Ok, Google... TURN YOURSELF OFF!

[acute]

I use a Moto G4 with Android 7.0, and since the last app update, the Ok, Google voice detection can no longer be turned off.  It sits there, listening to me 24/7, draining my battery. 

There is no setting that turns it off, and even the microphone permission toggle has disappeared!

There are some people very angry about this, and I'm one of them.

[Space Commander Travis]

Do I have that on mine? I think I probably do, it sometimes invites me to say "OK Google". I never have, though, I'd feel ****** stupid. 

Edited August 7, 2018 by Vlad the Mighty

[Space Commander Travis]

Well I've just shouted "OK Google" at it but it didn't seem to do anything  

[acute]

30 minutes ago, seanjo said:

Is it a virus? have you got a virus checker? Try uninstalling and reinstalling the App.

No virus. It's a 'feature' (courtesy of Google) that is now unturnoffable. 

From what I can gather, it's only on phones, not tablets.

[acute]

23 minutes ago, Vlad the Mighty said:

Well I've just shouted "OK Google" at it but it didn't seem to do anything  

You need to be on the Google app to begin with, or on the home screen. (Phones only)

[Space Commander Travis]

Just now, acute said:

You need to be on the Google app to begin with, or on the home screen. (Phones only)

Yes, I was, it said "Say "OK Google", so I did, but it still wasn't interested.  

[acute]

It's probably your stupid accent.

Try Geordie.

(Say "Why-aye, Google, man!")

Edited August 7, 2018 by acute

[Space Commander Travis]

Wouldn't the Geordie app be "Why aye, Google?" 

[acute]

Beat you to it! 

[acute]

Apparently, there is a fix, but you need to have an old phone that's capable of being 'rolled back' to an earlier version. (which I don't)

I think it's a disgraceful intrusion into our privacy.

[Space Commander Travis]

But is it actually doing anything? Have you tried shouting "OK Google" at it to see if it is actually listening? I mean, who is listening to it? Them? 

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

****, mine's the same!
At least it only works when the google app is on the screen, biut still that's a bit Big Brother-y.

[Golden Duck]

Work gave us all a Google Mini as a present. Now get to say "Hey, Google."

I created a free Spotify a/c. It plays 80s/90s rap. I can't tell it what to play. 

The only time I use it now is to set an alarm for the oven.

It can't tell me when the next tide is.

[Golden Duck]

On the Big Brother thing. Google always seems to know what you're gong to search. I only have to type a couple of letters and what I'm looking for is course to the top. 

[Space Commander Travis]

On 10/08/2018 at 5:54 AM, Golden Duck said:

On the Big Brother thing. Google always seems to know what you're gong to search. I only have to type a couple of letters and what I'm looking for is course to the top. 

ha! I was thinking of something beginning with W, and what did it suggest?

• Weather
• World Cup
• Whitney Houston
• Whitesnake here we go again
• Wickes*
• Wilko**

* UK DIY chain

** UK chain of stores that sell just about anything you can possibly imagine

Ha! None of those things. It was of course the Wombles***

*** 

 

[acute]

On 09/08/2018 at 11:34 AM, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

****, mine's the same!
At least it only works when the google app is on the screen, biut still that's a bit Big Brother-y.

Isn't the Google bar on your home screen too? It is on my phone.

[acute]

On 09/08/2018 at 8:28 AM, Vlad the Mighty said:

But is it actually doing anything? Have you tried shouting "OK Google" at it to see if it is actually listening? I mean, who is listening to it? Them? 

Say "Ok, Google" brings up the assistant app, so it's listening the whole time that Google Search is on the screen.

[Space Commander Travis]

8 minutes ago, acute said:

Say "Ok, Google" brings up the assistant app, so it's listening the whole time that Google Search is on the screen.

ah well, I only ever have Gargle search up when I want to look for something. 

[acute]

1 minute ago, Vlad the Mighty said:

ah well, I only ever have Gargle search up when I want to look for something. 

There's no Google Search bar on your home screen?

[Space Commander Travis]

1 minute ago, acute said:

There's no Google Search bar on your home screen?

there's not a bar, there's an icon, but I only open it if I should want to look for something. 

Edited August 11, 2018 by Vlad the Mighty

[acute]

1 hour ago, Vlad the Mighty said:

there is, but I only open it if I should want to look for something. 

Try saying Ok,Google at it, but don't shout! 

Edited August 11, 2018 by acute

[Golden Duck]

2 hours ago, Vlad the Mighty said:

ha! I was thinking of something beginning with W, and what did it suggest?

• Weather
• World Cup
• Whitney Houston
• Whitesnake here we go again
• Wickes*
• Wilko**

* UK DIY chain

** UK chain of stores that sell just about anything you can possibly imagine

Ha! None of those things. It was of course the Wombles***

*** 

 

Try it again after singing the Wombles theme. Or maybe taking about the Wombles.

Although we've just typed Wombles so maybe that's ruined it. 

[+ouija ouija]

Google really is recording your every movement even when you tell it not to!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6054383/Google-tracks-movements-like-not.html

[acute]

1 hour ago, ouija ouija said:

Google really is recording your every movement even when you tell it not to!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6054383/Google-tracks-movements-like-not.html

Truly awful Big Brother stuff!

I noticed that it now has my location, although I've never had the Location feature enabled.

It listens to me and tracks my movements, and changing all the settings under the sun makes not a jot of difference.

[AZDZ]

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/google-location-tracking-turn-it-off-for-real/