Posted on 07/22/2025 10:13:26 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Futurehome (zigby Z wave) goes bankrupt, new owner ransoms everyone's House? Belkin Wemo doing it too - "smarthome" devices bricked by the Mfgrs.? BE VERY CAREFUL OF "SMART DEVICES" in HOMES (don't let them connect to the Internet - local API only)! Louis Rossman offers $5000 BOUNTY to fix it NOW!
The CEO threatens to call the cops on Rossmann.
Rossman is an interesting guy, mostly an Apple repair and right-to-repair guy.
" Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak endorsed Rossmann's right-to-repair efforts and called for open sourcing in a Cameo video requested by Rossmann. Wozniak spoke about how electronic devices used to come with schematics, allowing anyone with the expertise to repair, if not improve, their devices, and credited this openness for the success of the Apple II"
NVEnergy in constantly trying to give us smart thermostats. Uh, no thanks.
My refrigerator doesn’t need to spend time on the web.
My toaster, though, likes to lurk on FreeRepublic.
One of my fridges connects to the internet. How often do I need to adjust the temperature from my phone? Never.
We bought a new washer and dryer a few years ago. One of the options is connect them to our Wi-Fi (which we don’t have any more - all hard wired in our house). WTH? I know when the dryer is done because I can hear it stop. I don’t need to get a text.
“I know when the dryer is done because I can hear it stop. I don’t need to get a text.”
yeah, but what if you were vacationing in Inner Mongolia when your dryer was done? ...
Battlestar Galactica reference...the slang for the Cylons was “toasters”.
“One of my fridges connects to the internet. How often do I need to adjust the temperature from my phone? Never.”
The bigger issue with all of these connected devices...
What happens with all of this data?
what happens if you open your door “too many times”?
Does it report to some energy star group that your frdge is set “too cold” and report you?
Does the logic over ride you cna change the temp back to what ever it thinks “it should be”?
But more than all of that, once it loses connection, is it still functional?
We had a friend that had a connected dish washer. something happened and it was no longer able connect. it gave so many errors, reset/ restart and warnings to make it no longer functional. As the whole system relied on the failing board.
The cost to replace the board was exorbitant (out of warranty). They replaced it with a new unit that had no connectivity for less than the price to have a new board bought and installed.
That's why I didn't keep it connected.
That’s cool.. or neighbors vibrator keeps trying to get on our Netflix
I probably wouldn’t care.
Wink, wink you racist, what about Outer Mongolia?
Now to piss-off everyone, me and the late wife built our house in the early 1980's. Still using all the appliances Washer / Dryer / Electric Hot Water Heater 40 gal. (I've had the Tankless replacement in the shed going on ten years)/ portable dishwasher (dishwasher maybe used a half dozen times, so doesn't count.)
Yes have done 3, (three) very minor repairs to the washing machine, less than $50.00 total. I'm able to do the work, after watching on youtub. (spelling intended.) Other than Hot Water Tank, all Sears appliances. Oh and just in case your wondering well how many loads of wash were done? Hint we had 3 (three) girls enough said. They were washing clothes after just looking at them in my humble opinion. But, I'm an admitted slob.
You should read “Unauthorized Bread” by Cory Doctorow. It is online. About a time in the future where things like toasters can be had for low cost or free but it has to be online. The fun starts when the toaster company goes bankrupt, and no one can make toast until the customer list goes to a new buyer. . . unless you can illegally hack the toaster.
On-line toaster -
So, you need a lot of download to get enough amps to heat the coils and heat the bread.
Message from computer - “Internet Slow, bread will be done in 22 hours”
In the story, the toaster was able to detect what kind of bread (bagel, English Muffin, etc.) and if you bought the right brand to continue to use the toaster for free.
“Brave little Toaster” was one of our favorites when the kids were growing up. Good kids movie.
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