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

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

#271

Post by mst »

IshKebab wrote: post #106
mst wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's only a matter of time before Nordic decides to block this method as well. Maaaybe. The public statement from them sounds like it was legal whining about liability issues, and if that's actually true (which, well) then if it has to be sufficiently intentional on your part that may be sufficient for them to leave well alone. Certainly worth preparing for that not being the case though.

Yeah or that's just the excuse they use to justify blocking access so more people subscribe to their services.

That's what "if that's actually true" was about, yes.

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

#272

Post by mst »

pc86 wrote: post #151
seanp2k2 wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IANAL, but are there any actual cases where someone or a class successfully sued a company for using their product off-label in such a way? This kind of stuff seems to me like how schools no longer permit students to go out for lunch, citing liability that they almost assuredly never had in the first place.

I can at least see the argument that tapping the screen a couple times in a certain pattern might not be sufficient, but having to generate a code is. I think it's a ridiculous argument, but I wouldn't be even remotely shocked that some octogenarian judge who doesn't own a cell phone is convinced by it.

Right, and legal departments kind of exist to avoid that sort of ridiculous argument fucking over their employers.

I don't endorse the argument -logically- at all, but if it's "legal being (justifiably) paranoid" then while as I said preparing for that not being it is still worthwhile, the extent to which they'll chase down workarounds may have limits nonetheless.

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

#273

Post by coopreme »

Does anyone know the domains they use to connect/update? I’ve got one of these (different brand) but still unlocked by the 10 taps method. I’ve still never connected mine to WiFi but I like to dim the screen. I could setup DNS blocks and then connect to WiFi to verify it works for a more long term solution for folks (well, that intersection of those that run a pinhole and on a treadmill).

I didn’t connect it to WiFi (even after unlocking) primarily because I worry about it being another data collection tool (WiFi, bt) and it has a camera/mic on it.

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

#274

Post by questiondev »

gorjusborg wrote: post #17

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…

i agree, if you buy something, you buy it for how it is, now sometimes we may want to update for our benefit but other times maybe not, maybe updating would cause more harm than help. therefore we should have to consent to updates, i 100% agree with this and it’s not even that much code to add a “is it cool if we update?” alert.

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

#275

Post by givinguflac »

mastazi wrote: post #74
gorjusborg wrote: post #17

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…

> I tend to stay away from so-called 'smart' devices I tried several alternatives in terms of smart TV (Apple TV, Google/Android TV, Fire TV), and I could not find any platform that let me use all of the apps that I needed without resorting to casting from my phone. And in some cases there was a long process to follow in order to get the device to do what I needed[1], which involved activating developer mode, sideloa…

Genuinely curious, did you feel anything was missing from Apple TV besides a web browser? I feel it’s perfect for our uses but I always like to know if I’m missing something. Personally I don’t like web browsing on TV but AirPlay fills that gap when it’s needed.

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

#276

Post by politician »

suifbwish wrote: post #187
gorjusborg wrote: post #17

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…

Dear god don’t get me started on mobile terraria. They completely ruined the gameplay. Common sense would tell any product team to at least provide the option to switch back to the old interface (they didn’t add or take away anything that would disallow this) but NO. I started playing it because it was fun, simple and easy to learn/play, now the controls have been completely ruined for mobile.

I just bought Terraria a couple days ago to see what it was all about. After 20 minutes of futzing about with it on my iPad, I deleted it because it was so terrible to control. Now to learn that the developers only recently released an update to a 9 year old game that broke once working controls. Wild!

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

#277

Post by nvr219 »

EvanAnderson wrote: post #97
ncann wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Normally you can block any device's update if you figure out the server for the update content/update check, and block it out from your router and/or DNS.

The "solution" for that will be embedded 5G connections.

I put all my gym equipment in a faraday cage

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

#279

Post by suyula »

gennarro wrote: post #78

Exactly why I only buy dumb devices ex: https://non-smart.com type stuff

That used to be me until I discovered how many smart devices have the ability to be flashed with open source firmware like Tasmota or ESPHome. Best of both worlds!

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

#280

Post by ijidak »

On October 28, I bought the NordicTrac T-Series for $650.

After installation, it had a lock screen asking me to subscribe to start using the treadmill!

Can you imagine?

I paid for the treadmill, and you're telling me I can't even walk on it without paying you again?

So what did my $650 pay for?!?

If I can't use a device's most basic function without paying an additional subscription, then can Amazon label the button "Buy Now"?

What exactly did I "Buy" if it's a paperweight without an additional subscription?

Nowhere did the product page say that having a subscription is a pre-req to use this device: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0193V3DJ6

Thankfully, the company Amazon hired to setup the treadmill found the trick to bypass that screen.

But now, after hearing about this update, I'm afraid they will lock my treadmill again.

I just use my treadmill to walk on it.

I don't need any apps.

Left to their own devices, these companies will find a way to charge us to breathe.

So happy I'm not looking to any human governments to fix this nonsense.

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