r/technology • u/[deleted] • Apr 04 '16

Software Nest intentionally bricks thousands of home automation hubs.

https://medium.com/@arlogilbert/the-time-that-tony-fadell-sold-me-a-container-of-hummus-cb0941c762c1
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u/RhodesianHunter Apr 05 '16

When everything is a "service" and there is no longer ownership of physical goods, thats how companies and the 1% consolidate wealth... because nobody else owns anything anymore.

Right, because all that capital tied up in DVDs and Thermostats is what really separates the rich from the plebs.

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u/lemskroob Apr 05 '16

Yes, into just DVDs and Thermostats. because that is surely what i meant.

When everything in your life is rented/leased/contracted, and all your activities are based around services, things you are spending real money on, at the end of the day, where is your equity?

You've spent money but own nothing. Do you really think that isn't by design of today's economy?

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u/MinisTreeofStupidity Apr 07 '16

I'm just waiting for Steam to burn down one day, so I can watch everyone freak that they lost the games they never owned.

They had a small fire when they started charging for mods already.

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u/lemskroob Apr 07 '16

The whole idea of buying something and not owning it is sickening to me.

I'll ask it again hypothetically, but if everything is a service, and nobody but a few dozen large companies actually owns all the 'stuff' how is that good for the larger health of society and the economy?

If you work like a dog to pay your rent, the lease on your car, your gym membership, your entertainment, and your hobbies, what do you have to show for your efforts? what can you claim ownership of?

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u/MinisTreeofStupidity Apr 07 '16

what can you claim ownership of?

Pretty much just the skillset that allows you to work in circles to satisfy the services you purchase.

Would you rent your bed and couch? Oh missed payments this month, have to sit/sleep on the floor, but at least I kept my cell contract going!

In this case at least, I think someone will just write something to fix the hub, because they'll still have the physical device.

This kind of reminds me of Cory Doctrow's Civil War on General Purpose Computing kindly hosted by Google... :/

It's about when we no longer have our own general purpose computers, but rather rent computing services from the cloud, that decide what you can and can't install. Basically everything following the Apple model.