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Re:Cisco backs down, drops cloud from default router settings by ChuckMcM on Friday July 06, 2012 @03:24PM (#4209245)
This is an essential move on Cisco's part but the damage has been done. We should expect more of these. A friend bought a Samsung TV which wanted to download updated firmware from the Internet when she turned it on the first time. (it has a bunch of, IMO worthless, streaming features built in) With all the pieces there at what point does the TV accidentally 'brick' itself? Or you have a RandomBrand unit where RandomBrand goes out of business and the TV tries to download and can't so becomes worthless.

Eventually "no software changes needed" or something to that effect will be a 'feature' that sells gear. Or of course open software.

Re:Cisco backs down, drops cloud from default router settings by flatline3 on Friday July 06, 2012 @07:18PM (#4210050)
We recently purchased a TV for a short conference we were having. We didn't have much time to pick it out, so we picked out a reasonably well-reviewed name-brand television (my apologies, I can't remember the brand off-hand).

Like your experience, the device required an immediate network update.

Once the update was complete, I was astounded to see the television automatically download promotional advertisements and display them prominently on the main menu of the television, amidst the standard options.

If we hadn't required the television for the conference, I would have returned it to the store then and there. I anticipate that we'll see more of this in the future, and I don't look forward to it.