Samsung Family Hub for 2025 Update Elevates the Smart Home Ecosystem

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Advertising on the fridge

  • A buried note in the press release reveals a new widget on the fridge’s screen that shows “useful information” (news, weather, calendar) alongside curated advertisements.
  • Many see this as a bait-and-switch for existing buyers: expensive fridges (~$3,000–$3,500) are getting ads via a software update with no clear opt‑out.
  • The “elevates the smart home ecosystem” language is widely mocked as euphemism for “more ads” and lock‑in.

Privacy, tracking, and data use

  • The footnote claims ads are “contextual or non‑personal” and that the devices are “not collecting personal information or tracking consumers.”
  • Commenters overwhelmingly distrust this, warning that even if true now, tracking could be added later via updates.
  • People expect eventual analysis of fridge contents and consumption habits for monetization; others suggest you could “poison” such data but worry about potential consequences.

Blockchain, Knox, and security

  • The use of “private blockchain” in Knox for appliance security is ridiculed as nonsensical buzzwording; its concrete benefits are unclear.
  • Some note the irony of using complex networked systems to “prevent botnets” when these devices themselves increase attack surface.

Samsung reliability and brand perception

  • Numerous anecdotes describe Samsung fridges, stoves, dishwashers, TVs, phones, and watches failing prematurely, combined with painful warranty and service experiences.
  • Several users report completely swearing off Samsung for all appliances and electronics; distrust extends even to non‑“smart” models.
  • A minority note good experiences, but they are drowned out by negative ones.

Smart devices, TVs, and workarounds

  • Many advocate never connecting smart TVs or appliances to the internet; use them as dumb displays with Apple TV/Chromecast/Linux boxes.
  • Network isolation (guest/IOT SSIDs, VLANs, DNS blocklists/Pi‑hole/NextDNS) is recommended for any unavoidable IoT.
  • There is concern that future devices might add cellular modems or otherwise circumvent user network controls, though this remains speculative.

Usefulness of “AI Vision” and smart features

  • The AI food‑recognition/“Vision Inside” features are widely seen as gimmicky: expensive, unreliable, and solving problems better handled by habits, labels, or a whiteboard.
  • A few see potential in tracking expiry and reducing waste, but current implementations are described as inaccurate and awkward to use.

Consumer response, ethics, and regulation

  • Strong calls for boycotts, “never again” pledges, and preference for simple, durable “dumb” appliances.
  • Some argue this trajectory is inevitable because “normies don’t care”; others insist market pressure and stronger consumer protection laws (especially outside the US) are needed.
  • There is debate over engineering ethics: whether developers should refuse to build ad‑laden, surveillance‑oriented products.