I've been looking at getting a new washing machine lately. One of the "hot new features" some new washing machines have is the ability to "download new washing programs via our app!".
Really? The 40+ different pre-programmed wash cycle options aren't enough and you expect to think of new washing machine routines over the next year or two? Its like ... DLC but for washing my clothes. Who thinks this is a good idea?
I wonder how much of that functionality will still work in 10-15 years when the machine is getting long in the tooth.
I can't wait for botnets made up of old internet connected washing machines. You know its just a matter of time before some Russian teenager takes down github using your grandma's washing machine.
Reminds of when microwave ovens were a new thing. There were a ton of cookbooks about how you could throw away your range and conventional oven and cook all your meals in the microwave. Consumers very quickly realized this was nonsense, but to this day it's still impossible to buy a microwave without a dozen buttons, only two of which ever get used ("popcorn" and "add 30 sec").
You think botnets don't already include all these smart devices? We recently bought a new fridge and freezer with that functionality but there's no way they are getting hooked up to any network.
My refrigerator shouldn't need to reboot. Or at one point get into an endless reboot cycle. This "smart" but mediocre age needs to go away