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Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges

323 points · 336 comments · nonfamous

  1. 9cb14c1ec0 · · focus · HN ↗
    Meanwhile, my non-smart fridge continues to run just fine. Why do we need smart fridges? That was always a bad idea.
    1. somehnguy · · focus · HN ↗
      Smart appliances just seem like a ticking time bomb.

      I want my appliances to last far longer than devices like my phone or computer.

      There is absolutely no way these manufacturers will continue updating them even close to as long as I want to own them. So then you're stuck with an insecure and functionally useless, bad looking (in my opinion) appliance. That you paid extra to own and see ads on.

      1. 21asdffdsa12 · · focus · HN ↗
        Just solder a jtag connector to them and let AI dump the firmware, decompile, reverse engineer and flash a non-updating, sanitized version.
        1. somehnguy · · focus · HN ↗
          That does sound like a fun project! Not on an appliance that I rely on working 24/7 though. Maybe an idea to apply to a broken unused one.
          1. 21asdffdsa12 · · focus · HN ↗
            Well, they break anyway.. so might aswell break into the ones that are destroyed
      2. braincat31415 · · focus · HN ↗
        "I want my appliances to last far longer than devices like my phone or computer."

        ... and hopefully be simple. My washer and dryer (made in late 90s) are dirt simple inside, with parts readily available. I recently had to replace the belt in the dryer, and a water valve in the washer. It was a diy job, with the help of a few youtube videos.

        My neighbor guest's car got stuck in their driveway recently when an electronic parking brake malfunctioned. It really feels like all the gadgetry is a step backwards.

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