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the title is totally useless and misleading. the article is about Nest/Google/Alphabet shutting down some service (Revolv). nothing interesting. everyone buyin

by gondo 11y ago

the title is totally useless and misleading. the article is about Nest/Google/Alphabet shutting down some service (Revolv). nothing interesting. everyone buying a device depending on external service should expect this soon or later.

tim333 11y ago
From Revolv's faq: >What does “Lifetime Subscription” mean & what is it for? >The Revolv Lifetime Subscription, which is included in the $299 you pay for the solution, enables GeoSense automation and remote updates that allows your Revolv to work together seamlessly (and continually update) with the products you already own; for the lifetime of the product. This is something that many other solutions charge for on a monthly basis. Maybe we should just expect companies to blatantly lie? Though I imagine there will be a class action lawsuit from those who think otherwise.
- pinewurst 11y ago
  But did Nest/Google lie? They've declared the lifetime of the product to be complete and shut it down. I'm _not_ defending them, merely pointing out that "lifetime" promises are meaningless unless quantified in a much harder way in advance.
  - cr1895 11y ago
    > They've declared the lifetime of the product to be complete and shut it down. Is there a reasonable expected lifetime, say if this leads to a class action lawsuit? It seems a bit ridiculous to me that a small consumer electronic thing would have such a thing, but aren't there consumer protections in place for something like a car? I'm thinking there are, but I could be off base. What if Tesla decides one day that your car's time is up...is there something more substantial to protect the consumer, or is it really arbitrary?
    - fractallyte 11y ago
      Sounds like we're gradually edging - ever so slowly - towards the plot of Bladerunner...
justratsinacoat 11y ago
> everyone buying a device depending on external service should expect this soon or later It's super unfortunate that you're getting downvoted. Everyone seemed to enjoy their smug hindsight years ago when all the DRM'd music services were shutting down (Walmart, etc), and the principle is the same. Anything that won't run without server-side magic is basically suspect and ultimately vulnerable to bullshit like this. OTOH, the title is only 'misleading' if the Revolv doesn't look like an empty hummus container.

by gondo 11y ago

tim333 11y ago

From Revolv's faq: >What does “Lifetime Subscription” mean & what is it for? >The Revolv Lifetime Subscription, which is included in the $299 you pay for the solution, enables GeoSense automation and remote updates that allows your Revolv to work together seamlessly (and continually update) with the products you already own; for the lifetime of the product. This is something that many other solutions charge for on a monthly basis. Maybe we should just expect companies to blatantly lie? Though I imagine there will be a class action lawsuit from those who think otherwise.

pinewurst 11y ago
But did Nest/Google lie? They've declared the lifetime of the product to be complete and shut it down. I'm _not_ defending them, merely pointing out that "lifetime" promises are meaningless unless quantified in a much harder way in advance.
- cr1895 11y ago
  > They've declared the lifetime of the product to be complete and shut it down. Is there a reasonable expected lifetime, say if this leads to a class action lawsuit? It seems a bit ridiculous to me that a small consumer electronic thing would have such a thing, but aren't there consumer protections in place for something like a car? I'm thinking there are, but I could be off base. What if Tesla decides one day that your car's time is up...is there something more substantial to protect the consumer, or is it really arbitrary?
  - fractallyte 11y ago
    Sounds like we're gradually edging - ever so slowly - towards the plot of Bladerunner...

justratsinacoat 11y ago

> everyone buying a device depending on external service should expect this soon or later It's super unfortunate that you're getting downvoted. Everyone seemed to enjoy their smug hindsight years ago when all the DRM'd music services were shutting down (Walmart, etc), and the principle is the same. Anything that won't run without server-side magic is basically suspect and ultimately vulnerable to bullshit like this. OTOH, the title is only 'misleading' if the Revolv doesn't look like an empty hummus container.