If anyone thought for one second that any device which requires external "cloud" support would continue work beyond what is convenient/profitable for the provider then I have a wifi-only dishwasher to sell you. No, really - please buy it from me.
What happened is that they are disabling the app, so it is no longer usable.
I recently bought a G-Shock watch, it can connect to your phone via Bluetooth, it was a selling point but may be convenient to sync the time with a quick connection.
First, the G-Shock app displayed a prompt that it won't work with animations turned off which is just baffling. I have them disabled in Android settings under accessibility options because I find them frivolous.
Then with the animations enabled the G-Shock app says that it's EOL since mid 2023, now CASIO WATCHES app is for everything.
Install CASIO WATCHES, doesn't complain about animations being disabled which is an improvement but then when I want to add a watch it says I need an account.
Two local devices connecting via Bluetooth need a goddamn online account! Uninstalled that shit immediately.
I don't regret the purchase, I like the watch and it works perfectly without any connection crap but boy is all this online nonsense annoying.
Some of them are also compatible with Gadgetbridge (also OSS, but much richer in functionality).
That said, they are putting some functions behind the garmin connect app, which is troubling.
That means you need to keep the app project updated and all dependencies in reasonable form. It’s not outlandish if you are a big company but as someone who oversaw the development of platforms where you had apps dedicated to hardware - it definitely takes effort. I can understand why companies want to cut loose ends here.
It's that they just don't want to. They're greedy as hell, and they don't care about you.
Even if it would be too much work at one point, e.g. if Apple would finally update their Bluetooth stack more often then every 10 years, and the API completely changes. Why not just open source the whole app, or at least their interface so independent developers could develop something so not all of their products need to go into the waste? Because even in this hypothetical scenario, one thing holds true: They're greedy and they don't care about you.
...and the Lovecraftian gradual drift as incremental recursive hallucinations turn them into still... mostly working... strange little app-like-bundles of Something Weird.
But my laundry has never smelled so fresh.
It is just exactly smart enough for my liking.
1. a keyholder can't lose/forget the key 2. keys can be disabled without the expense of replacing the whole lock core
Since the purpose of a house lock is entirely a cultural/legal signal (you are allowed to come in / you do not have authority to come in) rather than security (if you are willing to damage the house, you can definitely enter), this is the perfect "smartness" for me.
You can configure it using the keypad or using an app over BT, that is the primary difference between it and a completely self contained device.
Today, give me any HomeKit supported device and I’m satisfied it will work for as long as I need it to without some dodgy 3rd party app siphoning my data.
And let’s be honest, if you were buying fridges or washing machines based on WiFi features that’s on you. Locks and lights have legitimate uses for remote control and always have.
I don't understand what you mean by this? My clothes will smell really bad if I leave them in the washer wet. If the appliance has a leak, I need to be nearby to remediate. Thus its not safe for me to start the appliance before I leave for 8+ hours.
If I can remotely start my washing machine, just prior to me arriving home, I can move the clothes to the dryer.
They turn over and blow cold air periodically to prevent them getting stinky.
30p/kWh in the day, 12p/kWh at night.
Dry an entire load for less than the cost of a Day Rate kWh, simply by pressing the "delay" button a few times.
As opposed to having your clothes be in a wet clump for hours? Between the two choices I'd prefer it being dry, because I know at least there will be less microbial activity.
It’s not common to have separate units here though. Much easier to setup a wash/dry cycle timer.
At the same time, I don't know if they're actually worth the downsides of needing to create an account, having hackable IoT things, installing an app per appliance brand (at least), etc vs, say, a timer and/or delay.