It is hard to overstate how wrong they are doing things if it costs more than a dollar or so per year for managed configuration. I previously worked for a cloud managed device company and it was obscene how high the margin was on the mandatory software licenses we bundled with the hardware and we were also collecting a huge amount of data, not just providing configuration.
I think it’s worth noting that the company which is charging the subscription fee is not the same company that sold the smart hubs: Futurehome declared bankruptcy in May; this fee is being charged by its successor.
I already avoid devices that require subscription rather than allowing ownership. If someone decides to change the terms of the deal after I bought the device to gate previously accessible functionality behind a paywall I guarantee that they will never see another nickel of mine for the rest of our shared existence on this earth. I don't actually care that your costs exceed your revenue. Shut down then. It's your problem to price things in a way that pays for your costs as a business, not mine, and it's your problem to uphold agreements you made or to fail as a business.
My smart home actively avoids anything with a cloud sign and tries to avoid anything without a Zigbee logo for exactly this reason. There’s no way a Zigbee device could get flashed with a firmware which requires an external server.
> “It is regrettable that we now have to spend time and resources strengthening the security of a popular service rather than further developing functionality for the benefit of our customers.”
Based on all the data leaks that happen constantly on cloud connected, data harvesting services, I have zero faith that these companies care about security. These companies couldn't care less if they leak personal data online, but god forbid someone is trying to root our device or flash another OS, now suddenly we need to strengthen our security. Fuck these people frankly.
Sounds like the new owners of this already morally and financially bankrupt company are going to go bankrupt all over again if they are trying to pull this kind of scam bait and switch on their small and shrinking user base.
Seriously. Who is going to buy another Futurehome product knowing that they feel entitled to extort their customers, whose only alternative is to remove the devices integrated into their home?
This is one of the reasons I am working on an enclosure-compatible open-source version of the 2nd gen Nest thermostat. It reuses the enclosure, encoder ring, display, and mounts of the Nest but replaces the "thinking" part with an open-source PCB that can interact with Home Assistant.
Nest Thermostats of the 1st and 2nd generation will no longer be supported by Google starting October 25, 2025. You will still be able to access temperature, mode, schedules, and settings directly on the thermostat – and existing schedules should continue to work uninterrupted. However, these thermostats will no longer receive software or security updates, will not have any Nest app or Home app controls, and Google will end support for other connected features like Home/Away Assist. It has been pretty-badly supported in Home Assistant for over a year anyway, missing important connected features.
I've got the faceplate PCB done and working; the rotary encoder and ring working; and the display working but with terrible code with a low refresh rate.
I need to ship by October to beat the retirement date. Plans to get some regular development report-outs and pre-orders are coming quite soon.
It's open source, and uses ESP32-C6 so it can be Wifi, BLE, or Zigbee, whatever software you intend to load onto it.
It is one thing for a company to discontinue offering a service that they used to provide for free; but it is completely different to take steps to brick a device that would otherwise continue to work, if the user does not buy something not discussed in the original transaction (e.g. a subscription).
Learnt my lesson with wemo and google nest. Google Home assistant seems to give garbage 50% of the time (see r/googlehome).
All in on zigbee and zigbee2mqtt connecting to my local ubuntu server (used for plex as well). I'll write damn custom react-native apps and sideload them onto my android phone then deal with these shitty companies again.
If you have the skills, it might be worth investing some time into this. It isn't as hard or scary as you'd imagine.
This is a reason why I would NEVER in my life have anything what is calling itself "smart" controlling any important functions in my house. It is just a trojan horse ready to cripple my own living any time when owners of C2 server will feels like so.
This is going to become more and more of a problem with all "smart" device manufacturers whose devices rely on them keeping a backend service stood up. These manufacturers will all eventually 1. go bankrupt, killing their service, 2. end/sunset the service in ways that nerf/brick devices, or 3. start charging for what used to be free.
Unlike traditional dumb devices (or local-only smart devices) we cannot rely on these things working as they once did forever. Best bet is to avoid them entirely.
A great reminder that one-off hardware costs don't indefinitely cover third party support, especially if that includes services and apps without another obvious revenue stream.
A lot of people want to call this switch and bait, or a scam, but consumers need to apply their own critical thinking to purchases like this. Some of these devices have had service for nearly a decade. Is that terrible for a £200 device?
I had a Wink hub maybe 7 years ago, I bought it for somewhere around $150. Later, they decided to add a monthly subscription fee to the device. I cut my losses and quit using the thing.
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[ 102 ms ] story [ 121 ms ] threadUnfortunately the masses dont care or dont have the technical knowledge to taoe advantage of it
Based on all the data leaks that happen constantly on cloud connected, data harvesting services, I have zero faith that these companies care about security. These companies couldn't care less if they leak personal data online, but god forbid someone is trying to root our device or flash another OS, now suddenly we need to strengthen our security. Fuck these people frankly.
As in, reputation in the eyes of investors and creditors, obviously.
Nest Thermostats of the 1st and 2nd generation will no longer be supported by Google starting October 25, 2025. You will still be able to access temperature, mode, schedules, and settings directly on the thermostat – and existing schedules should continue to work uninterrupted. However, these thermostats will no longer receive software or security updates, will not have any Nest app or Home app controls, and Google will end support for other connected features like Home/Away Assist. It has been pretty-badly supported in Home Assistant for over a year anyway, missing important connected features.
I've got the faceplate PCB done and working; the rotary encoder and ring working; and the display working but with terrible code with a low refresh rate.
I need to ship by October to beat the retirement date. Plans to get some regular development report-outs and pre-orders are coming quite soon.
It's open source, and uses ESP32-C6 so it can be Wifi, BLE, or Zigbee, whatever software you intend to load onto it.
All in on zigbee and zigbee2mqtt connecting to my local ubuntu server (used for plex as well). I'll write damn custom react-native apps and sideload them onto my android phone then deal with these shitty companies again.
If you have the skills, it might be worth investing some time into this. It isn't as hard or scary as you'd imagine.
Unlike traditional dumb devices (or local-only smart devices) we cannot rely on these things working as they once did forever. Best bet is to avoid them entirely.
I want local only, never contact the mothership.
A lot of people want to call this switch and bait, or a scam, but consumers need to apply their own critical thinking to purchases like this. Some of these devices have had service for nearly a decade. Is that terrible for a £200 device?
I no longer do smart home anything. Switched outlets are great. Relevant Technology Connections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DGqVbTHX-k