For context, these devices were not marketed with a subscription. Users purchased them with the expectation of paying a one-time cost.
For context, these devices were not marketed with a subscription. Users purchased them with the expectation of paying a one-time cost.
The company has announced plans to move to a $5 per month subscription on May 13th (yes, just one week from now), and it’s mandatory. Decline to sign up and you’ll lose access to devices in the app as well as all automations.
This should be illegal. In fact, I have to wonder if it is? Isn't that a bait and switch? In any event, I'm sure some hacker will find a way to liberate them shortly.
This should be illegal. In fact, I have to wonder if it is? Isn't that a bait and switch?
In any event, I'm sure some hacker will find a way to liberate them shortly.
When people ask why I'm vehemently 'anti-cloud', this is it. If you're a Wink user looking to jump ship with minimal headaches, I suggest Vera. It has some cloud functionality, but also a local...
When people ask why I'm vehemently 'anti-cloud', this is it.
If you're a Wink user looking to jump ship with minimal headaches, I suggest Vera. It has some cloud functionality, but also a local API. It covers most of what Wink can.
If you have the technical know-how, give Home Assistant a try for UI and automations. They've been making massive strides in usability after initial install.
Let's just say that there's a reason why I don't get upset when I hear economists call people "consumers", and the IoT segment is pretty much the perfect example. Just look at the people making...
Let's just say that there's a reason why I don't get upset when I hear economists call people "consumers", and the IoT segment is pretty much the perfect example. Just look at the people making them; you've got your share of the networking companies who are famous for making networking equipment with high failure rates, That one networking company who makes reliable hardware on the condition that you pay them their extortion fee, a couple of them owned by megacorporations who make money off of spying on you, and a bunch of smaller startups who may or may not know anything about basic digital security measures. I actually like Hue because they are made by a company full of engineers who are famous for home appliances and their products actually appear to be well engineered and have a degree of openness to them - and that is in spite of how much I hate how crazy overpriced they are and how much I think that the very idea of a smart light bulb is a scam.
I should take that back, actually. I had thought that Cisco was making some IoT devices under one brand or another, but I can't seem to find any information about it anywhere. Edit: though now...
I should take that back, actually. I had thought that Cisco was making some IoT devices under one brand or another, but I can't seem to find any information about it anywhere.
Edit: though now that I think about it, it seems to describe Wink pretty well at the moment.
For context, these devices were not marketed with a subscription. Users purchased them with the expectation of paying a one-time cost.
This should be illegal. In fact, I have to wonder if it is? Isn't that a bait and switch?
In any event, I'm sure some hacker will find a way to liberate them shortly.
When people ask why I'm vehemently 'anti-cloud', this is it.
If you're a Wink user looking to jump ship with minimal headaches, I suggest Vera. It has some cloud functionality, but also a local API. It covers most of what Wink can.
If you have the technical know-how, give Home Assistant a try for UI and automations. They've been making massive strides in usability after initial install.
Let's just say that there's a reason why I don't get upset when I hear economists call people "consumers", and the IoT segment is pretty much the perfect example. Just look at the people making them; you've got your share of the networking companies who are famous for making networking equipment with high failure rates, That one networking company who makes reliable hardware on the condition that you pay them their extortion fee, a couple of them owned by megacorporations who make money off of spying on you, and a bunch of smaller startups who may or may not know anything about basic digital security measures. I actually like Hue because they are made by a company full of engineers who are famous for home appliances and their products actually appear to be well engineered and have a degree of openness to them - and that is in spite of how much I hate how crazy overpriced they are and how much I think that the very idea of a smart light bulb is a scam.
Who is this supposed to be?
I should take that back, actually. I had thought that Cisco was making some IoT devices under one brand or another, but I can't seem to find any information about it anywhere.
Edit: though now that I think about it, it seems to describe Wink pretty well at the moment.