5 ms·

Apparently my Samsung fridge has ads now

54 points by celsoazevedo 11mo ago

ChrisArchitect 11mo ago
Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45737338 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45737338
dnemmers 11mo ago
I’m sure other manufacturers are very happy to have Samsung bear the load of bad PR by leading the charge in Ad ‘supported’ appliances. After initial outrage cools, it’ll be a race for everyone else to catch up. Not a chance shareholders won’t push for the extra revenue ($$$) regardless of what happens to consumers. Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good.
- JohnFen 11mo ago
  > Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good. Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet. Also, I doubt that this stuff will ever come for the cheapie appliances, which lack bells and whistles but are just as good at keeping things cold as the expensive units.
  - Konnstann 11mo ago
    The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now.
    - kridsdale1 11mo ago
      Yes. Vizio pioneered this model. People buy whatever has the lowest price in Costco.
    - msla 11mo ago
      > The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now. How does that work if I buy the appliance outright? I mean on their end: I buy it, I don't let it talk to the Internet, the company loses ad revenue and... what? Break into my place and steal it from me?
      - dnemmers 11mo ago
        I’m guessing ‘Smart’ features are going to be tied into network connections. Also, very possible future appliances having no physical buttons and requiring a separate internet device (which can support ads) to work.
      - fyver 11mo ago
        Annoy you every 5 minutes with a message about security updates.
  - dpkirchner 11mo ago
    There's nothing technically stopping them from adding a cell chip to the fridge to make it "easier than ever to get your kitchen online"(tm).
  - immibis 11mo ago
    They'll either start refusing to cool down if you don't connect them to the internet, or they'll display a flashing warning screen that will be infinitely more annoying than the ads. On the upside, some people will make a nice bit of money reflashing them to remove the ads. That will still be legal... right? Buy a fridge for $2000, then pay the guy $100 to make it actually work right. The guy could be you. Like Rick Sanchez's curse removal service.
  - orphea 11mo ago
    > Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet. I can imagine how some features or settings would be locked behind an app and cloud communication.
    - throwawaymobule 11mo ago
      Amazon sidewalk is coming. If you want a wireless network without a password on it, you're in trouble too.
- metalman 11mo ago
  It would take an open conspireacy to prevent someone from making and marketing add free dumb appliences, as there is already a market for just that. So at what point does the end game of a captured population realy become inescapable? an endless adverdistopia...
- phyzix5761 11mo ago
  I think we’re overlooking that most non-technical people don’t really care about ads. They’re already used to seeing them everywhere. What they want is the initial emotional excitement of cool technology, which these so-called smart fridges offer. The ads are simply part of the package.
  - serf 11mo ago
    >I think we’re overlooking that most non-technical people don’t really care about ads. They’re already used to seeing them everywhere. I think you're wrong. Just because they're effective at advertising means nothing about the perception of quality and associative effects. You don't see in-your-face advertising at the fanciest restaurants and opera houses for a reason, it reduces the overall perception of quality. also, a personal anecdote, my long dead tech-clueless mother used to have me install adblockers for her on her browser. Why? Because the ads got in the way of the damn news pages. You don't need to be technical to be inconvenienced or irritated by an advertisement.
m463 11mo ago
needed a new fridge and bought a used sub-zero. Kind of crazy to spend so much used (paid $2800). New it was ~ $12k But it worked out. It is the best. Tall with everything in plain sight. easy to access water filter, etc. Two cooling systems, one for fridge, separate for freezer. Not only are repair/maintenance parts plentiful, there are 3rd party water and air filters. It is like the rackmount server of fridges. It was a bi36-ufd/0 if you're curious. this one has no wifi.
neuralRiot 11mo ago
Why would anyone buy an “ad capable fridge” on the first place is beyond me.
- dnemmers 11mo ago
  They cut the sale price to make them more attractive to purchasers. I’m assuming the ad deals are where the money is at (see Fb, Google, etc. al.)
deleted 11mo ago
[deleted]
bfkwlfkjf 11mo ago
Stallman was right.
more_corn 11mo ago
Immediate, total and permanent boycott of all Samsung products. Now.
jaredhallen 11mo ago
My 20 year old GE doesn't.

