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My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

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Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#41
post #5

Looks like a Miele. That menu can be exited (the image where it says "Software Update", the tiny bit on the right... that's a scroll bar of multiple options including the ability to exit this menu), but it does imply that the dishwasher is already connected to Wi-Fi and that it has determined that there is an update available. There are few times that a dishwasher is interacted with, if not when you go into the menu…

Sorry, but you forgot to write why the WiFi is useful, the things you listed are not useful at all and/or don't need WiFi.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#42

I can understand the appeal of most smart devices, but since a dishwasher can’t yet load and unload itself, what is the point of an internet connected dishwasher? You have to have physically loaded it. Why not just push the start button then?

Notifications is the big reason: because cycle times are usually just estimates, you can't just set a timer for when it'll be done.

The timer in my dumb Siemens washing machine works quite well. I can just set it to be done in hours. That way I can load it in the morning and have it just about done when I come home in the evening. Works quite well. Doesn't really matter if it takes 10 minutes longer or not.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#43
post #24
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No software is perfect when shipped. Most dishwashers have had updatable firmware for at least a decade, it just normally required a technician connecting to it with a cable.

No software is perfect when shipped Why not? Or rather, why do we accept this as the norm? A dishwasher isn't that complex, it should be possible to prove the firmware error-free.

It can be cheaper to do things in software so in the past you may have been able to tell the water inlet "fill machine" now you have to watch a water level sensor to control a dumb solenoid valve.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that tweet is click-bait meant to generate outrage clicks and follows. Most of the submissions on the front-page have -at best- incomplete titles.

yes, clearly it is the user's fault that their dishwasher wont work without an update.

buro9 has just explained that it will work without the update. The person in question also had the choice either to not buy a wifi enabled smart dishwasher, or not connect it to the internet. My own smart TV is not connected to the internet.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#45
post #6

This sounds like something that https://twitter.com/internetofshit would repost Maybe the firmware is important for the dishwasher though, but it should still function without it. I imagine a dystopian future where some society fails for some reason and internet stop being reliable. So much of our technology is dependent on it to work. It could be war, it could be solar winds or even more likely that the manufacturer…

Personally I try to avoid these connected appliances like the plague. That said, if today's dishwasher market is anything like that of TVs, it wouldn't be easy to find one that's up to spec that doesn't come with all this nonsense.

It will only be a matter of time before there is zero selection. Because IoT is the hip thing, and only will be moreso. But the hacker community will eventually figure out ways of libre-izing these machines with custom firmware, when it becomes a big enough problem.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#46
My dishwasher needs no software.

The dishwasher I buy will never need software.

I am a software engineer and I love technology, but I love simple technology and when something doesn't need software, I don't add software just for the sake of having software.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#47
post #28

I can understand the appeal of most smart devices, but since a dishwasher can’t yet load and unload itself, what is the point of an internet connected dishwasher? You have to have physically loaded it. Why not just push the start button then?

We have one it’s great. The ability to start it, and confirm it’s started is a game changer. Especially because it’s preloaded with the chemicals. We don’t want to start it until we’re sure all the floating dishes actually got loaded. There’s a stray dish, a glass, life’s just a little chaotic getting dinner cleaned up and everyone to bed. We forget or we hit start but someone else opens it to add something. Without…

Wouldn't a simple LED indicator have the same result? My "dumb" dishwasher has a small light it shines on the floor when it's on. Also, if I set it up and close it without actually starting it, it beeps to let me know.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#48
post #24
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No software is perfect when shipped. Most dishwashers have had updatable firmware for at least a decade, it just normally required a technician connecting to it with a cable.

No software is perfect when shipped Why not? Or rather, why do we accept this as the norm? A dishwasher isn't that complex, it should be possible to prove the firmware error-free.

I think you radically underestimate how complex a modern, eco-friendly, low-water usage dishwasher is.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#49

I can understand the appeal of most smart devices, but since a dishwasher can’t yet load and unload itself, what is the point of an internet connected dishwasher? You have to have physically loaded it. Why not just push the start button then?

The only thing I could think of that would be useful would be delayed starting. Often we load the dishwasher but don't want to start it right away for one reason or another... usually though a simple button to start in 1..2..3.. hours would be fine, though. And I don't think that feature is worth the tradeoffs. Especially if it requires an Internet connection to use, instead of just talking directing to my personal home server.

Re: My dishwasher won’t start until I let it update its firmware over the WiFi

#50
I mean it's kind of due to the fact it's connected to wifi, that it needs to update. If it had no internet-connected/smart functionality, it wouldn't need updates for security OR to correct/add some functionality (or in some cases, remove it as a "security fix").

If you want internet-connected devices so you can - and I can't imagine why - start your dishwasher remotely, then you necessarily open the door to software updates.

Also how can it know there is an update unless it's already connected to the network... I'm certain there is a way to exit this also and continue operating as it was.

Don't take this as an allowance of disrespectful design - but this post is less than genuine in it's position.

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