translated from Spanish: Portal: Facebook wants to get into your house

smart devices continue invading the homes of everyone and not to be outside Facebook launched Portal, whose main function is to facilitate the use of Facebook Messenger video calls.

Portal is available in two versions: the regular, has the size and shape of a photo frame screen 10.1 inches, and Portal +, the premium model that includes a swivel screen of 15.6 inch mounted on a rigid portable foot. Being intended for video calls, both models include the same cameras 12 megapixels with a viewing angle of 140 degrees and microphones that record surround sound. The majority of users hesitate to allow Facebook to have a microphone and a camera recording the movements of their privacy. To differentiate themselves from the competition, Facebook designed a system called “Smart camera”, which allows the device to record the user location and always keep it on display – offering greater freedom of action. Beyond video calls, Portal allows you to run videos, photos and music applications as Spotify, but its functionality is (at least for now) very limited. Ironically, there is even a Facebook application available for the social network.

The two models of Portal | Image: Facebook privacy is one of the major problems for Facebook, who continues trying to regain the trust of users. It is that site includes not only an accessory to plug the camera, a button to completely disable the audio and video, and not recorded audio or video. Even so, the company has not been clear with respect to the use or destination that will take the information gathered by Portal. According to statements by executives, records of calls and executed applications may be used to select ads in other applications of the company, such as Facebook and Instagram.

Image: Facebook Portal line joins other smart devices, such as the Echo Show Amazon or Google’s Smart Display, promising to facilitate not only communication but also the access to information and entertainment. Thanks to the arrival of the conversational as Siri or Alexa, the future of the intelligent House is ever closer. Portal is available in the United States to 199 dollars the regular model 10.1 inch and $349 model 15.6 inch. In this article: Facebook Portal Smart Alexa

Original source in Spanish