cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/32265822
xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier
Title text:
It's important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.
Transcript:
[A store salesman, Hairy, is showing Cueball a dehumidifier, with a "SALE" label on it. Several other unidentified devices, possibly other dehumidifier models, are shown in the store as well.]
Salesman: This dehumidifier model features built-in WiFi for remote updates.
Cueball: Great! That will be really useful if they discover a new kind of water.Source: https://xkcd.com/3109/
Yeah, companies have abused that to release buggy, incomplete products faster and only make the software stable and feature complete if they make a good profit.
Or add new bloat features / brick devices after updating TOS...
Remote device bricking is cheaper than researching part wear for planned obsolescence.
And both make me go with a different company next time so idk what they think they're gaining.
They gained a cost reduction for a single quarter of a single year. No further thought was put into it.