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Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

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Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#261

Post by rlpb »

lauritz wrote: post #186
zanny wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But its also unacceptable to make an Internet connected device with a static proprietary OS on it. We have a dozen known vulnerabilities in common software packages every year, and these devices are using IP for communicating often confidential information. It can be disastrous for your toaster to be hijacked, especially if it can be remoted no and burn your house down. This whole IoT disaster should have been predic…

I agree completely. But how likely is that to happen? Let's face it, companies that make 'smart' devices will likely want to monetize on customers whose software is outdated (in functionality, not security) and who want to upgrade because of that. I don't think they'd have a motive to do anything other than proprietary, non-maintainable software. The only solution I could think of from a security standpoint would be…

Ubuntu are aiming directly at this problem by providing the base OS and making it possible for vendors to then layer on the functionality they need: http://www.ubuntu.com/internet-of-things

How much vendors are willing to use something like this remains to be seen. Personally I resist buying things that I think will have a poor security update record. I'd like to see more pressure on vendors to do the right thing here, especially because there is at least one reasonable solution available.

Disclosure: I work for Canonical, but am not associated with the IoT work in Ubuntu.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#262

Post by ethbro »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #247
mindslight wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah. Pop open the cover and install an aftermarket control board that runs Free software. Eventually, this will be more user-friendly (better interface one doesn't have to relearn every monthly update), convenient (better software features), and economical (how many appliances are thrown out due to software malfunctions).

I've had Ubuntu running on my old desktop for a few years now. It's literally a 50% chance as to whether I'll be able to get the GUI login screen to come up, and be able to log in successfully on my first try, without having to ssh in from another machine and fiddle around with things. This isn't an exaggeration. 50%.

I remember my first experience with running LXDE.

Turns out drag-and-drop between folders had been implemented, but no one had decided to code drag-from-folder-to-desktop as a feature.

... I wish I was kidding.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#263

Post by jimmaswell »

shostack wrote: post #163
jimmaswell wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like people would just not buy these theoretical ridiculous appliances and just stay with older ones until the appliance manufacturers started making normal appliances again.

They might. Or more likely you'd see early adopters buying these, then gradually companies would shift more and more of their models to this approach. Suddenly, only the ugly, low-end crappy models work the "traditional way." Then -BAM-, anyone who wants a decent looking model with decent functionality is stuck paying rent. Companies have many consumer-hostile tools to force people to do things that is against their…

>a decent looking model with decent functionality

There will be tons of such appliances from the mid 20th century and onwards available on craigslist, flea markets, probably even ebay amaon et al. for quite a while.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#264

Post by sedachv »

ethanbond wrote: post #122
jonknee wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do appreciate my car GPS for when I'm outside of cell range though (which is frequently--mountains and radios don't work well together).

A mistake I'll make only once: driving to Montreal only to realize my phone was useless once I got to the city limits and needed to figure out how to get to my hotel.

They have these things called maps, sold at gas stations.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#265

Post by jimmaswell »

redthrowaway wrote: post #222
jimmaswell wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like people would just not buy these theoretical ridiculous appliances and just stay with older ones until the appliance manufacturers started making normal appliances again.

I'm still waiting for them to stop making 3D movies so I can watch a normal movie like a normal person. Avatar was 6 years ago. The joke stopped being funny back when AirBnB was still about blow-up mattresses.

Even if a movie was made only in 3D, you can buy or make special 3D glasses that show you 2D by having both eyes the same polarization filter.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#266

Post by dghughes »

codemac wrote: post #130

The problem here is not the refrigerator, or the software on it. I repeat. The problem here is not the refrigerator! We're building a shitty internet, not an internet of shitty things. If integrating with an online calendar means having to have a software team at the ready at all times for the whim's of some service's API updates.. we have failed society in a deep way. The API that Google should be releasing for Goog…

The Samsung fridge isn't so great either https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk2TfF1M4r8

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#267

Post by mindslight »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #247
mindslight wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah. Pop open the cover and install an aftermarket control board that runs Free software. Eventually, this will be more user-friendly (better interface one doesn't have to relearn every monthly update), convenient (better software features), and economical (how many appliances are thrown out due to software malfunctions).

I've had Ubuntu running on my old desktop for a few years now. It's literally a 50% chance as to whether I'll be able to get the GUI login screen to come up, and be able to log in successfully on my first try, without having to ssh in from another machine and fiddle around with things. This isn't an exaggeration. 50%.

There are many Ubuntu installs that "just work". If this is your "old desktop", then it sounds like you probably didn't set out to purchase hardware known to work well with Linux.

One broken machine isn't an indicator of much of anything.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#268

Post by gkya »

shpx wrote: post #194
rvense wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At first I thought it wouldn't be so bad to pull over for a software update, but then I remembered I'd forgotten to charge my book and cigarette.

No joke, I occasionally get a (barely noticeable) nagging feeling to check the battery level while reading a book now.

I've seen people and have caught myself too, trying to swipe and enlarge stuff on paper, and also to click and tap. And when writing with pen 'n paper, I often want to undo and look for the C-\ for a moment.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#269

Post by shostack »

jimmaswell wrote: post #263
shostack wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They might. Or more likely you'd see early adopters buying these, then gradually companies would shift more and more of their models to this approach. Suddenly, only the ugly, low-end crappy models work the "traditional way." Then -BAM-, anyone who wants a decent looking model with decent functionality is stuck paying rent. Companies have many consumer-hostile tools to force people to do things that is against their…

>a decent looking model with decent functionality There will be tons of such appliances from the mid 20th century and onwards available on craigslist, flea markets, probably even ebay amaon et al. for quite a while.

Joe Middle-class Consumer does not want to buy their appliances from Craigslist, flea markets, etc. The mass market audience for appliances want to buy new in a store, with a warranty, etc.

I fully expect to see a gradual boiling of the frog. First it will be free features and benefits tied to an online account, then it will be new features that are only part of a subscription plan, and once they have critical mass, killing the free tier or making it near worthless.

Sure there might be a market for used devices, but again, it will be the minority. The rest of the marketplace will be screwed.

Re: Can't sign in to Google calendar on my Samsung refrigerator

#270

Post by shostack »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #173
jdmichal wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, smart TVs still work as TVs, even if the entire "smart" portion is broken. I'm entertaining buying a new TV soon, since mine is on the out after almost 10 years. I'd prefer to buy a non-smart TV, but honestly all the top models include it now, so it's pretty much unavoidable.

You've just described how this scenario most likely will play out with othe appliances if producers decide to go the rental way. People may stay with their old ones... until they break, then it's time to buy a new one, but there's no non-"smart" appliance on the market anymore.

Exactly. To give a related example...look at Windows 10. I want to buy a new computer and will be in the market very soon. But I'm desperately clinging to my Windows 7 OS, and worried I won't be able to find something that ISN'T Windows 10.

In fact, I have newfound urgency around this because I'll bet very soon I won't be able to find any Windows 8 computers on the market.

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