cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/37646129
Source: Reddit postโ Private front-end.
Samsung Statement to Android Authority:
Samsung is committed to innovation and enhancing every day value for our home appliance customers. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen that value, we are conducting a pilot program to offer promotions and curated advertisements on certain Samsung Family Hub refrigerator models in the U.S. market.
As a part of this pilot program, Family Hub refrigerators in the U.S. will receive an over-the-network (OTN) software update with Terms of Service (T&C) and Privacy Notice (PN). Advertising will appear on certain Family Hub refrigerator Cover Screens. The Cover Screen appears when a Family Hub screen is idle. Ad design format may change depending on Family Hub personalization options for the Cover Screen, and advertising will not appear when Cover Screen displays Art Mode or picture albums.
Advertisements can be dismissed on the Cover Screens where ads are shown, meaning that specific ads will not appear again during the campaign period.
"I can't see the value in this thing for myself, therefore it's stupid."
Some people use a whiteboard or notepad magnetically stuck to their fridge to keep track of things: shopping lists, to-dos, notes to other members of the household. Some people stick photos to their fridge. This has been a thing since John Fridgemagnet stuck the first magnetic plastic letter to his icebox in 1968.
Putting a screen in the fridge serves a similar purpose, with the added benefit of integration with modern online calendars, remote access to the whiteboard/notepad (in case you forgot the shopping list at home), it displays a rotating slideshow of photos, and adds things like weather and news reports that you can quickly check while you're grabbing the orange juice.
It's not a stupid idea for the people who would use that functionality, but the product itself becomes stupid when the company starts forcing ads into the system or intentionally hobbles the software that was available af time of purchase (yes, Samsung did that too).
I'd never buy another Samsung fridge, but only because the ice maker still doesn't work after three warranty replacements/upgrades to a "fixed" design. My family uses the screen feature all the time.
Aside: I really enjoyed your pun. 9.5/10