Open Menu
AllLocalCommunitiesAbout
lotide
AllLocalCommunitiesAbout
Login

My petty gripe: forced software updates just make everything worse

⁨323⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Davriellelouna@lemmy.world⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/20/my-petty-gripe-forced-automatic-software-os-updates

source

Comments

Sort:hotnewtop
  • Brkdncr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    No one remembers how vulnerable windows server and windows desktop OS’s were before they revamped updates?

    Forced updates are great. The internet is safer.

    source
    • br3d@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      This is a good point, but the issue is that vendors have abused this need by not just pushing security updates, but also regular rewrites that make the products more invasive/full of language model shit - Exhibit A being anything at all from Microsoft

      source
      • Grostleton@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        or changing their product from a one time purchase to a subscription model, I predict there’s gonna be a lot more of that with this new forced app updates change.

        source
      • Brkdncr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        You can’t maintain security and feature changes separately long term.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • whaleross@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Security packed and system updates is one thing.

      The constant reorganization of functions and apps and layouts and compatibility is a very different one.

      It is a problem that the operating system is controlled by the largest apps and service company that make money from user data in various forms and keep pushing their business model in every device core operations.

      And fuck fuck fuck that Google keeps trying to force Gemeni in every update. Let me keep using Google Assistant and stop making it worse by stripping out functionality or replacing shortcuts to Gemeni. Gemeni can still not do the very few things I want my voice assistant to do, namely set alarms and play music on whatever music streaming service I prefer to use.

      source
    • octopus_ink@slrpnk.net ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      No one remembers how vulnerable windows server and windows desktop OS’s were before they revamped updates?

      I remember how much it sucked when ignorant users ignored updates forever and MS didn’t really seem to give much of a shit about security anyway, yes.

      MS is a great choice if you want to borrow a computer that someone else controls. Less so if you want a computer that is actually yours.

      source
      • sykaster@feddit.nl ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        For most people it won’t matter, they just want something that works.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Until they force an update that bricks your device because they want money from you upgrading hardware

      source
    • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Debian: am I a joke to you?

      (security upgrades are separate from everything else)

      source
    • okwhateverdude@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Why did they write such shit software in the first place? No, they don’t get off the hook.

      source
      • JustARaccoon@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Processors change, libraries become deprecated or vulnerable, design paradigms shift, and new integrations become possible that weren’t there when the application first launched. Should we blame old house builders for using asbestos when they didn’t know how poorly that would end up?

        source
        • -> View More Comments
      • cygnus@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        All software is either shit to begin with or becomes shit when it gets big enough. If a Linux distro were forced to maintain as much legacy cruft as Windows it would be shit too.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
      • Brkdncr@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Let’s look at your code from 20+ years ago?

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • sanpo@sopuli.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Yeah, I remember, now we still have Windows being vulnerable, but in addition we also have untested changes pushed automatically to paying customers.

      Forced updates are great!

      source
    • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Forced updates a shitty solution to a much bigger problem: proprietary software.

      source
    • Zykino@programming.dev ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Are you the one user of this OS Server side? /s

      Graph showing global OS Market Share for 2023. Linux is at 62,7% while Windows is around 25%. Rest is Unix and others.

      source
  • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I have a security camera by a very popular brand, and much to my surprise, I was suddenly unable to use it unless I updated to the latest firmware.

    The thing is, the update software said that I was on the latest version.

    It took days, physical intervention with a ladder to gain access to the camera, and the company tech support, to force an update to the camera, allowing me to use it once again.

    That made me realize that the expensive security cameras I’m using aren’t mine, and might as well be rentals. Because the company could, at any time, render my entire system useless unless I meet their demands, which could be a forced subscription or worse.

