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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

#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.

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

#6

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?

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

#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 done, simply making money on a $99 coffeemaker is not good enough anymore, we have to make that $99 plus we have to make money in perpetuity because the customer now has to subscribe to our "managed experience".

Now I understand this on some level with cheaper stuff like printers, that printer doesn't cost $20, it costs that because the company assumes you will buy the pods from them. But with a treadmill that goes for thousands it's a completely different ball game.

Were going to get to the point where one day you will hop in your car and start driving into the countryside. At a certain point your car will just shut off because "Ford has decided that this route in unsafe for your vehicle, for the best experience, please drive back to the city, on your way back, consider enabling cup holders for an improved coffee drinking experience".

The glimmer of hope on the horizon are companies like Framework and Pinephone. These companies realize that consumers are not happy with this shit and market themselves as the antithesis of these practices. I really hope these types of companies take off in the future.

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

#8
This is a couple of months old now, posted a few times.. not much discussion:

  [0] 8pts/1 comment
  [1] 15pts/1 comment
  [2] 5pts/0 comments
[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29288525 [1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29292826 [2]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29296501

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

#9
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.

They can still make updates for safety obtain consent from the device owner before being installed. I should be able to opt out of measures for my own safety.

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

#10

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!"
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