Somehow, the software on microwaves has gotten worse over time (even without becoming "smartmicrowaves"), which I didn't think was possible. Limited sample, but I've seen three new microwaves, in '99, '10, and '14.

The first one was really easy to use: buttons 1-6 were a quick-start for 1 to 6 minutes. e.g. hit 3 and it immediately starts with a 3-minute timer. If you hit start, it would immediately start with 30 seconds (or add 30 if it was already started).

Second one ('10) was basically the same model, but with worse software: if you used the number quickstart, it somehow couldn't accept I/O for the next half second. So if you wanted to do 90 seconds (common operation), you would have to pause after hitting 1, then hit +30. A really annoying inconvenience, and completely unnecessary.

The third microwave ('14) was admittedly a different model, but doesn't seem to have learned from previous microwave innovation. The start/+30 button doesn't work for a quick start, only for adding to an active, ticking timer. And cancel no longer deletes previous input, but emits an error sound.

How hard is it not to make microwave UI software worse?