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"ends support for smartphone enabled"... If anyone thought for one second that any device which requires external "cloud" support would continue work beyond wh

"ends support for smartphone enabled"... If anyone thought for one second that any device which requires external "cloud" support would continue work beyond what is convenient/profitable for the provider then I have a wifi-only dishwasher to sell you. No, really - please buy it from me.

mingus88 1y ago
It depends. According to the link this lock was supported for over ten years, and the landscape for this type of device was pretty Wild West back then. There are a lot of devices that never even got that much support. Today, give me any HomeKit supported device and I’m satisfied it will work for as long as I need it to without some dodgy 3rd party app siphoning my data. And let’s be honest, if you were buying fridges or washing machines based on WiFi features that’s on you. Locks and lights have legitimate uses for remote control and always have.
- itake 1y ago
  > And let’s be honest, if you were buying fridges or washing machines based on WiFi features that’s on you. I don't understand what you mean by this? My clothes will smell really bad if I leave them in the washer wet. If the appliance has a leak, I need to be nearby to remediate. Thus its not safe for me to start the appliance before I leave for 8+ hours. If I can remotely start my washing machine, just prior to me arriving home, I can move the clothes to the dryer.
  - rkomorn 1y ago
    Remote start, and finish notifications, are genuinely useful things. At the same time, I don't know if they're actually worth the downsides of needing to create an account, having hackable IoT things, installing an app per appliance brand (at least), etc vs, say, a timer and/or delay.
  - kikkia 1y ago
    Don't most washers and dryers have timed start like dishwashers do? I always remember mine having pictures like that but maybe that's just not a common thing
    - Polizeiposaune 1y ago
      Delayed start is common for washers but not for clothes dryers (as you really don't want wet laundry just sitting there in the appliance for hours..)
      - EmptyCoffeeCup 1y ago
        Pretty common in dryers as well. They turn over and blow cold air periodically to prevent them getting stinky.
        vrighter 1y ago
        but why???? If i have already gotten off my ass to go throw the clothes in it and so I'm literally standing right next to it, in what universe won't I just press "start" and instead press a bunch of buttons to set up a timer?
        StevenWaterman 1y ago
        If you want to run it overnight, or while you're at work, so it finishes as you arrive and doesn't leave the clean clothes in a clump for hours (or so it runs during cheaper power hours)
        gruez 1y ago
        >and doesn't leave the clean clothes in a clump for hours As opposed to having your clothes be in a wet clump for hours? Between the two choices I'd prefer it being dry, because I know at least there will be less microbial activity.
        EmptyCoffeeCup 1y ago
theamk 1y ago
it's worse than that - those locks are bluetooth-based, so they don't care about the cloud. What happened is that they are disabling the app, so it is no longer usable.
- gblargg 1y ago
  So many of the smart apps won't even launch without an Internet connection (i.e. connection to their cloud services), even if you just want to control local Bluetooth devices.
  - thrashwerk 1y ago
    I hate that. I recently bought a G-Shock watch, it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, it was a selling point but may be convenient to sync the time with a quick connection. First, the G-Shock app displayed a prompt that it won't work with animations turned off which is just baffling. I have them disabled in Android settings under accessibility options because I find them frivolous. Then with the animations enabled the G-Shock app says that it's EOL since mid 2023, now CASIO WATCHES app is for everything. Install CASIO WATCHES, doesn't complain about animations being disabled which is an improvement but then when I want to add a watch it says I need an account. Two local devices connecting via Bluetooth need a goddamn online account! Uninstalled that shit immediately. I don't regret the purchase, I like the watch and it works perfectly without any connection crap but boy is all this online nonsense annoying.
    - Borealid 1y ago
      There is an open-source app ("Casio G-Shock Smart Sync") for syncing time with g-shock BLE watches. Some of them are also compatible with Gadgetbridge (also OSS, but much richer in functionality).
    - m463 1y ago
      Bought a garmin watch. You can use it entirely offline. It is a refreshing alternative to all other watches. That said, they are putting some functions behind the garmin connect app, which is troubling.
com2kid 1y ago
My Lockly lock supports a complete offline setup, no phone required to register finger prints or setup PIN codes. I believe I can even turn off the BT completely if I so desire. It is just exactly smart enough for my liking.
- dsr_ 1y ago
  My house lock doesn't have an online mode. It has to be programmed by visiting physically, unlocking it, and then you have to stand there and touch it for a while in order to remove or activate a code. In other words, it only supports two features that a keyed lock doesn't: 1. a keyholder can't lose/forget the key 2. keys can be disabled without the expense of replacing the whole lock core Since the purpose of a house lock is entirely a cultural/legal signal (you are allowed to come in / you do not have authority to come in) rather than security (if you are willing to damage the house, you can definitely enter), this is the perfect "smartness" for me.
  - com2kid 1y ago
    The lockly model I have is the same, no cloud features. You can configure it using the keypad or using an app over BT, that is the primary difference between it and a completely self contained device.

