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Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

mashable.com

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Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#51

Post by dotancohen »

pseudohadamard wrote: post #23
zootboy wrote: post #6

And this is why "mandatory app to configure" is an instant dealbreaker for me for any piece of hardware. Don't buy crap like this. Force companies to be better.

Friend of mine had some (non-Motorola) router that her ISP provided her and the only way to set it up was through an app. The first time I ran into this I couldn't believe it, there was simply no way to set this piece of s*t up without using the app, which (a) didn't work until we'd spent ages faffing around with it and (b) was just a glorified set of different wizards that let you set things up in a few fixed precon…

I recommend telling the ISP that you do not own a smartphone.

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#52

Post by swiftcoder »

jeffbee wrote: post #33

Without minimizing the impact, we should not blow it out of proportion, either. It sounds like every existing installed device continues to work. "Bricked" is used too expansively here.

If you walk into a BestBuy and purchase a new one today, it arrives pre-bricked. That seems to meet the definition just fine

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#53

Post by zrm »

ssl-3 wrote: post #35
zrm wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And at least for connected devices at home, a dedicated app can have lower friction for initial setup for the "I'm not a computer person" crowd than other alternatives do. For a router ? This is the device that you will often not have internet access with which to download an app until after it's configured. Many people have wired internet specifically because they live somewhere with poor cellular reception. Meanw…

Yep. For a router. I didn't say that I thought it was right, or fair, or just. I didn't say I liked it, or that I agree with it. In fact, I think it's a pretty ugly state of affairs when a person in an area of poor connectivity needs to climb the hill/go into town/otherwise make plans before they can get their shiny new router to work. I can accept that things are the way they are, or I can pretend that they're diffe…

You made the claim that companies require apps because it has lower friction for ordinary users. That claim is in error.

The implication that there is nothing anyone can do to improve the existing state of affairs is also incorrect.

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#54

Post by cyberax »

dotancohen wrote: post #51
pseudohadamard wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Friend of mine had some (non-Motorola) router that her ISP provided her and the only way to set it up was through an app. The first time I ran into this I couldn't believe it, there was simply no way to set this piece of s*t up without using the app, which (a) didn't work until we'd spent ages faffing around with it and (b) was just a glorified set of different wizards that let you set things up in a few fixed precon…

I recommend telling the ISP that you do not own a smartphone.

They'll just send a technician to set it up.

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#55

Post by DANmode »

dotancohen wrote: post #50
binaryturtle wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's a "router" and you can't install a OpenWRT on it, then it's an absolute no-brainer to not to buy it.

To whom? How many people who have bought these things ever heard of OpenWRT? How many of those are capable of installing it? Have you ever considered upgrading your refrigerator? Washing machine? Kettle? A router is a transparent appliance to most people.

checks domain

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#56

Post by canpan »

zootboy wrote: post #6

And this is why "mandatory app to configure" is an instant dealbreaker for me for any piece of hardware. Don't buy crap like this. Force companies to be better.

When buying fridge, washing machine, oven etc, when I moved, I told the sales person, I like quality, am not price sensitive, but any device that requires an app or has a camera/mic built in is out of question. Some didn't know how to handle that, being used to sell it as a "good thing".

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#57

Post by JumpCrisscross »

zmgsabst wrote: post #44
jeffbee wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cloud command and control is obviously a better user experience, and it is much more secure.

There is no way in which opening external control is more secure than local-only control. What is this FUD?

> What is this FUD?

For whatever it's worth, I associate the term FUD with crypto bros. Both of you simply stated an assertion at fact and then flipped out when someone deigned to defy that. Maybe argue your points properly?

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#59

Post by userbinator »

zmgsabst wrote: post #44
jeffbee wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cloud command and control is obviously a better user experience, and it is much more secure.

There is no way in which opening external control is more secure than local-only control. What is this FUD?

I think the comment you're replying to is missing a /s

Re: Motorola effectively bricked its entire line of WiFi routers without explanation

#60

Post by ____tom____ »

lucaspiller wrote: post #37
WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And this is why "mandatory app to configure" is a dealbreaker More and more IP cameras can't be set up without a phone app. TP-Link's Tapo line is really bad about it. Even some Reolink cameras can't be setup on their own. Now that high quality, affordable brands like Dahua got banned (w/o evidence), there's less pressure on the survivors to not be awful.

Reolink has always been like that, but at least they aren't a random no-name brand that could disappear at any minute.

Neither is Motorola. And yet ...

The company doesn't have to go away, the app just has to have issues. At least with web apps, you aren't depending on the manufacturer investing in nearly continuous upgrades to work in the rapidly changing phone environment

A web UI will continue to work for decades. And app will likely not last a year without updates.

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