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

71–80 of 477 posts

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

#71

Post by paulryanrogers »

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…

Can you remap the controls? IIRC my PS4 allowed swapping buttons and sticks at least. Not sure if those were per game though.

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

#72

Post by ultrasounder »

CountDrewku wrote: post #29

I don't understand this obsession with electronic exercise devices. The peloton, that stupid thing that mounts to the wall, treadmills etc. Outside is so much better than all of those. I will 100% run in single digit temperatures with snow on the ground before I touch a treadmill. If I have to be inside it's weight lifting.

Awesome good on you and more power to you. BUT Treadmill, Spinning bike and Rowing is for a different demographic. And You are not part of that demographic.Gabeesh?

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

#74

Post by mastazi »

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, sideloading apps etc.

In the end, I bought a wireless keyboard/touchpad combo and built a HTPC, reusing old components that I removed from my gaming PC after upgrading it over the years. I installed Ubuntu on it and never looked back.

[1] For example not having the home screen being made of mostly ads, or having a simple web browser installed on the device

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

#76

Post by colinmhayes »

svnpenn wrote: post #44
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…

This is why I disable updates for every piece of software that I use. People criticize this often, but it puts me in control. I can then review updates when I feel like it, and update as I see fit.

I don't think the updates on this treadmill could be disabled. You have to connect it to the internet to use the screen and if it's connected it's getting updated.

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

#77

Post by TedDoesntTalk »

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…

Why don’t the customers use a tablet resting on the treadmill or wall-mounted TV to watch whatever they want?

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

#79

Post by garyfirestorm »

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…

Have you tried nvidia shield?

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

#80

Post by heavyset_go »

_fat_santa wrote: post #16
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.

I wish more people were open to this notion of safety than the one that companies try to fool their customers into believing is for their own good.
Post reply on HN