Technology

Let me guess! If you try to use PiHole or some other network Adblocking mechanism, the Fridge will either brick itself OR will fail to start the compressor. Right? It's not like that didn't happen before, when Google Calendar went down. We all know this is going to happen, and Samsung is going to push this wide scale. The extra revenue from ad space is too irresistible to avoid doing the sensible thing.

The smartest any of my Fridges ever became was having a small computer on the front panel to record voice messages, which also doubled as the Water/Ice dispenser function selector, and to have a timer on the dispenser light so it could turn on and off automatically. That was an Amana fridge I had back in 2002, which lasted until 2019. My current fridge has a basic computer inside of it to monitor and control the interior climate, to save energy by recirculating cold air from the freezer into the Fridge, and to beep loudly if there's a problem.

Enhance the product by making it shittier

Something's wrong with Skynet, why doesn't it just kill us?

Samsung is committed to innovation and enhancing every day value for our home appliance customers.

Is it opposite day already?

But can I remotely control it with my phone? You know, because when I'm at work, I might want to remotely open the door.

In my very limited knowledge of the household appliance market, Samsung has been a no-go for a long time. Like, the most expensive but also the most disposable.

And that's before we even get to the enshittification and ad invasion.

It's incredible to think about trying to explain the problem to my younger self 30 years ago...

"Yeah, computer hardware continued to scale pretty well so now even this refrigerator here has a computer inside it, a high resolution flat panel monitor, and even multiple ways to connect to the internet for remote control and feature updates."

"wow, that's amazing!"

"Yeah but nobody uses it. At least, nobody who understands tech and reads the news. You don't even connect it to the internet in the first place. "

"What!? That seems totally backwards. What's the problem for educated users? Are there hackers everywhere just waiting to connect to this iffy computer embedded in your home?"

"Oh no, it is much worse. The company that made the fridge could connect to it like they designed it to do!!! And to make it even more frightening, they usually have the infrastructure to be able to connect to EVERYBODY'S fridge at the same time!"

(begins playing spooky halloween music)

Meanwhile my fridge made in communist Yugoslavia is still going strong.

Just in this thread to say Fuck Samsung

If consumers stopped being stupid we would not have issues like this.

News widget on the fridge! So now you have to have your mandatory propaganda slop whenever you get hungry.

I'd love a fridge with network connectivity and 'smart' features, but I'd need control over the firmware it runs

Love my dumb fridge. No screens, no water dispenser. I own a pitcher and a facuet. Don't need to change filters every six months or check the weather on my fridge. I never want a screen on my fridge.

I guess samsung doesn't want me buying their garbage.

Good. If your fridge is connected to the internet you deserve to be served ads.

Anyone who bought one of these ridiculous monstrosities and didn't expect ads is an idiot.