presumably being based upon your personal experience with being an expensive waste on wheels…

Found the one who ASS-U-MEs.

Either way, you’re still actually communicating with someone in your modern day example so I don’t see how that applies.

Talking to the wall vs a picture? I doubt it would make a difference to me personally, but I know I can be very matter-of-fact in how I look at things so my perspective might be different than most. Still seems like the improvement would be extremely minimal.

Thanks for the explanations nonetheless.

I know it’s a product of its time, but I fail to see how that would make anybody in her position any happier.

There’s that meth turning on a brain’s overdrive.

Which are no longer for sale.

Where did the money for all that come from? Where will it come from in the future as the wealth transfer to the few continues apace?

Yeah, no - I’m not inclined to rest easy. Just because more complex methods are available for use doesn’t mean the old standbys are forgotten.

It’s far too easy to change the software that drives that. For example, in order to minimize blatant power drain the trigger mic could easily become a switch that activates the main mic only when human voices are detected (or even specific voices). With authoritarian governments on the rise — along with the more than willing corporations backing them — I don’t think a bit of paranoia regarding the possibility is unwarranted.

ETA: Also there’s nothing saying the hardware can’t be updated for newer capabilities without anyone on the outside knowing. It’d be pretty easy to get away with once everyone gets lulled into a false sense of security regarding how they work.

While a response of “yes” means you need to find more entertaining friends.

Only marginally, IMHO - software is vulnerable to remote hacks, but physically breaking the electrical connection is pretty effing hard to overcome remotely.

Pfft! The astronaut path should be way more vertical.

Ignorant mode activated.

Didn’t Fairphone or some other Linux phone maker include switches in some relatively recent model?

EDIT: According to (embarrassed for having to mention source) Google’s AI summary, yes:

• Murena 2: Features a dedicated physical privacy switch that physically cuts the circuit for the microphone and camera.

• Purism Librem 5: Offers physical toggle switches on the side of the phone to mechanically sever power to the microphone, camera, and baseband.

• Pine64 PinePhone: Includes built-in hardware DIP switches under the back cover that allow you to completely disconnect the mic, cameras, and modems.

Which ones? The animals, or the animals?