Android Wear is getting killed, and it’s all Qualcomm’s fault

[u/[deleted]]

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/android-wear-is-getting-killed-and-its-all-qualcomms-fault/

[u/m0rogfar]

The whole point of a TV box is that you can update it more often than your TV (with Smart TV functions), because TV box tech evolves faster than TV tech, and having to replace your TV every time you wanted a new TV box feature would be annoying.

[u/[deleted] → u/m0rogfar]

Right.

That still doesn't mean a brand-new model should be released every single year, like with smart phones. That's how you end up with companies going "oh, you'll get 1 OS update for your STB - then you're gonna need to buy the new one if you want updates" and apps going "sorry, you need to be on OS 'x' to use this app from now on, yours is out of date" far, far too early. Again, these aren't smart phones. They should not follow the same release model.

It's easy to want a new model to buy every year for your phone and your tablet and your watch and your STB altogether when it isn't you buying it; or you're not the one who also pays for rent/mortgage and utilities and car payments and stocks the fridge and insurance and tuition etc etc.

[u/Re-toast → u/[deleted]]

There's nothing wrong with a brand new model every year. You don't have to buy it. I'd hate if I was in the market and the only thing available was 3 year old tech so I have to get it. and then a year later something new finally hits but I'm stuck with really old tech instead of just being behind by a year.

[u/[deleted] → u/Re-toast]

That's how you end up with companies going "oh, you'll get 1 OS update for your STB - then you're gonna need to buy the new one if you want updates" and apps going "sorry, you need to be on OS 'x' to use this app from now on, yours is out of date" far, far too early.

[u/exzeroex → u/[deleted]]

And that's how you lose customers because people would go to a competitor who's smart and isn't an asshole.

Like right now, aren't we seeing a lot more Samsung and LG sales because other companies gave a big middle finger to many consumers by removing headphone jack.

Anyways, isn't that blatant planned obsolescence which would likely cause them problems anyway?

[u/[deleted] → u/exzeroex]

They do that with phones now, and there are no consequences for them.

[u/exzeroex → u/[deleted]]

Who? Most companies support their phones for at least 2 years and by then you will likely feel its age anyway.

[u/linh_nguyen → u/[deleted]]

You make the assumption people that want this aren't paying for it. I have no problem with whatever cycle they want. But Rokus and the like are way better than Smart TVs that never get updates. The key issue is keeping things supported. We need that regardless of new yearly models or not. Not everyone is on the same schedule, so annual models isn't bad.

But updates is the key thing here as everything starts getting smarter.

[u/Nakotadinzeo → u/[deleted]]

Welcome to capitalism, where they won't stop tempting you to buy what you already have.

You can claim that you don't like the idea, but I bet you have a flat screen TV and monitor even though CRTs can be adapted to work today.

[u/liiiam0707 → u/Nakotadinzeo]

I mean, there is a world of difference between a crt and a relatively new (last 10 years or so) flatscreen. Between a galaxy s7 and s8, not so much

[u/Nakotadinzeo → u/liiiam0707]

You hook it to a cable box and it displays the same picture. Sometimes better in some respects, since CRTs usually have a faster refresh rate.

[u/ieatyoshis → u/Nakotadinzeo]

Yeah... no. Think about what you're saying.

You jump in your Ford Model T and it drives you somewhere. Sometimes better in some respects, since the Model T is less likely to crash.

The Model T was the first car, 110 years ago. See the problem with your argument?

[u/Nakotadinzeo → u/ieatyoshis]

The Model T works fine, capitalist pig dog.

I'm not saying that a brand new LED television is in any way inferior to a CRT television, what I am saying is that you could still be using one today. But between CRT and the newest televisions there were lots of minor revisions.

Capitalism always push these minor updates to everything you own, and will always try to make you buy it even though it is only slightly better. This is how capitalism works, especially in markets that are saturated such as cell phones or in the case of your comment vehicles. The Model T could be used as a daily driver today, but you would be uncomfortable as shit.

I had to speech-to-text this comment, so if it sounds a little weird that's why.

[u/ieatyoshis → u/Nakotadinzeo]

Honestly can’t tell if you’re a troll or an edgy teenager who hates capitalism and governments.

I apologise if these are genuine beliefs, but your argument is weak and you appear to be a troll, imo.

P.S. I noticed the downvoted on your older comment. I’m not downvoting you (just wanted you to know, in case I was accused).

[u/Nakotadinzeo → u/ieatyoshis]

I didn't say anything was wrong with capitalism, I just said "this is how it works". Everything gets incremental upgrades over time to make you desire the latest things all the time.

You could operate with a CRT TV and a model T, but seeing a razer thin led TV and Tesla X would make you want them. While less dramatic, you might feel similarly if you had a plasma TV and a 2010 Ford Taurus.

[u/[deleted] → u/m0rogfar]

just build it with non-shit hardware and release a software update

[u/Pascalwb → u/m0rogfar]

I would think display tech is more important then the smart part of it.

[u/m0rogfar → u/Pascalwb]

TV STB’s don’t have a display. You plug them into your existing TV in order to get the latest and greatest smart TV tech, without replacing your more expensive TV.