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AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

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Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#131

Post by jjulius »

jaywalk wrote: post #74
Nextgrid wrote: post #52

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".

It's probably more about cost savings than anything else. Why add a USB port and the associated functionality required to do manual updates when it's got a fantastic remote update capability?

To be fair, if we're talking about cost savings, it would be a lot cheaper if they didn't bother with paying devs to push firmware updates to a fucking microwave that should just work on it's own.

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#132

Post by gpvos »

rootusrootus wrote: post #101
gpvos wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The percentage of microwave users that could perform such a trick rounds down to zero.

Eh, I think you're being uncharitable. My 80 year old mother could definitely figure out how to hold down a button while turning the thing off and on. We've been living with some version of that reality for decades.

Also to set up a wifi network with a particular SSID and a device on that that runs a TFTP server?

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#133

Post by omoikane »

throw10920 wrote: post #106
fatnoah wrote: post #30

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.

Now that you're actually in the process of upgrading, I suggest you take advantage of the fact that you're an actually-paying customer to slightly influence the retailer(s) you buy from. "Can you show me only the non-smart appliances, please? Oh, you don't have any? Are you sure, can you ask the manager? Alright, I'm not interested in anything, have a nice day." Sure, it doesn't mean very much on your own, but neithe…

It has been increasingly difficult to do that, probably because a lot of these "smart" appliances sells for more and thus have more "vote".

Last time I went to buy a refrigerator, there maybe only one or two that were freed of the extra features that I did not want, compared to the 30 or so that were on display. And TVs without wifi were nonexistent.

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#134

Post by rootusrootus »

denton-scratch wrote: post #56

Electrolux are a horrible company. They seem to have borged a whole load of other brands, which all have now descended to Electrolux's abysmal standards. - They don't support their own products; the warranty is served by a third-party - Their products are built to a price-point, and fail just after the warranty is up - Spare parts are expensive - They apparently have neither an email address or phone number The water…

That isn't limited to Electrolux in my experience, it may be fairly common. Samsung, for example, has exactly the same arms-length third party warranty support pattern. Wait a while, get a tech to come see what part needs to be replaced, wait some more, tech comes back to actually do the work. Meanwhile your appliance is out of service. Pretty soon it starts to look preferable to just discard the appliance and buy a new one even if that means spending a thousand bucks. Perhaps this is all by design.

Oh, and in case it needed to be said -- I strongly, strongly recommend avoiding Samsung for appliances. They are awful. The part of Samsung that does monitors and smartphones seems pretty great, but their appliance division makes abysmal stuff.

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#135

Post by [deleted] »

RobertMiller wrote: post #46
throw7 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also devices that require a smartphone to operate e.g. the joule.

Imagine trying to sell this premise to somebody 50 years ago. > It's a toaster, just like the one you already have on your counter, except it won't work unless you give the manufacturer a copy of your rolodex. People then would laugh in your face, but today most people don't even seem to blink. The absurd has been normalized.

[deleted]

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#136

Post by planb »

There's so much wrong about this, but please don't assume that an oven with internet connection is useless just because you have no use for it. Having food in there and turning it on so it's ready when you come home is convenient - I did this with an old oven and a HomeKit-enabled outlet. Now we have a new oven that has to much electronics for this to work (but not enough to remember the f**g time when unplugged).

So if I _would_ trust these internet connected devices (which I do not, because of stories like this and other user hostile behavior), I'd really like to use the features that would make possible.

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#137

Post by causality0 »

fatnoah wrote: post #30
DiabloD3 wrote: post #16

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.

It's the same horseshit with smart thermostats. I expect a thermostat to last ten years minimum, if not twenty or thirty. How many times do these companies have to fuck their customers before people stop buying them? The very instant you become more profitable to abandon than to support everything you bought will stop working. If it can happen to Revolv customers it can happen to you.

I recently bought a thirty year old home complete with its contents whose owner was an old man. The newest thing in it was an air conditioner from 2007. Know what? Every single thing is in perfect working order. AC, fridge, stereo, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, thermostat. The list goes on and on. Everything from electric can openers to garage door openers works like it was brand new. If Google can't match that standard it can get stuffed.

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#138

Post by rootusrootus »

denton-scratch wrote: post #120
gpvos wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only recently became aware that their home appliances branch had been acquired by Electrolux somewhere in the 1990s. Brand awareness can be slow. AEG used to be a high quality brand for things like washing machines.

I know; that's why I bought an AEG dishwasher. I replaced it with a Bosch, which still seems to be a decent brand. I've since downsized my home, and the dishwasher is now me. Love has ruined my body, Washing has ruined my hands. ~ Country Joe

As a fellow Bosch dishwasher owner, I have to say they do seem to make a pretty decent appliance still. Not all of their appliances get the same acclaim, but for dishwashers the only real competition seems to be Miele (and they don't necessarily outperform in any short-term way, but have a reputation for just lasting 20 years instead of the usual 10).

Re: AEG combi microwave unusable after update: device thinks it is a steam oven

#140

Post by jgoldshlag »

ggreg84 wrote: post #76
fatnoah wrote: post #30

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.

Buy professional appliances, for restaurants. For some reason, they are often better along many axes: cheaper, easier to clean, more customizable, more powerful, more flexible, etc. I really like the professional induction stoves, with actual physical dials, no touch crap. And the best part, there is a huge used market for professional appliances in really good shape, for even lower price.

This. When my Cuisinart food processor bowl broke for the 2nd time, I went and got a RobotCoupe professional model. The cheese grater attachment I got for it says that you shouldn't run it for longer than 4 hours! at a time. Once you start going commercial, you will not look back. Pay more (if you buy new), work forever and if they do break, there are people/places you can get them serviced.
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