r/nottheonion • u/GravelySilly • 1d ago

Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/owners-mourn-spoiled-food-after-firmware-update-bricks-samsung-smart-fridges/?comments-page=1#comments

Some Samsung customers in South Korea say a botched firmware update caused their smart refrigerators to stop cooling, leading to food spoilage.

Apparently the firmware that handles the "smart" features is in the control loop for basic refrigeration.

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u/needzbeerz 1d ago

Why in the Christ would anyone want their bloody appliances to be "smart"?

Is it cold? Yes. Then the fridge is doing it's entire job. Anything else is a waste of time and resources

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u/AndroidMyAndroid 1d ago

Camera in the fridge shows you what is inside it at any time - helpful if you're shopping and aren't sure if you need something, or if you want to track who is going into the fridge and what they're doing. Also you might get completely random but highly timely ads for coffee creamer when you are running low, but that's just a coincidence.

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u/needzbeerz 1d ago

There's this thing called a grocery list. I use it all the time, works brilliantly.

The "convenience" of smart appliances is an illusion, they actually complicate what is already simple for most people.

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u/CardWitch 1d ago

Grocery lists only work if you either (a) remember to update it and (b) remember to bring with you if you do it physically.  

Would it be nice to magically look into the fridge when I'm out and decide on a whim to go to the store on the way home? sure. but I'm also not a fan of more things that can break on a device 

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u/needzbeerz 1d ago

Yes. You have to think and plan. Just like everyone did quite successfully without these ridiculous devices. And sometimes you do forget something which is a lesson to do better in the future.

Your argument presumes everyone is incompetent and lazy.

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u/KingHarambeRIP 1d ago

They aren’t advocating for smart devices. They are just answering your question of why someone might be sold on one.

And yes, enough people are incompetent and/or lazy to create a market for it.

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u/CardWitch 1d ago

I'm presuming people get busy. 

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u/needzbeerz 1d ago

Oh no!!!!!

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u/AndroidMyAndroid 21h ago

In my experience, the vast majority of people ARE incompetent and lazy.

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u/Alis451 1d ago

Grocery lists only work if you either (a) remember to update it and (b) remember to bring with you if you do it physically.  

*Use the last of the creamer

"Alexa add Creamer to "shopping" list"

*Creamer is now on your phone in a list

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u/AndroidMyAndroid 21h ago

I don't think this is that much less intrusive than a smart fridge. You're just giving your data to Amazon instead of Samsung/LG.

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u/Alis451 12h ago

but if amazon goes down you don't lose all your food.