22 Comments
User's avatar
Stone Bryson's avatar

Seriously though, the 'app' thing is utterly out-of-control. At this point, I'm inclined to NOT buy something if an app is involved... 🤷🏻

Teresa Parmenter's avatar

Exactly. Do I really want my refrigerator spying on me?

Stone Bryson's avatar

LOL Right? My fridge is old-school , and it already feels like the danged thing judges me when I open it for a late-night snack. I sure the blazes would not want its 'app' keeping score on my cravings! ;-)

Dave Wise (Neoteric Wood Art)'s avatar

I think my scale does that, and it's from the 1950's!

Stone Bryson's avatar

LOL True, but scales have a notorious history of being diabolical :-)

Dave Wise (Neoteric Wood Art)'s avatar

Yeah, they judge you, kind of like my cat.

Stephen Rowland's avatar

Additional price projection ( APP )

Angela Morris's avatar

Hey Rat! Thanks for sharing. Products are getting sneaky now by not telling you it requires an app until after you buy it, uh, no thanks!

kitten seeking answers's avatar

to add to injury the “smart” toaster will be more expensive

have you noticed that nothing comes with written instructions anymore?

Rat's avatar

Not really the case this side of the pond. We used to have written instructions in 3…5 languages, now we have written instructions in 12 languages, obviously machine-translated and occasionally containing charming nonsense.

Tardigrade's avatar

Tangentially, my 1989 Honda motorcycle has a user guide that includes the instruction "If friends on roadside, tootle horn and wave hi-hi".

Stephen Rowland's avatar

The use of visual elements, photos and diagrams will make written instructions obsolete.

Rat's avatar

At least some instructions will probably stay verbal, namely the part that waives producer's liability if you do this, that, or anything at all.

Tardigrade's avatar

IKEA pioneers the way!

kitten seeking answers's avatar

here its only the government stuff that’s in 12 different languages (or more)

Tardigrade's avatar

I avoid things that require an app.

Consequently, it takes a surprisingly long time to find, for example, a ceiling fan or window blinds that don't have some kind of remote.

Why do we invent stuff that has increasingly high vectors of vulnerability? Because we can!

Bandit's avatar

Just listening to a friend complain about their auto cleaning litterbox last night. I love my dogs! 😉😊😋

Ken Macko's avatar

Life in 2025. Ho hum 😔

Penelope Prill's avatar

Seriously, Trump is not fit to polish Rat's shoes, should Rat choose to wear shoes.