Startup set to brick $800 kids robot is trying to open source it first
Startup set to brick $800 kids robot is trying to open source it first
arstechnica.com
Startup set to brick $800 kids robot is trying to open source it first
42 comments
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Doing the right thing. How rare.
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once they threatened to abandon it sure. eventually even corporations can be dragged into doing the right thing.
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Most companies don't listen, these guys did. Many times when people did the right thing, they had to go through a process first.
It would have been if they did it completely on their own, maybe even designed the system for this possible outcome from the beginning.
But it's the end result that matters. They can release the source or they can not. They chose to release it, and that's great!
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It’s not a corporation anymore if it ceases to exist. Sounds like the engineers are working pro bono on this initiative.
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I just don't get it with these proprietary cloud connected devices. Do people just not realize that keeping server infrastructure running for free after a product is sold is not in a company's best profit-seeking interests (maybe they don't even think about how things on the Internet actually work, I dunno)? I thought of this almost fifteen years ago when I started seeing smart thermostats. There should always be an option to go local, even if it requires the consumer to acquire a skillset in IT. Maybe we can start working things like that into right to repair legislation if it isn't already.
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Electric companies hate this one simple trick for unlimited free electricity!
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Most people don't think about how things work. I'd guess that most customers thought all the smart features were internal and the Internet connection was just an arbitrary requirement
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Exactly. Another example of people who are on forums like this are worlds apart from people who know quite literally less than nothing about computers.
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For home stuff, look for the tech "Matter over Thread". They're protocols* designed to allow your stuff to work with any ecosystem, including local.
It's been slow to roll out, largely, imo, because companies would prefer to lock people into their own ecosystems and apps. Apple, Google, and Samsung do have some motivations to be interoperable though, and Matter/Thread is that effort. Consider looking at Home Assistant if you want to know more about this ecosystem and local, open control.
I could go into more detail, but this is already a tangent.
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maybe they don't even think about how things on the Internet actually work, I dunno
bingo! that's the reason behind most of their illogical decisions
just ask around, and you'll find that they want things to just work without understanding how they work
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Is there missing punctuation in that headline or am I an idiot?
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No, there is no punctuation missing, the headline writing style is just hurting comprehensibility. I'll expand it a bit.
"A startup, which is set to brick an $800 kids' robot, is trying to open-source it first"
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Yes, it should at least be kids'. Kids robot doesn't make sense.
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I clicked on this thread only to figure out what that title is supposed to mean.
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$800... for an emotional support toy?
Is this why there's so much poverty in the world? Because once people have enough excess wealth, this is what they choose to spend it on instead of helping those who need it more?
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No, it's because of billionaires that hoard more money than 1000 people could reasonably spend in a lifetime.
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I'm with you....except I choose to believe there's a reason they're going bust (because no, folks aren't choosing to spend on this)
That said, I'd like to remind everyone that Elon Musk has the money and power to end homeless and poverty in the US and chooses not to.
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Well he’s not American so why would you expect that?
He can do it for SA though
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Yes, most millionaires are cringe but you should go after billionaires first.
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Obviously it are the avocado toast
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No, but you will be happy to know the product failed
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What a waste of resources just to make somebody richer!
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these things should be outlawed and bricked immediately for the sake of humanity
42 comments
This should be a standard requirement for abandoning an internet reliant product (with all IP and internal documentation released and becoming public domain in the event of a bankruptcy, and keys handled by some consumer protection agency capable of facilitating community projects working to unlock them for owners).
But questionable value of the product aside, the fact that they're making the effort to not be assholes and try to do what it takes to give their costumers' products the life they can is better than most, so they deserve credit for that.
Electronic products and software should get a "at least supported until" label on the packaging and legally obligated to keep the servers running until that time.
The company behind this robot is going bankrupt, which is why support ends and they stop working. This law would do nothing in this case because the company seizes to exist.
Only if there's an absolute bare minimum they're allowed to choose of 5-10 years after the last device/software is sold.
And even then, I still think they should be required to unlock devices (and software DRM bullshit/APIs to re-implement server components) to allow people who want to maintain them themselves.
EU citizens can sign EU Citizens' Initiative for this for games.
EU pushed new product liability bill. After it takes effect companies will be responsible for breaking of devices and software.
But that's communism!!1!1!!