this post was submitted on 13 Jan 2024
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Privacy
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I've been looking for a breast pump recently - I'd like electric so I don't have to manually pump. All of the ones I could find in the shop required an app to connect to the device. Why? What purpose does that serve me? I'd have to make an account, accept needless permissions and cookies and give them access to very personal data about my boobs and milk production - I went with a manual one instead
Any device that requires an app to function is an immediate deal breaker for me. Same for most things that require "the cloud" to work. Garage door openers, doorbell or other cameras, cooking appliances, door locks, cars, even a basic pedometer to name a few. All of these things will only work temporarily until the company decides it's end of life for any reason.
Yes, that's another reason. I'm reliant on the app for the device to function - if they stop supporting it, the company goes bankrupt, my wifi cuts out - I now have a very expensive piece of plastic.
The spectra is both the highest rated and it doesn't use an app. We have the one with the battery and it is so so convenient and easy to use.
Thanks for the recommendation
It could be a cost issue. A chip that collects data from connected sensors and sends it via Wifi is small and cheap. Adding a display and buttons ads size, complexitiy and costs. Therefore manufacturers offload the interface to an app and a device you already own, and they can update without expensive recalls.
If the task or device is more complicated and the device would also need it's own storage, CPU, display, sound etc. the product costs could go up by hundreds of dollars, depending on functionality and how many units they plan to ship.
I also hate apps. Still have my 2010 smartphone in a drawer that still turns on, however it;s useless because google playstore, maps and email now used an more modern SSL standard that this phone does not support anymore, and it won't receive any updates. I expect the same will happen to a lot of devices that are controlled by apps when the manufacturer decides he won't support it anymore, or Google breaks the app because some new protocol must be supported now that didn't exist 2 years ago when the app came out.
Lets not pretend that it isn't about data collection though. If they cared about protecting my data, they'd spend a little more money and either make 0.1% less profit or pass the cost onto the consumer
Have you checked out Medela, we used one of those a couple years back and there was no app involved. No data collection, just plug it in and go.
Thanks for the recommendation
I'm guessing so the Republicans can punish you for being reproductive in an unapproved way? Is why they require attaching to the internet?
Fortunately I'm not in the US so I actually have reproductive rights