Comment on Smart sous vide cooker to start charging $2/month for 10-year-old companion app

• HonkTonkWoman@lemm.ee ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  I think the bigger issue is that they’re bricking all support for the oldest models, trying to force customers to abandon a fully functional device just because they want more money.

  The app subscription fee is obnoxious as all get out, but punishing your oldest customers for your profit margins is what’s a bit infuriating.

  At least, imo.

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  • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Honestly, after a decade of keeping compatibility and stuff, and that the sous vide still works fine without the apk, I don’t really see this as much of a big deal. An apk for a sous vide is nearly useless, anyhow. What are you going to do with it?

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    • HonkTonkWoman@lemm.ee ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      It’s more about the principle. Why is it ok for a manufacturer to remotely disable a feature that was bought & paid for by a decades worth of customers?

      Now that they’ve done it once, what’s stopping future attempts to gin up higher profits using the same tactics?

      I don’t think anyone here is angry enough to go all Kid Rock on their Sous Vides, but I do think there are plenty who will look at a different brand when it is time for a replacement.

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      • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨4⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Well they’re on v3 now and this ends the version 1, so I doubt they’ve sold the v1 for the past 5 years or so, but again, it’s not an apk that you need to use it. If it were a device like a garage door opener that let’s you open/close or see when the door is opened or closed I’d be batching up a storm. Same if it were like a door deadbolt to lock/unlock your front door. But a water cooker? What do you need the apk for? It couldn’t functionally do anything over bluetooth to be of any help.

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