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Belkin shows tech firms getting too comfortable with bricking customers' stuff

(arstechnica.com)
83 points speckx | 9 comments | 11 Jul 25 19:18 UTC | HN request time: 0.672s | source | bottom
1. tocs3 ◴[11 Jul 25 19:33 UTC] No.44536061[source]▶
Do not buy stuff you do not own.
replies(3): >>44536214 #>>44536376 #>>44536406 #
2. barbazoo ◴[11 Jul 25 19:51 UTC] No.44536214[source]▶
It is as "easy" as that. My assumption is these are mostly optional things we think we "need" so a little friction finding something that doesn't suck isn't the worst thing. Reigns in our consumerism a little bit too.
replies(1): >>44536280 #
3. sam_lowry_ ◴[11 Jul 25 19:58 UTC] No.44536280[source]▶
Google or Apple phones also?
replies(1): >>44537005 #
4. alnwlsn ◴[11 Jul 25 20:12 UTC] No.44536376[source]▶
In parallel, learn to modify stuff you don't own so that you do own it.
5. supportengineer ◴[11 Jul 25 20:16 UTC] No.44536406[source]▶
Rules out any vehicle for sale in the US today with a built-in cellular connection.
replies(1): >>44537181 #
6. barbazoo ◴[11 Jul 25 21:38 UTC] No.44537005{3}[source]▶
For any smartphone I guess, can any one provider cut you off from using it? For Apple and Google Pixel phones that might be true, but not for all smartphones out there.

There are lots of custom Android running phones that you can truly own.

7. quantified ◴[11 Jul 25 21:58 UTC] No.44537181[source]▶
I haven't bought for a long time, are these required to run the car? Or is it just prohibitively obscure to disable it (smash the antenna or connect it to ground, for example).
replies(2): >>44539572 #>>44542868 #
8. Rebelgecko ◴[12 Jul 25 05:31 UTC] No.44539572{3}[source]▶
Probably not intended to be required, but some implementations are buggy. IIRC when 2g was killed off some Subarus had a problem where they'd keep trying and failing to connect to a 2G tower until the battery died
9. ◴[12 Jul 25 15:45 UTC] No.44542868{3}[source]▶