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Are all “smart” appliances a dumb choice for smart consumers? (www.consumerreports.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by evenwicht@lemmy.sdf.org to c/iot@lemmy.sdf.org

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Obviously unwise consumers with an under-developed sense of privacy and security are happy to buy any and all kinds of smart appliances. Marketing works wonders on people -- esp. these people who see only the benefits and have a huge blind spot on the anti-feature realities.

So I am left wondering: do I need to cancel ALL smart appliances? The reason to even ask is that the market and demand for non-smart appliances is shrinking. So our choices will increasingly approach a buy a smart-appliance or nothing dichotomy. Televisions are likely already there. Before we reach that dichotomy on large appliances, the non-smart appliances will just be a bad deal because of lack of competition.

Obviously there is a possibility to buy a wi-fi dishwasher then either disable it or not give it a means of connection. But then there is a risk of sacrificing functionality. Not just upgrades but a risk that the appliance is IoT-dependent out of the box.

ATM, I think the only sensible approach is to simply cancel all smart appliances and only buy non-smart appliances. Is there a quick and easy way to separate the cloud-dependent smart appliances from the non-cloud-dependent smart appliances?

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[–] TheAlbatross@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I won't buy a smart appliance.

[–] evenwicht@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

I think that’s an easy choice today. But what happens when your washing machine breaks, and it has a kill switch that artificially blocks you from repair, so you are forced into the marketplace to buy a machine -- and you find that non-smart washing machines no longer exist? Would you buy this manual crank machine or a washboard?

[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago

Personally, I'd buy another Speed Queen. The company is old and they still pride themselves on their machines being machines. The handle warranty work lightning fast and without hassle.

[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I dunno about OP, but that's when I rip out the electronics and drop in an ESP32 or something (not Arduino since they're doing fucky licensing stuff now).

Washing machines at their core are a motor, a bearing, a water pump, and a tub. The easiest stuff on earth to reverse engineer and control yourself

[–] evenwicht@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I like the idea. I am facing this problem right now. I have been washing my clothes by hand because my washing machine is kill-switched. Every component works (proven by hotwiring) but the controller refuses to run programs.

Though it must be a huge project. An ESP32 is just the microcontroller. So I would have to buy several relays that it controls and write all the software from scratch, correct? I suppose the relays are the easy part.. but the sensors are likely somewhat unique. Different pressure sensors probably give different voltages. And different tachometers probably give different voltages too, I would think.

[–] Nawor3565@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Can you name and shame whatever brand made that washer?

[–] evenwicht@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 weeks ago

Beko

[–] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

That one time Betteridge's law of headlines is objectively wrong!

Because yes, yes they are.

[–] Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

But if my appliances don't all talk, how will they shop for all the stuff they need (food for the fridge, chemicals, parts, etc. )?

[–] JakenVeina@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago

It's fair to be concerned that what's happened to televisions is gonna spread to other products, but I think standard appliances are distinct in a way that makes them safe. Standard appliances are built on tech that hasn't changed jn 50-60 years, and isn't going to. As has been mentioned, you could indeed build a dishwasher in your garage, or a refridgerator, or a dryer, etc. Are they gonna measure up to modern energy efficiency standard without a lot of research and effort, no, but the tech is all simple-enough and well-understood-enough that if the market stops filling the "dumb appliance" sector, the barrier to entry for someone new to fill it is very low. It's also exactly the kind of tech that a community of online DIY nerds could legitimately compete with, powered by 3D printers, open-source software, and hobbyist electronics.