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The fact that software drives everything now means that we never quite own the product we initially purchased. I remember thinking this a year or two ago when S

The fact that software drives everything now means that we never quite own the product we initially purchased. I remember thinking this a year or two ago when Samsung dropped from my Smart TV an app for a streaming service that I used quite a bit. While this Nest situation is an extreme case, we're now always one update away from products being altered in ways that make them very different from what we originally purchased.

sumoboy 11y ago
Roku 4 remote has a dedicated Pandora button, that didn't last long. I'm sure a few TV's had Pandora as a feature.
profmonocle 11y ago
At least many of these IoT devices still work if their Internet service goes away. An unsupported smart TV still works as a dumb display for a more modern streaming stick. An unsupported smart fridge still keeps food cold. my smart scale can still weigh me even if it can't upload the reading. I'm not sure if a Nest thermostat can work offline indefinitely, but I sure hope it can. The question is, what will most consumers do when they discover their smart device is no longer smart simply because it's "old"? Considering the lifespan of the dumb versions of these products, I'm guessing the owner's definition of "old" will differ from the manufacturer's. Not many consumers would consider a 15 year-old refrigerator to be old, but it's hard to believe Samsung will still be maintaining the software on their 2016 smart fridges in 2031. Will most people say "well, that was nice while it lasted" and keep using it as a dumb device, or will they be so used to the smart features that they'll go out and get the latest, supported model - deciding that a thermostat or a bathroom scale is now something that needs to be replaced regularly like a phone or a PC?
- unclebucknasty 11y ago
  >Considering the lifespan of the dumb versions of these products And what's ironic about that is that in theory the lifespan of the product should be longer, given that that it can theoretically be "enhanced" OTA vs in a pure hardware situation. But, of course, there's no financial incentive. We may start seeing more paid software upgrades for new features.

sumoboy 11y ago

Roku 4 remote has a dedicated Pandora button, that didn't last long. I'm sure a few TV's had Pandora as a feature.

profmonocle 11y ago

At least many of these IoT devices still work if their Internet service goes away. An unsupported smart TV still works as a dumb display for a more modern streaming stick. An unsupported smart fridge still keeps food cold. my smart scale can still weigh me even if it can't upload the reading. I'm not sure if a Nest thermostat can work offline indefinitely, but I sure hope it can. The question is, what will most consumers do when they discover their smart device is no longer smart simply because it's "old"? Considering the lifespan of the dumb versions of these products, I'm guessing the owner's definition of "old" will differ from the manufacturer's. Not many consumers would consider a 15 year-old refrigerator to be old, but it's hard to believe Samsung will still be maintaining the software on their 2016 smart fridges in 2031. Will most people say "well, that was nice while it lasted" and keep using it as a dumb device, or will they be so used to the smart features that they'll go out and get the latest, supported model - deciding that a thermostat or a bathroom scale is now something that needs to be replaced regularly like a phone or a PC?

unclebucknasty 11y ago
>Considering the lifespan of the dumb versions of these products And what's ironic about that is that in theory the lifespan of the product should be longer, given that that it can theoretically be "enhanced" OTA vs in a pure hardware situation. But, of course, there's no financial incentive. We may start seeing more paid software upgrades for new features.