Apparently my Samsung fridge has ads now

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40 points | by celsoazevedo 8 hours ago ago

16 comments

  • neuralRiot 6 hours ago

    Why would anyone buy an “ad capable fridge” on the first place is beyond me.

  • dnemmers 8 hours ago

    I’m sure other manufacturers are very happy to have Samsung bear the load of bad PR by leading the charge in Ad ‘supported’ appliances.

    After initial outrage cools, it’ll be a race for everyone else to catch up.

    Not a chance shareholders won’t push for the extra revenue ($$$) regardless of what happens to consumers.

    Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good.

    • phyzix5761 2 hours ago

      I think we’re overlooking that most non-technical people don’t really care about ads. They’re already used to seeing them everywhere. What they want is the initial emotional excitement of cool technology, which these so-called smart fridges offer. The ads are simply part of the package.

    • JohnFen 8 hours ago

      > Once basically all manufacturers move to this model, consumers will be trapped for good.

      Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet. Also, I doubt that this stuff will ever come for the cheapie appliances, which lack bells and whistles but are just as good at keeping things cold as the expensive units.

      • orphea 6 hours ago

          > Well, there's nothing forcing people to allow these things to talk on the internet.
        
        I can imagine how some features or settings would be locked behind an app and cloud communication.
      • dpkirchner 7 hours ago

        There's nothing technically stopping them from adding a cell chip to the fridge to make it "easier than ever to get your kitchen online"(tm).

      • Konnstann 7 hours ago

        The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now.

        • kridsdale1 6 hours ago

          Yes. Vizio pioneered this model. People buy whatever has the lowest price in Costco.

        • msla 3 hours ago

          > The cheapie appliances are the ones that will be subsidized by the insane data collection policies, just like TVs are now.

          How does that work if I buy the appliance outright? I mean on their end: I buy it, I don't let it talk to the Internet, the company loses ad revenue and... what? Break into my place and steal it from me?

      • immibis 7 hours ago

        They'll either start refusing to cool down if you don't connect them to the internet, or they'll display a flashing warning screen that will be infinitely more annoying than the ads.

        On the upside, some people will make a nice bit of money reflashing them to remove the ads. That will still be legal... right? Buy a fridge for $2000, then pay the guy $100 to make it actually work right. The guy could be you. Like Rick Sanchez's curse removal service.

    • metalman 7 hours ago

      It would take an open conspireacy to prevent someone from making and marketing add free dumb appliences, as there is already a market for just that. So at what point does the end game of a captured population realy become inescapable? an endless adverdistopia...

  • m463 7 hours ago

    needed a new fridge and bought a used sub-zero. Kind of crazy to spend so much used (paid $2800). New it was ~ $12k

    But it worked out. It is the best. Tall with everything in plain sight. easy to access water filter, etc. Two cooling systems, one for fridge, separate for freezer.

    Not only are repair/maintenance parts plentiful, there are 3rd party water and air filters.

    It is like the rackmount server of fridges.

    It was a bi36-ufd/0 if you're curious. this one has no wifi.

  • bfkwlfkjf 3 hours ago

    Stallman was right.

  • 5 hours ago
    [deleted]
  • more_corn 3 hours ago

    Immediate, total and permanent boycott of all Samsung products. Now.

  • ChrisArchitect 8 hours ago