this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 71 points 1 month ago (24 children)

A big problem is things tied unnecessarily to an internet service. We need to educate people that there may be alternatives and we need our purchasing decisions to support that. For example, most home automation stuff should NOT require or use any internet.

The article calls it “software tethering”. If any support commitments encourage manufacturers to stop that, we’ll all be better off. Let’s start with requiring users be clearly notified of software tethering, so they know what they’re buying

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (12 children)

At least make it required to not brick at EOS if it's a device that would otherwise run. Like a laundry machine.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (11 children)

There’s no reason a laundry machine requires an internet connection

  • if an internet connection provides additional functionality such as notification, it easier to have the machine work normally without notifications
  • there’s no reason a machine requires an internet connection, especially with the release of the Matter/Thread standard to unify home automation local protocols

When I got new machines about five years ago, I briefly considered connected machines. It would be really nice to get notifications on my phone but how can it possibly cost that much and why does the only option depend on a cloud service?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Can’t you just set a timer on your phone for 30 minutes

[–] OnToTheFuture 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Although I do this, I do also have a counterpoint to this. I will set my machine to go and it says 60 minutes. Cool, set a timer for that long. Come back in 60 minutes, and it still has 5 minutes left. I ended up figuring out the machine is somehow determining that at 60 minutes, the clothes/blankets/whatever is still too wet, so it's adding time to the spin cycle to try and spin them more. Having it just ping me would be amazing, but also I do not want to have a machine that refuses to operate without WiFi or some crap.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I bought maytag washer/dryer oddly only the dryer is "smart" and it is just notifying when it's done, but it works just fine without internet as well. Looked around a good bit before we landed on Maytag and they've been great for the few years so far we've had them, however it's just my wife and I, not a ton of use compared to a whole family so ymmv

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Yea but can you play doom during the wash cycle

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I do set a timer on my watch according to what the machine estimates: 59 minutes for a standard wash and 1:15 for a standard dry. Sometimes the estimate is off, so it’s not perfect.

Then again, why do I have to remember to have my phone or watch in order to use the laundry?

An actual notification could be better because I don’t have to have my phone nor remember to do it. Sort of like in the olden days when the machines had that god awful buzzer you could hear throughout the house: it just worked at least if you’re home. Now the machines let out a pleasant little tinkle that I can’t hear from the living room, plus what if I want to be outside.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

The laundry machine in my rental still has the buzzer, but I usually just set a timer on my phone or watch anyway. This thing will probably last another 20 years, and my landlord certainly won't replace it until it breaks.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What? Like some kind of primitive savage?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I don’t even set a timer for my washer or dryer although the washer I think can. Be hacked it’s way too electronic

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