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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. martin_a · · focus · HN ↗
        > Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life.

        When I moved into my first own flat, family, friends and colleagues pressured me to buy good appliances. They will last longer they said.

        Buy Miele for a washing machine, nothing else, they said. I didn't had the money for that, so I bought a washing machine for 250 Euro. It has been going for 11 years, moved two times and doesn't show any signs of going out.

        Another friend told me he only buys Samsung fridges. Best machines, one shouldn't buy anything else. I bought a fridge for 200 Euro because I liked the retro look and its red color. Also going strong for 10 years and moving two times. He has got the third Samsung fridge in 10 years now.

        Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

        1. kakacik · · focus · HN ↗
          Samsung/LG don't know how to build reliable white home appliances, or don't want to. Or black ones for that matter (remember FUBAR with Samsung bricking their expensive surround system for good? Not so long ago).

          No reason to buy those when you have ie some basic Bosch stuff. TBH smart stuff should be left to computers and phones, rest should be dumb as brick. But folks keep buying it for some reason (ie hey Samsung makes good phones, lets buy their fridge), hence crapware everywhere.

          1. bayindirh · · focus · HN ↗
            In my family we have 3 fridges, 2 washers and 2 dishwashers, and our experience a bit different than the rest of the thread.

            The fridges are dead-silent and working great for 7+ years. Washers are also nice, washing for a bit too long but don't wear the clothes down and have better stain removal performance than their peers, and dishwashers are extremely slow and not designed for European market. Their baskets are not suitable for our dishes, we can't fill them efficiently even.

            So, from experience their fridges are A-OK, washers are great with some caveats, but dishwashers are not good.

            My first choice is still BSH group and Beko, but Samsung is acceptable if required, but LG? Ain't nobody got time for that.

            1. epcoa · · focus · HN ↗
              It’s pretty well known in the US that LG washers perform better and have a far better parts and service network than Samsung. You think whatever you want though.
              1. IAmBroom · · focus · HN ↗
                > It’s pretty well known in the US that

                If you're going to get snitty, cite your claim.

                1. epcoa · · focus · HN ↗
                  Yale Appliance, Harper and Knowles. But I'm not sure why you think a snitty "but LG? Ain't nobody got time for that." deserves a more rigorous reply on an informal commentary site with delusions of grandeur. Like I said to the other dude, believe whatever you'd like. But if you're out in the sticks and you can't do your own service you probably shouldn't buy either.
                  1. bayindirh · · focus · HN ↗
                    Oh, somebody called me out. Hello, I’m the other dude. Let’s break down my grandeur delusions.

                    I remember LG as Goldstar from my Grandma’s microwave oven. That was not something unreliable, but rather unremarkable appliance with no glaring problems. It was eh. Then they became LG.

                    I remember their other electronics. AC units, phones, TVs, optical storage devices. All of them were either okayish or below that. Phones? Sub-par even if they were innovative. TVs? Unreliable and lower quality than their peers. Optical storage? Can’t read a disc it burned 30 seconds ago, or can’t rip an audio CD correctly, or broke in a year.

                    I have seen so many LG devices fail or fail to meet their own specs they advertised with in my life, I have sworn to not buy any LG device ~25 years ago.

                    I somehow had to buy one of their portable DVD burners because I needed something quick. It failed to read a pristine CD other drives read at full blast after taking it out of its box.

                    So, please tell me I’m delusional. Invalidate my experience I collected over decades. Tell me about my grandeur.

                    I can tell you how many Samsung devices I have still continue to run or outlived their expected lives in another comment, if you feel like reading it as well.

                    I’m waiting.

                    1. epcoa · · focus · HN ↗
                      Nobody called you out. You really can believe whatever you want. The delusions of grandeur comment was clearly not addressed at you personally (“site with delusions of grandeur”). Touch grass, seriously.
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