Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: Phillip <nntp@fulltermprivacy.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,alt.os.linux.mint
Subject: Re: smart plugs???
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2025 15:48:51 -0500
Organization: A noiseless patient Spider
Lines: 65
Message-ID: <vmbrbj$3khlt$1@dont-email.me>
References: <vm8nvf$312bv$1@dont-email.me> <vm95vu$33jb9$1@dont-email.me>
 <vmajoo$3eg41$1@dont-email.me> <vmanfp$3f251$6@dont-email.me>
 <70892435-a326-11bb-0e95-cde8e098caa1@example.net>
 <vmboup$3l2jo$3@dont-email.me>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Injection-Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:48:52 +0100 (CET)
Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="ea864556c779bf4c3ab025ea731ea4fe";
	logging-data="3819197"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org";	posting-account="U2FsdGVkX181suD83rDUoqGY8iGyHjKUtbaAZN2Dy5Q="
User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird
Cancel-Lock: sha1:uYo4BI80ovT0KjnbbBoI66JeMVU=
In-Reply-To: <vmboup$3l2jo$3@dont-email.me>
Content-Language: en-US
Bytes: 4088

On 1/16/25 3:07 PM, Rich wrote:
> In comp.os.linux.misc D <nospam@example.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>> On Thu, 16 Jan 2025, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>
>>> On 16/01/2025 09:33, Mike Scott wrote:
>>>> On 15/01/2025 20:31, Pancho wrote:
>>>>> I think you have to be careful that they are not controlled by a
>>>>> cloud service.  If you have a cloud service you need a working wan
>>>>> connection and you are exposed to the cloud service provider
>>>>> disappearing.
>>>>
>>>> (Thanks to all for replying)
>>>>
>>>> This is the rub.  tp-link clearly /want/ the consumer to use their
>>>> "cloud" service - which is usually just a fancy codeword for 'we
>>>> want your data'.  There's no actual /need/ that I can see in this
>>>> case.
>>>>
>>> Actually there is.
>>>
>>> It is the simple way to solve 'remote access' to your 'behind NAS'
>>> network connected gadgets
>>>
>>> Now *we* can organise that because we are geeks, but te average
>>> coinsumer?  Doan mak me larf!
>>
>> I use tor to give me a globally unique name where I can access my
>> stuff behind NAT as a Tor hidden service.
> 
> 99.1% of the total users would be incapable of achieving what you are
> doing with Tor, even if given infinite time to set it all up.

I don't disagree that most users are not likely to be able to set up 
complex things, but realistically, companies should always make it 
possible to bypass their cloud service. The ruse is "people are too 
stupid to do this" as an excuse for cloud services being obligatory. 
Even though, they actually aren't. Just give users the option to bypass 
it. And honestly, most things now can be set up with a local app that 
doesn't use any cloud service at all. I mean, apps can even autodiscover 
their respective devices over bluetooth without the user actually doing 
anything other then opening the app, and the user can add their wi-fi, 
etc. There is never a reason to demand a user create a cloud account 
ever. Users don't actually need one. This is nothing more then a scam.

Offer users the option, if they want it. But never force it or make it 
mandatory. Philip's Hue does not require an account at all to use their 
smart hub and lights/devices. In fact, their app can operate without any 
internet connection at all. (You can disconnect your internet cable from 
your router and turn off data on your phone and set the entire thing up 
locally with the app, without any internet or online account creation.)

This is how it should be. And for users that want all that cloud stuff, 
it can be optional available to them.

Anyone that thinks these things should be forced is just perpetuating an 
abusive system or just lacks knowledge on how these things work.

-- 
Phillip
----------
- Adam: Is a void really a void if it returns?
- Jack: No, it's just nullspace at that point.
----------