91–100 of 233 posts
Why is there no user-facing firmware update/recovery feature, so that at least tech-savvy users can resolve the issue themselves? Or a reset feature that reverts to the factory firmware located on a separate, read-only chip? Ah yes, it's to prevent people downgrading or running "unauthorized" firmware when they inevitably start adding user-hostile "features".
I refuse to own an oven that is internet connected. If my oven has enough of a computer to have a firmware that can be updated remotely, it is too dangerous to own.
I'm starting a kitchen upgrade, and the number of "connected" kitchen appliances is astonishing. I don't need my faucet to have Alexa, I don't want to read news on my refrigerator, and I don't want an app for my oven. I'm not aware of any companies keeping servers running for a product that matches the life expectancy of a kitchen appliance, nor do I want an AWS outage to keep me from making nachos.
I think this is the key right here. They want to reduce the life expectancy of kitchen appliances to force people to buy new ones sooner.
I want to point out most cars made after 2004 or so have no physical connection between not just accelerator and engine but more importantly wheels and steering wheel. So their usability is as good as the software written to control them and the motor/sensor windings, etc. Not unlike the software controlling that microwave.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It doesn't need extra hardware. Most routers have some rudimentary TFTP boot mode that can be accessed by powering it up while holding a certain button. The device already has Wi-Fi, so the same mechanism can be used - if powered up in recovery mode, it'll scan for a specific SSID and then TFTP boot from a specific IP on there.
The percentage of microwave users that could perform such a trick rounds down to zero.
Why is there no user-facing firmware update/recovery feature, so that at least tech-savvy users can resolve the issue themselves? Or a reset feature that reverts to the factory firmware located on a separate, read-only chip? Ah yes, it's to prevent people downgrading or running "unauthorized" firmware when they inevitably start adding user-hostile "features".
A better question is, why do microwave ovens now need internet connections and software updates?
I want to point out most cars made after 2004 or so have no physical connection between not just accelerator and engine but more importantly wheels and steering wheel. So their usability is as good as the software written to control them and the motor/sensor windings, etc. Not unlike the software controlling that microwave.
No. There haven't been any production cars with steer-by-wire. (except Infiniti Q50, but it still kept mechanical steering column as fallback)
Why is there no user-facing firmware update/recovery feature, so that at least tech-savvy users can resolve the issue themselves? Or a reset feature that reverts to the factory firmware located on a separate, read-only chip? Ah yes, it's to prevent people downgrading or running "unauthorized" firmware when they inevitably start adding user-hostile "features".
"never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity"
I want to point out most cars made after 2004 or so have no physical connection between not just accelerator and engine but more importantly wheels and steering wheel. So their usability is as good as the software written to control them and the motor/sensor windings, etc. Not unlike the software controlling that microwave.
On my 2014 Prius, the brakes use an electric pump to power the hydraulics. In normal operation, the computer handles the brakes, but there is a physical backup.
The throttle is completely by wire, because there is no more reliable way to run two electric motors and a gas engine together with an analog system.
Why is there no user-facing firmware update/recovery feature, so that at least tech-savvy users can resolve the issue themselves? Or a reset feature that reverts to the factory firmware located on a separate, read-only chip? Ah yes, it's to prevent people downgrading or running "unauthorized" firmware when they inevitably start adding user-hostile "features".
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm starting a kitchen upgrade, and the number of "connected" kitchen appliances is astonishing. I don't need my faucet to have Alexa, I don't want to read news on my refrigerator, and I don't want an app for my oven. I'm not aware of any companies keeping servers running for a product that matches the life expectancy of a kitchen appliance, nor do I want an AWS outage to keep me from making nachos.
At first I thought you were exaggerating with the faucet with Alexa: https://www.homedepot.com/b/Smart-Home-Smart-Kitchen-Smart-F...
I would be concerned that Alexa would turn on the faucet silently without me knowing, potentially causing a flood.