Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

wired.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 477 posts

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#11

Post by _fat_santa »

JasonFruit wrote: post #10
_fat_santa wrote: post #7

I really hate how we are moving more and more towards "managed experiences" in products. Used to, you would buy a product and use it how you see fit. But these days it seems that's not what the company wants you to do. You buy the product and enjoy a "managed" experience from the company. We see it everywhere with printers, coffee makers, phones, laptops, treadmills and even cars now. Everyone knows why this is being…

"Please enjoy a complimentary game of centrifugal bumblepuppy!"

"In order to have the best experience, please confirm your AdChoices"

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#12

Post by waffle_maniac »

JasonFruit wrote: post #6
waffle_maniac wrote: post #2

I have an ebook reader mount I attach to the rafters. If I want to watch TV I set my laptop on some storage containers far back from the treadmill and put in my airpods. In both cases I'm looking straight ahead. Looking down at the NordicTrack screen doesn't seem ergonomic or comfortable. I don't get this article. Edit: From 2 points to 0. And probably going to go negative LOL.

I don't think the article was about ergonomics or comfort, or about how to watch TV or read a book while on the treadmill. It was about buying a product that does certain things, and then having the company that made it change its functionality without your consent. The question is, should you or should you not have control of the products you buy?

Those interviewed in the article seemed to imply reading a book or watching TV was a grand pleasure. I'm disagreeing with that sentiment. I've found even a slight curve of my neck creates a lot of discomfort especially when running or walking.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#13

Post by waffle_maniac »

_fat_santa wrote: post #7

I really hate how we are moving more and more towards "managed experiences" in products. Used to, you would buy a product and use it how you see fit. But these days it seems that's not what the company wants you to do. You buy the product and enjoy a "managed" experience from the company. We see it everywhere with printers, coffee makers, phones, laptops, treadmills and even cars now. Everyone knows why this is being…

I bought a replacement $400 Canon printer recently. Same model, price is at least double what it was several years ago. The reason to buy the more expensive model is because there are readily available cheap third-party cartridges. A lot of the new cheaper models don't have that.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#14

Post by marginalia_nu »

_fat_santa wrote: post #11
JasonFruit wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Please enjoy a complimentary game of centrifugal bumblepuppy!"

"In order to have the best experience, please confirm your AdChoices"

"Please drink verification GatorAde to continue!"

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#15

Post by horsawlarway »

_fat_santa wrote: post #7

I really hate how we are moving more and more towards "managed experiences" in products. Used to, you would buy a product and use it how you see fit. But these days it seems that's not what the company wants you to do. You buy the product and enjoy a "managed" experience from the company. We see it everywhere with printers, coffee makers, phones, laptops, treadmills and even cars now. Everyone knows why this is being…

I've been thinking about this for a while, and my proposal is pretty simple:

---

Legally - prohibit selling physical goods that contain digital locks unless the owner is given a key. Period.

---

That's all you have to do. If I own the device, I get the keys for the physical locks, and the keys for the digital locks.

I'm completely ok with manufacturers locking down computers for security, in much the same way that I appreciate that cars have door/ignition locks.

But if I own it - I get all the keys. I may never use them, but they are mine, as part of ownership.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#16

Post by _fat_santa »

dhimes wrote: post #4

If Nordic is being honest that the issue is safety- preventing users from diddling with their software and accidentally making it unsafe, then they can simply install a browser so the users can view what they wish online.

From Nordic's POV, this is a safety issue, it affects the safety of their bottom line. Adding a browser would also compromise safety, again not the safety of the user but the safety of their bottom line.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#17

Post by gorjusborg »

This type of 'update' is one reason I tend to stay away from so-called 'smart' devices.

If part of the product I've paid for is software, and the company can update it without customer consent at any time, then I can't rely on the product's features. Period.

I experienced this myself on the PS4 version of Terraria. I bought a hard-copy of the game. I mastered the controls, and loved them. Terraria was updated one day, and the controls were all changed, completely. Total rip-off. I liked the game I bought, but it was replaced without my consent.

My feeling is that this behavior should be illegal for purchased products.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#18

Post by danShumway »

waffle_maniac wrote: post #12
JasonFruit wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think the article was about ergonomics or comfort, or about how to watch TV or read a book while on the treadmill. It was about buying a product that does certain things, and then having the company that made it change its functionality without your consent. The question is, should you or should you not have control of the products you buy?

Those interviewed in the article seemed to imply reading a book or watching TV was a grand pleasure. I'm disagreeing with that sentiment. I've found even a slight curve of my neck creates a lot of discomfort especially when running or walking.

> Those interviewed in the article seemed to imply reading a book or watching TV was a grand pleasure. I'm disagreeing with that sentiment.

Right, but that's not really the point of the article. It's not positing a debate over whether or not people exist who would be uncomfortable curving their neck while running or walking. The article doesn't really care about that debate. It's asking whether or not people should have control of the products they buy.

Imagine there's an article about a blender that stops working without manufacturer-approved ingredients, and someone says, "well I hate all of the recipes that people are making that aren't approved and I think they taste gross, so I don't understand what this article is about." In that scenario, we understand that the blender article is about consumer rights, not recipe tips, and whether or not someone personally likes what people are doing with their products isn't really important to that conversation.

The treadmill article is about consumer rights, not ergonomics.

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#19

Post by monkeybutton »

_fat_santa wrote: post #7

I really hate how we are moving more and more towards "managed experiences" in products. Used to, you would buy a product and use it how you see fit. But these days it seems that's not what the company wants you to do. You buy the product and enjoy a "managed" experience from the company. We see it everywhere with printers, coffee makers, phones, laptops, treadmills and even cars now. Everyone knows why this is being…

Want to unlock your car with the keyfob? Want to use the heated seats? Subscriptions. Anyways, please drink a verification can. Consider also reading "Unauthorized Bread".

Re: Locked out of 'God Mode', runners are hacking their treadmills

#20

Post by Kaze404 »

_fat_santa wrote: post #7

I really hate how we are moving more and more towards "managed experiences" in products. Used to, you would buy a product and use it how you see fit. But these days it seems that's not what the company wants you to do. You buy the product and enjoy a "managed" experience from the company. We see it everywhere with printers, coffee makers, phones, laptops, treadmills and even cars now. Everyone knows why this is being…

I really don't see how else a system that encourages infinite growth can evolve.
Post reply on HN