this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2024

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491

“Immensely disappointing”: Nike killing app for $350 self-tying sneakers (arstechnica.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

116 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It is hard to imagine that there was not someone inside of Nike that lost their faith in humanity when the pitch for these things was originally taking off.

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[–] [email protected] 314 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Remember folks: Any smart device you have that requires an internet connection or app is e-waste waiting to happen at the company's whim.

[+] [email protected] 46 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] [email protected] 84 points 9 months ago

A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful. If there wasn't a service with streaming media, the stick would have nothing to stream.

In cases like this; it's still only artificially dependant on Rokus services.

The hardware is perfectly capable of streaming from any number of services, including entirely self-hosted solutions like Emby/Jellyfin/Plex; yet the device can be remotely bricked just by nolonger providing Rokus services to it.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful. If there wasn't a service with streaming media, the stick would have nothing to stream.

Still becomes e-waste if Roku drops support for it. Granted, that's not the best example as I've got an old-ass Roku that still works, but the point stands. Same goes for Fire sticks and other devices like that.

They really should be forced to, at minimum, release unlocking tools to allow 3rd party firmware. (Think flashing OpenWRT to a Roku and using it as a travel router or something). Ideally, they'd also release a development kit to foster "after-life" uses of such devices.

Lots of companies will accept old devices back (supposedly to recycle), but there's another "R", re-use, that's also an important part of the process.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Still becomes e-waste if Roku drops support for it. Granted, that’s not the best example as I’ve got an old-ass Roku that still works, but the point stands. Same goes for Fire sticks and other devices like that.

Just look at Spotify's Car Thing.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Thank you, lol. I knew there was a very recent example but was blanking on it.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

There are other risks, such as the functionality changing without your knowledge or input (see again: Roku): https://www.theverge.com/24188282/roku-tv-update-motion-smoothing-turn-off

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Are kids still even taught the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle)? I was always taught that they were listed in order of importance, but that seems to conflict with modern capitalism.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Apart from their use in the slogan, I don't remember any importance being placed on reduce or reuse when I was at school. I guess "recycle" is the only one compatible with continually buying more shit we don't need.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Honestly, no idea. But yeah, the latter two seem in direct opposition to the line always going up at all costs.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

A Roku stick requires the Roku streaming service to be functioning to be useful.

That's not true at all. You could use a Roku with only Plex/Jellyfin and it would be immensely useful.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (2 children)

So if you own pair of these shoes you will no longer be able to use the features on said shoes?

[–] [email protected] 41 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Without the app, wearers are unable to change the color of the sneaker's LED lights. The lights will either maintain the last color scheme selected via the app or, per Nike, "if you didn't install the app, light will be the default color." While owners will still be able to use on-shoe buttons to turn the shoes on or off, check its battery, adjust the lace's tightness, and save fit settings, the ability to change lighting and control the shoes via mobile phone were big selling points of the $350 kicks.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Yeah I be pissed if this was done to me. Someone should find a way to access the changing of the lights without the app.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

I own a pair. You do lose some functionality without the app. The ability to change the light colors, set and recall presets.

You can still tighten them without the app. And I think you can set one preset as well (not sure tbh)

They announced the sunsetting of the app like 2 months ago but the media is capitalizing on the announcement now for some reason. It sucks but it’s not the end of the world not having the app.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not like the apk won't still be obtainable. I still have a pandora apk from around 2012 I use (ad free, cost free) that still works just fine.

The apk will likely outlast the shoes. Ever since all the shoe companies started using polyurethane soles, hydrolysis eventually just disintegrates them, even if you almost never wear them. After about 10 years they're usually not wearable any longer.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Just by chance because Pandora is very conservative about API changes and it happens to use Android APIs still supported.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

And Nike will never mess with an old Bluetooth apk and pair of sneakers. It will work as long as android allows for an apk designed for Android 14.