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I think in the future, products like Alexa will be simple products purchased once for a profit (not loss leaders) that do all the processing locally, not servic

I think in the future, products like Alexa will be simple products purchased once for a profit (not loss leaders) that do all the processing locally, not service subscriptions. I mean, do you really need an internet connection and "cloud" services to implement an egg timer you can talk to? Maybe they'll have an internet connection to check weather.gov, but that's about all that's really needed.

SoftTalker 4y ago
Why do you even need to talk to a timer? Why do you even need electricity? Timers can be built from gears and a spring.
- MichaelCollins 4y ago
  I don't use one of these. But I have heard that they're very convenient ways to set timers when you're working in the kitchen with both hands dirty, and because they support more concurrent timers than a microwave.
fbdab103 4y ago
I want to subscribe to your future. Everyday I see more and more devices insist they require the Internet. Washing machines, TVs, thermostats. Seemingly the market for offline devices is limited. MBAs need that recurring revenue.
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  Can you link a single washing machine, TV, or thermostat that requires the internet? I have never seen one. Even my ecobee thermostat does not require an internet connection. https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Wi-Fi-FAQ-Setup-Guide-and-Troubleshooting https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Wi-Fi-FAQ-Setup-Guide-... > The short answer is yes. >Even without a Wi-Fi connection, your ecobee will still function as a traditional thermostat; it will engage your equipment as needed and maintain your comfort set points.
- hakfoo 4y ago
  We can hope for a future where the "recurring revenue" model melts down. There's two sorts of it, as I see it, and both of them do have weak spots: * Turning everything into a data vaccuum to sell to marketers. Something like the GDPR but angrier could pop that balloon pretty decisively, as could shifts in marketing trends if advertisers start considering tracking critically as a cost centre, rather than the current FOMO snowball. * Unbundle bits and pieces of the experience to sell back to you on a subscription. This still feels like the data's not in yet for a lot of products. I suspect we see it being trialed a lot with cars because so many of them are leased and therefore have a predictable trade-in life. As long as the annoying $10-per-month service comes with a three-year trial, the original lessee never needs to think about the subscription model, it more becomes an albatross to make the used car look less appealing by comparison. It's harder to pull that particular trick for other products, as their service lives vary widely. I suspect that, for example, many home appliances with a subscription would end up with a lot of angry and confused calls to support when the machine "stops working" at the end of a trial/missed payment/etc. Having to pay for that support burden and associated brand damage may unwind most of the profit the subscription yielded.

SoftTalker 4y ago

Why do you even need to talk to a timer? Why do you even need electricity? Timers can be built from gears and a spring.

MichaelCollins 4y ago
I don't use one of these. But I have heard that they're very convenient ways to set timers when you're working in the kitchen with both hands dirty, and because they support more concurrent timers than a microwave.

fbdab103 4y ago

I want to subscribe to your future. Everyday I see more and more devices insist they require the Internet. Washing machines, TVs, thermostats. Seemingly the market for offline devices is limited. MBAs need that recurring revenue.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
Can you link a single washing machine, TV, or thermostat that requires the internet? I have never seen one. Even my ecobee thermostat does not require an internet connection. https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Wi-Fi-FAQ-Setup-Guide-and-Troubleshooting https://support.ecobee.com/s/articles/Wi-Fi-FAQ-Setup-Guide-... > The short answer is yes. >Even without a Wi-Fi connection, your ecobee will still function as a traditional thermostat; it will engage your equipment as needed and maintain your comfort set points.
hakfoo 4y ago
We can hope for a future where the "recurring revenue" model melts down. There's two sorts of it, as I see it, and both of them do have weak spots: * Turning everything into a data vaccuum to sell to marketers. Something like the GDPR but angrier could pop that balloon pretty decisively, as could shifts in marketing trends if advertisers start considering tracking critically as a cost centre, rather than the current FOMO snowball. * Unbundle bits and pieces of the experience to sell back to you on a subscription. This still feels like the data's not in yet for a lot of products. I suspect we see it being trialed a lot with cars because so many of them are leased and therefore have a predictable trade-in life. As long as the annoying $10-per-month service comes with a three-year trial, the original lessee never needs to think about the subscription model, it more becomes an albatross to make the used car look less appealing by comparison. It's harder to pull that particular trick for other products, as their service lives vary widely. I suspect that, for example, many home appliances with a subscription would end up with a lot of angry and confused calls to support when the machine "stops working" at the end of a trial/missed payment/etc. Having to pay for that support burden and associated brand damage may unwind most of the profit the subscription yielded.