I mean, it used to only Apple products. But now Windows is trying to force an online activation (I know theres a bypass CMD command, but still… they could remove it in the future).
Android phones, while do no require “Activation” are arealy trying to nudge you into connecting to the internet and making an account.
Some OEMs are trying to get you to make an account with them.
I could see a future where some OEMs are starting for force you to go online before the device can be used, or just outright done for every Android device if its Google wanting that to happen.
The most popular Drone manufacturer, DJI, requires online activation. Same with the second leading one, Autel. (Cheaper brands don’t require them, but those drones suck).
If you want to install a security cameras, most of them will require an app 🤮 (they do know that web-browser interface, such as 192.168.1.1 for routers, exists, right? they could just set up a similar thing for those cameras… oh yea thats right, they want to harvest data, thats why the app). And some, especially those “Ring” types, require an account (I haven’t used them, correct me if I’m wrong).
How long before everything is “CONNECT YOUR WIFI” or “DOWNLOAD THE APP”.
Like what next? Do car makers just get rid of the fob all together and be like “DOWNLOAD APP” and use that to open doors and ignition? House door being “Use the App to unlock door”?
🤔
(Are be going towards a technological dystopia?)
🤔🤔🤔
(Oh btw, cars now have this GPS thing. Dealers getting excited like “DOWNLOAD OUR APP” to instantly track your car’s location, and know the tire pressures and everything, and remote start. I’m like… all that is available through an app?.. seems like a security/privacy nightmare. Whats stops a crazy ex from knowing where you are? I don’t even drive btw, was with parents at the dealership to translate, parents did not seem worried about the privacy concerns… 🤷♂️)
If you want to limit consumer decisions to subscription vs no-subscriptions than sure, but subscriptions are just one element of the choices people have to make.
You also have issues like data privacy, ethical labor, maintainability, etc. Too many things for everyone to keep up with and effectively vote with their wallet.
All of those things are important, and no, we don’t have to fix them all at the same time, but let’s fix one of them. choose , which one do you wanna fix first. Then let’s start working on it. That is true if we try to tell the average person out there to work on all these, it’s too much it’s overwhelming. They’re not gonna try but if we focus Then there’s possibility.