54 points by celsoazevedo 11mo ago

Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45737338 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45737338

I’m sure other manufacturers are very happy to have Samsung bear the load of bad PR by leading the charge in Ad ‘supported’ appliances. After initial outrage cools, it’ll be a race for everyone else to catch up. Not a chance shareholders won’t push for the extra revenue ($$$) regardless of what happens to consumers. Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good.

JohnFen 11mo ago
> Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good. Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet. Also, I doubt that this stuff will ever come for the cheapie appliances, which lack bells and whistles but are just as good at keeping things cold as the expensive units.
- Konnstann 11mo ago
  The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now.
  - kridsdale1 11mo ago
    Yes. Vizio pioneered this model. People buy whatever has the lowest price in Costco.
  - msla 11mo ago
    > The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now. How does that work if I buy the appliance outright? I mean on their end: I buy it, I don't let it talk to the Internet, the company loses ad revenue and... what? Break into my place and steal it from me?
    - dnemmers 11mo ago
      I’m guessing ‘Smart’ features are going to be tied into network connections. Also, very possible future appliances having no physical buttons and requiring a separate internet device (which can support ads) to work.
    - fyver 11mo ago
      Annoy you every 5 minutes with a message about security updates.
- dpkirchner 11mo ago
  There's nothing technically stopping them from adding a cell chip to the fridge to make it "easier than ever to get your kitchen online"(tm).
- immibis 11mo ago
  They'll either start refusing to cool down if you don't connect them to the internet, or they'll display a flashing warning screen that will be infinitely more annoying than the ads. On the upside, some people will make a nice bit of money reflashing them to remove the ads. That will still be legal... right? Buy a fridge for $2000, then pay the guy $100 to make it actually work right. The guy could be you. Like Rick Sanchez's curse removal service.
- orphea 11mo ago
  > Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet. I can imagine how some features or settings would be locked behind an app and cloud communication.
  - throwawaymobule 11mo ago
    Amazon sidewalk is coming. If you want a wireless network without a password on it, you're in trouble too.
metalman 11mo ago
It would take an open conspireacy to prevent someone from making and marketing add free dumb appliences, as there is already a market for just that. So at what point does the end game of a captured population realy become inescapable? an endless adverdistopia...
phyzix5761 11mo ago
I think we’re overlooking that most non-technical people don’t really care about ads. They’re already used to seeing them everywhere. What they want is the initial emotional excitement of cool technology, which these so-called smart fridges offer. The ads are simply part of the package.
- serf 11mo ago
  >I think we’re overlooking that most non-technical people don’t really care about ads. They’re already used to seeing them everywhere. I think you're wrong. Just because they're effective at advertising means nothing about the perception of quality and associative effects. You don't see in-your-face advertising at the fanciest restaurants and opera houses for a reason, it reduces the overall perception of quality. also, a personal anecdote, my long dead tech-clueless mother used to have me install adblockers for her on her browser. Why? Because the ads got in the way of the damn news pages. You don't need to be technical to be inconvenienced or irritated by an advertisement.

m463 11mo ago

needed a new fridge and bought a used sub-zero. Kind of crazy to spend so much used (paid $2800). New it was ~ $12k But it worked out. It is the best. Tall with everything in plain sight. easy to access water filter, etc. Two cooling systems, one for fridge, separate for freezer. Not only are repair/maintenance parts plentiful, there are 3rd party water and air filters. It is like the rackmount server of fridges. It was a bi36-ufd/0 if you're curious. this one has no wifi.

neuralRiot 11mo ago

Why would anyone buy an “ad capable fridge” on the first place is beyond me.

dnemmers 11mo ago
They cut the sale price to make them more attractive to purchasers. I’m assuming the ad deals are where the money is at (see Fb, Google, etc. al.)

deleted 11mo ago

[deleted]

bfkwlfkjf 11mo ago

Stallman was right.

more_corn 11mo ago

Immediate, total and permanent boycott of all Samsung products. Now.

jaredhallen 11mo ago

My 20 year old GE doesn't.