xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier

Title text:

It’s important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.

Transcript:

[A store salesman, Hairy, is showing Cueball a dehumidifier, with a “SALE” label on it. Several other unidentified devices, possibly other dehumidifier models, are shown in the store as well.]

Salesman: This dehumidifier model features built-in WiFi for remote updates.
Cueball: Great! That will be really useful if they discover a new kind of water.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3109/

explainxkcd for #3109

  • jballs@sh.itjust.works
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    1 month ago

    I got new appliances a couple weeks ago and they’re all “smart”. Turns out a smart microwave just sends you a phone notification when it’s done. By default.

    As someone with multiple people living in the house, I can confidently say this is the dumbest “smart” feature ever. Promptly disabled.

    • veni_vedi_veni@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Any appliance with IoT is a value-subtract.

      They do it so in the future they can monetize you in perpetuity in some way

      • ApatheticCactus@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        The only smart thing I’d want an oven to do would be to turn itself off. That’s it, really. Did I leave the oven on after I left the house? Easy fix. Otherwise everything else is pretty much useless.

        • Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.org
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          1 month ago

          I don’t know, I wouldn’t mind also being able to tell it to start to preheat while I’m on my way home. Would save a chunk of time if I could literally walk in the door and throw the food in the oven without the extra wait for it to preheat which is usually long enough to be annoying but not long enough to do anything else.