It is hard to imagine that there was not someone inside of Nike that lost their faith in humanity when the pitch for these things was originally taking off.

  • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    315
    ·
    4 months ago

    Remember folks: Any smart device you have that requires an internet connection or app is e-waste waiting to happen at the company’s whim.

    • tal@lemmy.today
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      45
      arrow-down
      9
      ·
      edit-2
      4 months ago

      I mean, there are some devices that fundamentally have to be online to be useful. You’re not losing anything there.

      A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful. If there wasn’t a service with streaming media, the stick would have nothing to stream.

      The problem is when you have a device that doesn’t have that fundamental requirement but is then unnecessarily tied to an online service. Home automation requiring Internet connectivity, for example, when virtually no home automation actually requires access to any online services, or converting non-live-service video games to live-service video games.

      • Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        85
        ·
        4 months ago

        A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful. If there wasn’t a service with streaming media, the stick would have nothing to stream.

        In cases like this; it’s still only artificially dependant on Rokus services.

        The hardware is perfectly capable of streaming from any number of services, including entirely self-hosted solutions like Emby/Jellyfin/Plex; yet the device can be remotely bricked just by nolonger providing Rokus services to it.

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        41
        ·
        edit-2
        4 months ago

        A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful. If there wasn’t a service with streaming media, the stick would have nothing to stream.

        Still becomes e-waste if Roku drops support for it. Granted, that’s not the best example as I’ve got an old-ass Roku that still works, but the point stands. Same goes for Fire sticks and other devices like that.

        They really should be forced to, at minimum, release unlocking tools to allow 3rd party firmware. (Think flashing OpenWRT to a Roku and using it as a travel router or something). Ideally, they’d also release a development kit to foster “after-life” uses of such devices.

        Lots of companies will accept old devices back (supposedly to recycle), but there’s another “R”, re-use, that’s also an important part of the process.

        • DigDoug@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          26
          ·
          4 months ago

          Still becomes e-waste if Roku drops support for it. Granted, that’s not the best example as I’ve got an old-ass Roku that still works, but the point stands. Same goes for Fire sticks and other devices like that.

          Just look at Spotify’s Car Thing.

        • fakeaustinfloyd@ttrpg.network
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          4 months ago

          Are kids still even taught the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle)? I was always taught that they were listed in order of importance, but that seems to conflict with modern capitalism.

          • DigDoug@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 months ago

            Apart from their use in the slogan, I don’t remember any importance being placed on reduce or reuse when I was at school. I guess “recycle” is the only one compatible with continually buying more shit we don’t need.

          • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            4 months ago

            Honestly, no idea. But yeah, the latter two seem in direct opposition to the line always going up at all costs.

      • AnActOfCreation@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        4 months ago

        A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful.

        That’s not true at all. You could use a Roku with only Plex/Jellyfin and it would be immensely useful.

      • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        39
        ·
        4 months ago

        Without the app, wearers are unable to change the color of the sneaker’s LED lights. The lights will either maintain the last color scheme selected via the app or, per Nike, “if you didn’t install the app, light will be the default color.” While owners will still be able to use on-shoe buttons to turn the shoes on or off, check its battery, adjust the lace’s tightness, and save fit settings, the ability to change lighting and control the shoes via mobile phone were big selling points of the $350 kicks.

        • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          4 months ago

          Yeah I be pissed if this was done to me. Someone should find a way to access the changing of the lights without the app.

      • fan0m@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        arrow-down
        9
        ·
        4 months ago

        I own a pair. You do lose some functionality without the app. The ability to change the light colors, set and recall presets.

        You can still tighten them without the app. And I think you can set one preset as well (not sure tbh)

        They announced the sunsetting of the app like 2 months ago but the media is capitalizing on the announcement now for some reason. It sucks but it’s not the end of the world not having the app.

    • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      4 months ago

      Not like the apk won’t still be obtainable. I still have a pandora apk from around 2012 I use (ad free, cost free) that still works just fine.

      The apk will likely outlast the shoes. Ever since all the shoe companies started using polyurethane soles, hydrolysis eventually just disintegrates them, even if you almost never wear them. After about 10 years they’re usually not wearable any longer.

      • AProfessional@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        4 months ago

        Just by chance because Pandora is very conservative about API changes and it happens to use Android APIs still supported.

        • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 months ago

          And Nike will never mess with an old Bluetooth apk and pair of sneakers. It will work as long as android allows for an apk designed for Android 14.