mingus88 1y ago

It depends. According to the link this lock was supported for over ten years, and the landscape for this type of device was pretty Wild West back then. There are a lot of devices that never even got that much support. Today, give me any HomeKit supported device and I’m satisfied it will work for as long as I need it to without some dodgy 3rd party app siphoning my data. And let’s be honest, if you were buying fridges or washing machines based on WiFi features that’s on you. Locks and lights have legitimate uses for remote control and always have.

itake 1y ago
> And let’s be honest, if you were buying fridges or washing machines based on WiFi features that’s on you. I don't understand what you mean by this? My clothes will smell really bad if I leave them in the washer wet. If the appliance has a leak, I need to be nearby to remediate. Thus its not safe for me to start the appliance before I leave for 8+ hours. If I can remotely start my washing machine, just prior to me arriving home, I can move the clothes to the dryer.
- rkomorn 1y ago
  Remote start, and finish notifications, are genuinely useful things. At the same time, I don't know if they're actually worth the downsides of needing to create an account, having hackable IoT things, installing an app per appliance brand (at least), etc vs, say, a timer and/or delay.
- kikkia 1y ago
  Don't most washers and dryers have timed start like dishwashers do? I always remember mine having pictures like that but maybe that's just not a common thing
  - Polizeiposaune 1y ago
    Delayed start is common for washers but not for clothes dryers (as you really don't want wet laundry just sitting there in the appliance for hours..)
    - EmptyCoffeeCup 1y ago
      Pretty common in dryers as well. They turn over and blow cold air periodically to prevent them getting stinky.
      - vrighter 1y ago
        but why???? If i have already gotten off my ass to go throw the clothes in it and so I'm literally standing right next to it, in what universe won't I just press "start" and instead press a bunch of buttons to set up a timer?
        StevenWaterman 1y ago
        If you want to run it overnight, or while you're at work, so it finishes as you arrive and doesn't leave the clean clothes in a clump for hours (or so it runs during cheaper power hours)
        gruez 1y ago
        >and doesn't leave the clean clothes in a clump for hours As opposed to having your clothes be in a wet clump for hours? Between the two choices I'd prefer it being dry, because I know at least there will be less microbial activity.
        EmptyCoffeeCup 1y ago

theamk 1y ago

it's worse than that - those locks are bluetooth-based, so they don't care about the cloud. What happened is that they are disabling the app, so it is no longer usable.

gblargg 1y ago
So many of the smart apps won't even launch without an Internet connection (i.e. connection to their cloud services), even if you just want to control local Bluetooth devices.
- thrashwerk 1y ago
  I hate that. I recently bought a G-Shock watch, it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, it was a selling point but may be convenient to sync the time with a quick connection. First, the G-Shock app displayed a prompt that it won't work with animations turned off which is just baffling. I have them disabled in Android settings under accessibility options because I find them frivolous. Then with the animations enabled the G-Shock app says that it's EOL since mid 2023, now CASIO WATCHES app is for everything. Install CASIO WATCHES, doesn't complain about animations being disabled which is an improvement but then when I want to add a watch it says I need an account. Two local devices connecting via Bluetooth need a goddamn online account! Uninstalled that shit immediately. I don't regret the purchase, I like the watch and it works perfectly without any connection crap but boy is all this online nonsense annoying.
  - Borealid 1y ago
    There is an open-source app ("Casio G-Shock Smart Sync") for syncing time with g-shock BLE watches. Some of them are also compatible with Gadgetbridge (also OSS, but much richer in functionality).
  - m463 1y ago
    Bought a garmin watch. You can use it entirely offline. It is a refreshing alternative to all other watches. That said, they are putting some functions behind the garmin connect app, which is troubling.

com2kid 1y ago

My Lockly lock supports a complete offline setup, no phone required to register finger prints or setup PIN codes. I believe I can even turn off the BT completely if I so desire. It is just exactly smart enough for my liking.

dsr_ 1y ago
My house lock doesn't have an online mode. It has to be programmed by visiting physically, unlocking it, and then you have to stand there and touch it for a while in order to remove or activate a code. In other words, it only supports two features that a keyed lock doesn't: 1. a keyholder can't lose/forget the key 2. keys can be disabled without the expense of replacing the whole lock core Since the purpose of a house lock is entirely a cultural/legal signal (you are allowed to come in / you do not have authority to come in) rather than security (if you are willing to damage the house, you can definitely enter), this is the perfect "smartness" for me.
- com2kid 1y ago
  The lockly model I have is the same, no cloud features. You can configure it using the keypad or using an app over BT, that is the primary difference between it and a completely self contained device.