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A perfect example: the Sonos debacle from a few weeks ago.

• winternett 7y ago
  And they're pretty much wireless speakers... Something that really shouldn't need updates ever. But somehow they require remote updates. :[
  • tbyehl 7y ago
    They're not 'pretty much wireless speakers', else any Bluetooth or AirPlay speaker would be an equivalent substitute. They're self-meshing wireless routers combined with a media streamer and packaged into a speaker. They also self-cluster / coordinate to support surround sound, grouping, and AirPlay. Complicated stuff. Sucks that they don't provide the option to offload some of that work to a computer or appliance, letting the speakers be less smart and have increased longevity, but that's the trade-off in a smart speaker system where customers can start with just one speaker and not need to buy anything else.
    • winternett 7y ago
      I get it... Smart TVs with embedded apps are being retired in the same way, but at least when that happens you can use an aux connection to make the device still viable in some sort of way. I use an HDMI wireless connection from my laptop for example, never needed apps to run from my TV since day 1. I avoid buying most devices that do things that my Laptop and desktop PCs can do these days with function-specific (dumb speakers), because even if worst comes to worst I can always install Linux and keep grinding for the most part.