4 ms·

How do you know? For sure, I mean?

• brookst 8mo ago
  I mean your coffee maker could be a one-off spy device with nation-state backing. But it seems unlikely.
  • dylan604 8mo ago
    phew, yet another reason it pays off to not be a coffee drinker.
    • Tempest1981 8mo ago
      :) I'm sticking with my Aeropress
      • Marsymars 8mo ago
        I'm sitting here drinking an Aeropress-made coffee as I type this, but thinking about how the kettle I used to boil the water is wifi-connected. (Although the smarts are limited to firmware updates, there's no control of the kettle or useful data collected from the kettle.)
        • iamtedd 8mo ago
          A kettle needs firmware updates?
          • dylan604 8mo ago
            A kettle needs firmware?
            • Marsymars 8mo ago
              Some software features are actually quite nice on kettles! e.g. Mine has adjustable altitude calibration which simplifies things that are temperature-sensitive if you live somewhere with a boiling point notably below 100°: https://www.precisekettlepicks.blog/blog/buying-guides-by-use-case-budget/altitude-kettle-science-precise-temp-high/ https://www.precisekettlepicks.blog/blog/buying-guides-by-us...
          • Marsymars 8mo ago
            I'd say "has" firmware updates rather than "needs". You can see release notes: https://help.fellowproducts.com/hc/en-us/articles/9593179929115-What-is-the-current-EKG-firmware-version-and-what-did-it-update https://help.fellowproducts.com/hc/en-us/articles/9593179929...
        • ssl-3 8mo ago
          I understand why such a device might have firmware. For instance: The drip coffee maker in my kitchen also has firmware; it is used for things like operating the clock (which I've never set...), starting automatically at a pre-set time, and for turning the hot bits off after an hour or two. It's completely offline; these are just pre-programmed functions that will never change. But I have some questions, if you've got a moment. Why does the kettle's firmware need updating? What inhibits a future firmware update from controlling the kettle and collecting data? How would you or any other owner of this style of kettle know if it had shifted gears? (And remember: Since the kettle has a radio and a network connection, data collection isn't necessarily limited to kettle operations. Deducing location is easy for a motivated party using wifi and/or bluetooth signals in populated areas where others are using wireless technologies; see, for example: https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/qualcomm-terrestrial-positioning-service https://www.qualcomm.com/internet-of-things/solutions/qualco... )
          • Marsymars 8mo ago
            > Why does the kettle's firmware need updating? What inhibits a future firmware update from controlling the kettle and collecting data? How would you or any other owner of this style of kettle know if it had shifted gears? It's a Fellow EKG Pro kettle. They've got release notes here: https://help.fellowproducts.com/hc/en-us/articles/9593179929115-What-is-the-current-EKG-firmware-version-and-what-did-it-update https://help.fellowproducts.com/hc/en-us/articles/9593179929... Notably, bug fixes to the same features that your drip coffee maker has (clock/scheduling stuff stuff), and the addition of new languages to the UI. > What inhibits a future firmware update from controlling the kettle and collecting data? How would you or any other owner of this style of kettle know if it had shifted gears? I assume these are somewhat rhetorical questions where we both know the answers - I'm not harbouring illusions here - as with any internet-connected software you have to trust the vendor. If it were up to me, I'd prefer a Z-Wave-connected kettle that received its firmware updates via Home Assistant... but fancy pour-over kettles are niche enough that a market for a Z-Wave one simply doesn't exist. As-is, I've got enough trust in Fellow that I'm leaving my kettle connected for firmware updates. Of course, that may change.
            • 8mo ago
    • debugnik 8mo ago
      Not really, I'd be impressed if my moka could spy on me, at least after the first use.
  • jlarocco 8mo ago
    If Google thought it was okay to hide a microphone, I'm sure less scrutinized companies try to get away with worse. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47303077 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-47303077
  • skeeter2020 8mo ago
    if they can build an internet connected coffee maker with mic and camera for 60 bucks that's freakin' amazing!
    • doubled112 8mo ago
      Would it include a cell radio and SIM card? Or are they hoping for an open WiFi network in range?
      • alwa 8mo ago
        Radiate the signal out through its power cord, silly.
    • misnome 8mo ago
      I'm pretty sure they'd be happy to swallow the loss when building a one-off device to specifically target you.
      • blibble 8mo ago
        defeated by walking into a random shop and picking one off the shelf rather than buying it from scamazon
        • appletrotter 8mo ago
          Undefeated when they break into your home
          • blibble 8mo ago
            at that point the coffee machine is sort of redundant
    • mylifeandtimes 8mo ago
      $17.60 for the internet connected microphone and camera (see parts list below), list of coffee machines for under ($60-$18): https://www.google.com/search?q=coffee+machine+under+%2442 https://www.google.com/search?q=coffee+machine+under+%2442 m5stack camera: $7.10 https://shop.m5stack.com/products/unit-cam-wi-fi-camera-ov2640 https://shop.m5stack.com/products/unit-cam-wi-fi-camera-ov26... m5 stack microphone: $3.50 https://shop.m5stack.com/products/pdm-microphone-unit-spm1423 https://shop.m5stack.com/products/pdm-microphone-unit-spm142... m5stack atom light S3 controller: $7.50 https://shop.m5stack.com/products/atom-lite-esp32-development-kit https://shop.m5stack.com/products/atom-lite-esp32-developmen...
  • soopypoos 8mo ago
    he did say he was trained at the kremlin...
• soopypoos 8mo ago
  I wrapped mine in foil to be safe and now it's fabulous