It's funny that being one who *could* be considered a "technophile" , I actually am super-skeptical about all these "smart devices" and "the Internet of Things"...
At one point, i totally thought it was cool, I admit it's still a neat idea. However, from a security standpoint, I don't like anything.
@rev. crush
yes... the seeing inside fridge with a tablet computer is kinda dumb... It only MAYBE has merit if you're already at the store, or at work...maybe... But too many people use it (as well as the commercials encourage) to look in the fking fridge WHILE YOU'RE AT HOME... rly?! I can be lazy, i'll admit this, but for anyone to be THAT lazy is just... UGH!
//end shout
the cloud/IOT:
I have the same problem with all these new programs. Firstly, they're pulling the monthly installment b.s. Secondly, for many reasons, I DON'T WANT ALL MY SHIT ON THE CLOUD, SERIOUSLY... I don't care how many layers of encryption there are, NO!
Smart houses, half the big problem (besides consumers are just...dumb/brainwashed) is the damn cloud integration, or really, having anything besides a hardwired and completely isolated network enabling them to communicate. Oh, and don't forget the NSA/FBI, whose "intelligence-gathering" involves finding ways to mitigate all the layers of security any of these devices may have had. but hey, "National security!" , right?
Also, my toaster doesn't need access to my gmail account to load my "optimal toasting settings" or some shit. Many of these devices just don't NEED networking at all. Maybe they need the ability to transfer/backup data, but not via the cloud.
smart devices in general:
some are just plain stupid. I recall in a thread here someone said that basically "you just slap a bluetooth in there and call it a 'smart' device" ... I must agree...
My toilet (just to name one thing) doesn't NEED this shit... what it DOES need is more flushing power.
Dyson:
ugh...
Did anyone see the commercial where they BRAGGED about patenting SO many of their components it's basically anti-competitive? I took the highest level of offense to that... We have enough of these "incentives to innovation" stifling the ever-loving shit out of it. Kinda off-topic, but yeah... Also, their shit is so expensive. We recently replaced our vacuum. got a Shark Lift-away. Works great, btw!
China:
Indeed the source of many low-par products... technology being no exception. But, sadly, most people either only can afford it, or that's all the stores carry... I wouldn't trust my security with one of those companies, but... Good luck finding shit that they didn't have SOME involvement in manufacturing...
Smart Houses, generally
I have seen a few devices that at least sound like a good idea, in concept. The Ring doorbell being one. But, I am ever so skeptical of ever getting them cuz stuff is too easy to hack. I actually love the Geico commercial where the kid is messing with all the lights. There's some shit that just DOESN'T NEED to have this done... FOR GOD'S SAKE, LIGHT SWITCHES ARE NOT SOME HUGE CHORE TO TURN ON-OFF... Of all these devices I've seen, only a fraction of them actually seem like they would be worth my time and money. Even then, how much can I trust these to be secure? How easy they really make stuff is also debatable, it seems smart devices always come with a load of instructions, or they come with instructions that don't cover enough in the first place. I've heard more than a few reviews, or seen the videos on HOW to set it up... Doesn't look like it's worth the hassle to set-up...at all...
@StapleButter:
Planned Obsolescence just pisses me off... I get into so many arguments with, well, especially my mom about these damn corporations, and that's one of their shady tactics that I've brought-up... They intentionally have forced consumers into this position where your device HAS to be replaced or upgraded frequently. Totally unsustainable way to live your life, totally unnecessary expense... but, it's not optional. I will be buying a ... probably Android soon... I don't WANT to, but this two-factor verification crap has FORCED me to. I've already been locked-out of my email TWICE because "Please verify yourself via a cellphone" I'm sure once I have one, I'll get trapped in the update loop. Like you said, they always can just pull the plug.
I get shit for bringing-up the horror stories... My mom doesn't get that... I'M NOT ACTIVELY SEEKING THIS SHIT OUT, but it's linked in SOME way to every site I visit. Fruthermore, for every time I look for, or see something good, I FIND an example of how X_company is literally The Devil Incarnate...
It's funny, as much as I HATE government and laws, and the fact we had to have a bunch of stupid regulations put in place (We shouldn't NEED the FDA or Health Dept's at all, for example...but we do cuz some people cut corners, making unsafe products, just to save a fucking buck) , I support imposing quite a few heavy and honestly anti-capitalistic measures to force a strict code of ethics upon these companies, punishable by extended prison sentences and fines in the billions, on top of counter-measures against passing the costs on. Apparently, this is the only language they speak... a sorry state of affairs...
I kinda went off-topic, here... but then again, by how much? Planned Obsolescence is very much a product of extreme Capitalism. Just like most of the world's problems.
Indeed not all the actors are like this, that's also something I feel open source is good at mitigating. While the original contributors can eventually die, or quit, or whatever, the community ALWAYS has the option to extend the support, or re-do the entire application, etc... In contrast to proprietary software, where the company can quit supporting it tomorrow, and without the source code, or the file format specs, or communication protocols, etc... the product goes dead, or someone has to go and reverse the whole thing from scratch, or spend hours looking at decompiled code, and largely guessing how it works. My OpenShockwave project is sometimes infuriating at times. While never as widespread as Flash, Shockwave/Director was a major game engine. Me and my collaborators are just scratching our heads trying to understand how Macromedia/Adobe actually did this, meanwhile, many online or CD games are slowly rotting... And, the only standard in literally all their formats is "There is no standard" ... Because Adobe finally pulled the plug on Director/Shockwave, there's a huge load of content that's basically just garbage files or legacy software, now. Likewise, the next pending disaster is the death of Flash... That'll knock-out SEVERAL MMOs and game portals, it's already actually brought a few down.
I for one, do not plan to play this game. I don't like it, it sickens me. The day I quit supporting a product will be the day I die, or I release the source/specs for it. (or if I pass ownership to whoever contracted me to program/design/build it) I'm a fan of archival. I cannot promise I can always actively maintain something, but I won't just pull the plug unless my hands are forced into it. If I kill something, I most likely will release everything I have for it, so that a loyal fan may then take it over or archive it. Many of my own programming/hacking projects are based on the ideal of upgrading and preserving some program/game for the next generation, and all of my own original projects are the same way.
Well, that got long/off-topic again...sry...
____________________
awesome title later...