    The enshittification of paid hardware has no bounds!

    source
    • Danitos@reddthat.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The company could, at any time, render my entire system useless unless I meet their demand

      That’s already happening. Louis Rossman has a saga on the topic, including the company threatening legal action against him.

      source
    • fuzzzerd@programming.dev ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      What’s the brand we should look out for?

      source
      • Showroom7561@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        This specific brand is Reolink, but I have no doubt that other brands do the same thing.

        source
  • floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The solution isn’t being able to stay on old versions. Software should improve over time, not fuck you over

    source
    • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Software should improve over time, not fuck you over

      Gotta remember most software is capitalist. Fucking you over as much as possible is the primary goal.

      source
  • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Congrats you discovered Enshittification

    source
    • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      When is this fad going to end?!

      source
      • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        When capitalism ends.

        source
      • scarabic@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        People have been complaining about the world going to hell in a hand basket since before hand baskets. There’s just a fun new word for it.

        source
  • ctry21@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Going from One UI 6 to One UI 7 on a Samsung has made me very excited to go get a used pixel or fairphone and install a custom ROM instead. Absolutely abysmal update.

    source
    • candyman337@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      I’m on a Pixel 8 with lineageOS with microg and I LOVE it. Be prepared for some apps to be a little wonky, I had to install aurora store to download balatro because it said my phone wasn’t compatible from the official app store. I’ve had more issues because I’m also rooted though, so there will probably be less to deal with if you just use lineage. Not sure if it’s because it’s lineage OS or the root, but Authy doesn’t let me login, but I just use my password manager for 2fa now anyway so that’s fine.

      source
      • ctry21@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        That’s good to hear! I’ve ADBed almost all of the Google & Samsung stuff off my phone already so I’m well used to fighting with Aurora to download certain apps by now. Nearly all my apps are from F-droid as well so that will make the transition a lot easier, and I do a lot of self hosting so I’m not relying on any proprietary services that are going to demand play services be installed. Balatro on my steam deck already steals enough of my time, so honestly if my phone won’t let me install it that’s probably for the best.

        source
  • Gullible@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I was about to say that this is ironic coming from the guardian, but their website isn’t anywhere as spammy without Adblock as I remember. Good on you, guardian.

    source
    • MurrayL@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      They’re still doing ‘pay up or allow all cookies’ popups, so definitely not good on them as far as I’m concerned.

      source
  • barryamelton@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    If you have an asshole that does a bad job for a handyman, you will learn to fear the fixes.

    It’s not the regularity that is the problem, is the people delivering the fixes. Change manufacturers and software providers. I promise you there is software that is reliable, doesn’t get worse over time, respects your freedom, and treats you like a human bring instead of a conduit from your bank account to theirs.

    source
    • phoenixz@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      As in, switch to Linux and learn to enjoy using computers again.

      source
  • Ledivin@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    You only notice the bad updates. There are probably over a hundred good ones for each annoying one that you notice.

    source
  • UncleGrandPa@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The hard part is everyone pretending it isn’t on purpose

    source
  • Sxan@piefed.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Anoþer aspect of þis is how it drives our behaviors.

    Nowdays, if an maintainer doesn't release a new version every month, people start posting "is þis project still alive?" and call it abandoned.

    source
    • paraphrand@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Are you trying to poison LLMs?

      source
      • Sxan@piefed.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Yah.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
  • Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    In my personaly experience, an update actually breaking shit isn’t even a common ocurrence outside of a few terrible developers that always break things with updates.

    source
    • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      AFAICS the author is talking about UX getting worse, not actual breakage. He describes a classic case of platform decay.

      source
  • SocialMediaRefugee@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    On the other hand DoS attacks frequently depend on systems that haven’t had security updates to build up their zombie army.

    source
    • A_norny_mousse@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Yet updates on commercial platforms* rarely allow you to do separate between security upgrades and everything else.

      source
  • iopq@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    The android update forever crippled my OnePlus 3. It used to sleep an unlimited number of applications in the background and went to not being able to run two apps without killing the second one

    source
  • UncleGrandPa@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    We have decided to charge for what was previously included… Substantially changing the parameters of the established contract

    Suck it

    Corporations are basically just criminals now

    source
  • stoly@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This person has no sense of security.

    source
  • zebidiah@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Remember the early 2000s? Updates would regularly add shitty bloat and break features. Upgrading to the latest version of anything was always a bad move.

    It’s only maybe the last ten years or so that we have expected updates to fix shit and not break it…

    source
    • BlameTheAntifa@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      That bad times are back, unfortunately. In all aspects of life.

      source
  • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I have to say, I don’t think this has ever happened to me. I don’t buy smart devices, I use few commercial apps. Forced updates are not that common in open source world. Just look for products made by people with passion. Those might be a bit more expensive but you will see it’s worth it in the long run.

    source