The new generation of 5 year products

We are buying more and more technology, but the technology is more than often locked into a certain software, computers to Windows or MacOS, cellphones and tablets to specific distributions of Android versions or iPhones and iPads too iOS. This issue also exists to a much wider degree, like a smart clock with a fully functional touchscreen that is locked to a certain distributor’s platform prohibiting you from watching movies even though the hardware is fully capable or your TV? Recently, I had an acquaintance who bought a ProCaster smart tv from 2020, this was before Disney launched its streaming service. Despite the TV still getting updated and being fully capable of displaying the service, my acquaintance did not have access to the application through the embedded interface and was locked out of the stream application. This happens all the time when the company makes use of proprietary software, takes away your asset, they go bankrupt, or simply just stop supporting your platform that you are using and it is not limited to consumer products, for example the robots Alf and Snow at Arcada are both locked to proprietary software locking their development and potential research usage even when the hardware has become more capable over time.

As in the case of TV, it is also more and more difficult to replace the platform's software with other programs. You can install Linux on most computers, but try doing the same with a phone, TV or other similar thing. Perhaps a select few exceptions are exceptions but it's not something within reach of the average user, only those well-versed whom can claim to have completely succeeds with it.

Looking at the process today for white goods it is extremely common for companies today not to build their own products, such as a washing machine. But instead designs elements such as the closing hatch or the graphic panel however regardless of the brand, the washing machines are fundamentally very similar. But instead of available program code being available to the user, where anyone can communicate with the washing machine engine to write a script if it should spin a certain number of lapses during a period the washing machine is locked to the very software that the distributor uploaded to the washing machine and any programs, they believe are best for your particular laundry and your clothes is the ones you’ll be locked too. In simpler terms it is as if a movie producer controlled the sound level on a movie in your living room, not leaving you any option to increase of lower the volume of your TV once the movie was playing.

Recently the EU passed a law trying to fight this, a very generic 5year mandated updates for phones and tablets, but is it enough? Is 5 years is enough for all your "smart" products such as washing machines, speakers, TVs, vacuum cleaners and soon toasters. Should we really expose the environment and ourselves to a constant updating of established appliances just because the software companies consider it more profitable to cut support for software and products to sell you a new one every five years?

A more permanent solution is needed and give you a taste of what is possible I would like to direct you to the following:

• Nextcloud, regain control over your data
• Home Assistant, awaken your home
• Linux, Think different, think Linux. think better, with Linux.
• OnlyOffice, Run your private office with the ONLYOFFICE
• Coffee thingy, ask dennis