What do you think?

Seems like some Amazon's buillshit

Maybe the grill wasn't used since last thanksgiving?

why would you ever need an internet-connected flame-holding bucket?

@Midnight-shcode

I think 99% of devices don't need software, just hardware.

Like most people, I have a microwave with all kinds of "automatically defrost your 69 grams of mac and cheese" programs.

People think this is useful when buying a device. Then, in practice, they will just always set it manually to x watts and y seconds.

House appliances do not need an internet connection.

If they have a mandatory one, I don't want them.

@bittersweet
Just using a µC instead of intricate mechanical switches and discrete logic circuits can reduce the component price and failure rate of home appliances...

But that µC doesn't really has to be updateable.
And even if software updates are really a requirement somehow (long-lasting heavy machinery maybe) - just include a USB port and let customers download the update themselves if they really want the "automatically defrost your nice grams of mac and cheese" DLC.

@bittersweet yeah like most other people I skip the preset programs. I do love that I can make my own presets. Use them a lot.
My oven of the same series does not like the combo show the temp during pre-heating. Would have loved to see that in an update. But yeah most programs are highly overrated and specifically the presets suck. Guess it's better to have a dumb device that just works

@hjk101

In a certain ironic fashion, the Unix philosophy applies: Do one thing, and do it well.

For example: A fridge/freezer needs to keep things cool.

It should do this well: Efficiency, durability and low maintenance are great features. Space is a good feature.

Showing recipes? Playing music? Eh... That's a task for a phone, tablet, etc.

I understand the idea of smart devices, but even if your fridge can detect spoiled milk, it should off-load it's smarts elsewhere in my opinion. Make the fridge a dumb sensor with some open spec.

@Oktokolo Indeed, most devices would be better off with just a simple microcontroller.

The reality though is that hardware design is more expensive than software design these days — you might as well cram a complete off the shelf "computer" with OS in a toaster and ask a junior dev to let it connect to a remote API, instead of manufacturing a custom PCB for the features you want.

This is the plot of Unauthorised Bread by Cory Doctorow - well worth a read! https://arstechnica.com/gaming/...

@ostream
It might be a first world problem now - but if consumers don't stop it in the first world, you can be sure that it soon will be a second and third world problem too.

Worst potential future: You have to buy used vintage appliances because stuff sold new are not really sold but rented and stop working without internet connection...

Fire pits are Neolithic tech; they don’t need software. They barely even need hardware!

One day, even toilet paper will have an internet connection.

@Lensflare what about bidett?

@johnmelodyme license expired. Please renew your license to re-enable the water jets

@johnmelodyme cannot contact cloud to verify ass identity. Locked to restrict unauthorised access.

@Root
Rumors are that in some some countries at least indoor fire pits need particle filters now. Maybe, controlled air supply and exhaust sensors come next. And some years later, fire pits are are required to have telemetry and remote shutdown capabilities so the chimney sweeper can finally work from home too...

@Oktokolo Indoor fire pit. That is just wrong.

@Root chimney owners disagree ;)

@Lensflare in my country we don't use chimneys warming body, we burn the house instead.. Just kidding (no such thing, just playing with you )

People that buy "smart" IoT devices deserve everything that happens to them.