Technology

I mean, that's really true of products in general.

I think that there are some real consumer law issues to answer where someone buys a product and then a manufacturer can control the product subsequent to the purchase. Like, say I buy a BMW with the expectation that I am not going to be seeing ads, based on the way it acts at the time that I bought it. At that point, I'm locked into owning that BMW. Then the manufacturer degrades my experience, maybe to the point where I no longer consider the vehicle to be the one I wanted.

Like, what is my remedy here? If the vehicle has OTA updates, I can never know what it's going to be doing down the line, so I can't make an informed decision. Having informed consumers is one of the basic requirements for markets to be efficient.

Maybe I could say "Well, that's just a case of let the buyer beware. We'll rely on reputation...some auto manufacturers will piss off consumers and those will be avoided". But...if someone doesn't buy cars that frequently, that's a long iteration cycle.

I'm actually more concerned about video games. Like, if I'm a publisher, once I sell a video game, I don't normally have more revenue coming in from it. But if I do have the ability to update that video game down the line. And I can update it to go harvesting user data, which turns it into a revenue stream. A lot of video game publishers go defunct on a regular basis or sell IP or whatnot, so there, even the "rely on reputation" route is more questionable.

Why do they keep trying to pull this bullshit?, they're a luxury brand, there margins should be pretty good without trying to nickel and dime everything

One reason this type of promotion may be becoming more common is that connected cars give automakers a direct path to the driver’s screen.

"Wo ein Trog ist, da kommen die Schweine."

It hasn't been that way for a long time. Every car since 2018 has some sort of black box in it that it records your driving behaviors, and that data gets sent to or sold to insurance companies who then use it to raise your premiums.

Just the tip

"It is a one time fee that you pay annually." One of the best Portlandia skits.

It’s one-time in the sense that it’s this movie. Next one-time will be for the next movie

Or a felony violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act!

It was not a paid placement or advertisement. We are continually looking for more ways to say thanks for using Firefox.”

LOOOOOLOLOL

Yeah... I was considering a Audi etron or the I4. Well choice is mutch simpler now. Same for my dad. He is considering the I7 but might hold off on that idea.