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Samsung accidentally freezes its smart fridges with a software update

247 points · 284 comments · Markoff

  1. diskzero · · focus · HN ↗
    We ended up with a Samsung fridge in our new home. It has no external display or any other indication that it is a "smart" fridge. I only found out when a friend visited who has a Samsung phone and the phone offered to connect to the fridge. We spent the next 30 minutes removing panels from the fridge and found the wifi/bluetooth antenna on a small board under the top-right hinge cover. The board was disconnected and the fridge continues to operate normally.

    I am now eyeing my dishwasher very suspiciously.

    1. cogman10 · · focus · HN ↗
      Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life. A family member went through about 3 different samsung fridges before they swore them off for good. The compressor would routinely break after only a year or 2 of service.

      I will never own a Samsung or LG appliance. They are built almost explicitly to force you to get a new one in a couple of years.

      Then couple that with both companies trying to use weaselly legal maneuvers like putting the EULA that agrees to arbitration on the outside of a box and saying "If you open this box you agree to the EULA".

      1. branko_d · · focus · HN ↗
        Is this lack of quality a US thing?

        Where we live (Kazakhstan), we had a Samsung fridge, AC and TV for about 7 years without any issues whatsoever. After moving to a new apartment, we bought another Samsung fridge and it has been quietly humming along for over 2 years now.

        I never heard anybody complaining about Samsung.

        1. toast0 · · focus · HN ↗
          Could be more features lead to more problems. Ice makers are highly desirable and often problematic.

          Could be that US runs on 120vac and that means a lot of different parts.

          Could be the US market gets more advanced compressors and what not to meet energy efficiency requirements (and maybe reduced noise) and Kazakhstan gets a simpler refrigerator that just keeps working.

        2. stasomatic · · focus · HN ↗
          Any product from almost any manufacturer has built-in obsolescence - unless you go mid-high end, like Bosch etc.

          Sammy/LG/GE business models aren't built on services but volume. If you buy a third party warranty service, that solves the issue somewhat, but they churn out so many models that parts become scarce.

          You just got lucky or your models are from a different era. I don't want to drop money on Bosch, so I buy the cheapest ones and just replace them when needed.

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