Normally you would be able to simply continue using the firmware on it, plus the app you originally installed, in perpetuity.
In reality, on each new iOS device, Apple forces you to use the current version of the app in the App Store now, and your old version apps are not included in backups or able to be transferred to new devices.
You are eventually forced to use the latest version of the app by Apple.
The latest version of the app will require the latest firmware or will modal lock you out until you upgrade the device.
Blame Apple for not letting you preserve your old versions of working apps between backups and devices, and blame Apple for allowing time bomb expiring apps like Signal and Chase Mobile into the App Store.
Further blame Apple for not having an iOS "internet access" permission per app that would prevent these apps from learning that there are new, unwanted firmware updates available when all you want to do is local operations.
Finally, any product that requires that you "sign up/log in" on the first screen and can't be used otherwise without PII should go straight back into the box to be returned.
Unfortunately, that doesn't work. If Reddit is any indication, the moral of the story is they can get away with it because there's a million idiots all ready to take your place.
Fair enough. But what if you bought the product, paid a fair amount for it (i.e., you can't just shit-can it) and *then* X months later the brand suddenly require a sign up, subscription fee, etc.
Exactly. I have hundreds of dollars tied up in MY hue products. I paid the market price for a device that didn't require me to sign up for an account.
As far as I'm concerned these companies should get hit with deceptive advertising charges. Yes, I realize that buried somewhere two or three hundred paragraphs deep in the TOS I "agreed" to let them do this. Then again maybe I didn't, because I also likely "agreed" to have the TOS changed at any time for any reason without warning. That is key here.
IMO These companies get away with this because they can toss out one of the basics of contract law. It is unconscionable that one party can _unilaterally_ change the terms of the contact (the "terms of service") without prior warning or input from the other party (me, as the purchaser of said device/service).
Basic contract law should apply here. What _tangible_ benefits are there to me
Step 1: Make discontent known to brand
Step 2: Create/join community of fellow disaffected individuals
Step 3: Use community to spread awareness of said dissatisfaction
Step 4: Observe as sales of product fall off and brand reputation falters
Step 5A: Observe as brand reverses unpopular decision and recovers
OR
Step 5B: Observe as brand is replaced in the market by one which better meets consumer preferences
This has no actual effect on the underlying issue that nothing is stopping companies from doing this. In fact, if what you describe active ually happens a lot, it would be trivial to set up puppet competitors to your own products in order to recapture leaving costumers, repeat ad infinitum.
> Step 5B: Observe as brand is replaced in the market by one which better meets consumer preferences
Step 0A- Realize that most mature industries are incestuous. They share the same consultants, they swap employees, they compete for the same market with the same group-think mindset, etc. They all have the same incentives and paradigm for success and thus often act in murmuration'ing way. That is, they're too big and too risk-adverse to consider innovation so they feign being competitive and milk the market the best they can.
Step 0B - Realize that for the most part the gov - via Cronie Capitalism - will not protect consumers, and will put the thumb on the scale for the largest players. Your rights and privacy - in the context of Surveillance Capitalism (which the gov benefits from) - are more myth than they are real.
Step 0C - Realize that all the steps follow are rarely successful. Sure, you can try but the odds are not in your favor. You end up paying the subscription and/or having your usage data sold in some black box cyber back room.
A: I already explicitly avoid products that are encrusted in this shit.
B: I have not used either of these products since their respective changes, even though they’re otherwise still perfectly functional.
A notable flow on effect is both of these products had helped with the management and improvement of my health, and these changes have had a measurable negative impact since I’ve been unable to use them.
except every single manufacture is going down this road pretty much, they want to monetize all that data because more money equals more better, privacy be damned.
No but I live in the amazing world of free-market capitalism where I can choose to reward whichever company best meets my preferences as a consumer with money.
