Submitted by HushedShadow t3_10lapkb in nottheonion
Deeman0 t1_j5vrl56 wrote
Are they just now figuring out that most people couldn't care less about whether or not everything has Wi-Fi ?
EzeakioDarmey t1_j5yo36a wrote
The idea of the smart home was strong about a decade ago. It reminded me of those old films from the 50s about "the home of tomorrow". Practicality goes out the window for mild conveniences. Then it became obvious that it could lead to bigger problems when it came out that these devices lacked any kind of cyber security. And last thing anyone wants is to get hacked through their coffee maker.
jimicus t1_j5zisw6 wrote
I don't even think it was "hacked by their coffee maker" concerns.
I suspect it's far more likely that a substantial number of people are buying smart appliances yet they neither know nor care that their appliance has this feature and it sits unconnected and unloved. They just thought it looked nice.
It's the modern equivalent of the VCR clock flashing 00:00 99% of the time. Yes, you can do additional things by setting it up, but most of those additional things are entirely useless most of the time, so why go to the hassle of doing so?
EzeakioDarmey t1_j5zjirv wrote
Considering smart devices tend to more expensive than their dumb equivalent, someone buying would ideally be buying them for the enhanced features.
For example; if I bought a smart fridge with internal cameras so I could see I needed milk while I was out, I'd probably be using that feature frequently.
celestiaequestria t1_j5zn5t4 wrote
The smart features are a honeypot to get the user to connect the device to WiFi so it can transmit usage and other data. The problem is that the features you get for connecting to WiFi are often meaningless or gimmicks - because the real reason for the antenna being included was always data collection and transmission.
thedm96 t1_j60tw26 wrote
Bingo! My fridge connects to the cloud to check a database of filter serial numbers to make sure i don't use a counterfeit one and if I do it shuts off the freaking water!
Companies are salivating over turning your life into a subscription model.
Thunderhorse74 t1_j60xts3 wrote
WTF? When did HP start making refrigerators?!?
thedm96 t1_j61i8ws wrote
You can thank GE for that one. Vote with your dollars!
zerostar83 t1_j63busc wrote
I have a smart washer and dryer set. Tried and gave up on trying to connect to it with the app. The instructions were confusing to say the least. They even seemed to switch back from referencing wifi and Bluetooth as if they're the same thing. I would like to set the "custom" knob setting so I'm not pushing buttons 5 times to set it to "normal" wash but with a slower spin and warm instead of hot water, but I don't want to spend another hour having an app tell me it's failing to connect.
Also, my Bluetooth toothbrush seems gimmicky. Got it on sale but do I really need those metrics?
Alaishana t1_j65e9f3 wrote
I can see where that would handy, if you never ever never wanted to open that damn fridge door.
Hekantonkheries t1_j5zsesa wrote
It's like printers and constant driver/connectivity issues; if a device isn't made by a computer or software company, but insists on acting like a piece of technology, it's going to work about as well as a McDonalds ice cream machine. Because competent IT and skilled post-release support teams are the first groups gutted of knowledge when a company has a new product to sell a few months later
gwicksted t1_j5zwazc wrote
IoT is notorious for poor security, buggy software, and has potential for gross misuse by manufacturers. I’m a software developer and still insist on having a dumb home because it works.
EcchiOli t1_j5zh4b8 wrote
The first time I read about a washing machine that needed an apache server update, I felt something perish inside of me.
zgembo1337 t1_j60d0le wrote
This is actually useful, because you can schedule the washing, get notified when it's done and start the wash at the right time for it to be done when you get home from work (so that wet clothes don't stay inside for hours if you're late at work)
Alaishana t1_j65emif wrote
And why exactly do you NEED all that?
Gimmicks.
ShitholeWorld t1_j67rc2t wrote
I feel like a lot of these things are solving non-problems. I've never thought "gee, I wish I could schedule my washing machine remotely."
As for notifications? If I'm home, I'll hear the machine stop. If I'm not home, what am I going to do about it?
zgembo1337 t1_j65vtr7 wrote
Because I can schedule the wash to be done when i get home, and then hang the clothes to dry immediately and be free for the rest of the day
The alternative is an ordinary timer, but if i stay longer at work, the clothes will stay in the drum and get crinckled, if a meeting is cancelled, I'll be home already before the wash even starts, and I'll have to wait for it to finish, before i can go somewhere else.
You dont need-need it, but it's nice to have, and doesn't really cost a lot... I can get a connected washer for ~300eur here, maybe even less if it's on a sale. If you reall dont need it, just don't connect it to wifi, and it'll still be a dumb offline washer
The_Unreliable_94 t1_j604brg wrote
My washing machine has Bluetooth so that I can get different wash cycles. I've never even attempted to use that function as I may as well turn the dial and hit start after I've loaded the washer.
Lord0fHats t1_j608zy5 wrote
What else am I going to do with a toaster but toast things?
Smart appliances are even more dead on arrival than smart houses.
celestiaequestria t1_j5zmtto wrote
It worked with Smart TVs - people use the built-in apps to stream on their TVs, meaning they connect the TV itself to WiFi allowing the manufacturer to collect a ton of data that earns them more money than they make from selling the TV set. Basically the new Nielson families.
It just failed everywhere else because there's no killer feature to having your microwave connect to the internet.
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