Tell Us: Has software stopped you from using your electronics?

[Consumer Reports]   Friend, If you have a closet or junk drawer that is a growing graveyard of dead or useless electronics because they’ve lost software support, you’re not alone. From toothbrushes to toilets, more and more companies are transforming traditionally non-electronic products into internet-connected devices. But because there are no standards for how long companies must support these devices, you can be out the money you paid – and left with a worthless product. Consumer Reports is advocating for strong consumer protections when it comes to connected devices – also known as “smart” devices or “Internet of Things” products. Your real-life experiences will help illustrate the problem with devices that need software and other ongoing support.[If you’ve had a connected device that stopped working as advertised, we want to hear about it.Â]( Did a manufacturer stop software support of a connected device within a year or two of your purchase? Have you bought a device without understanding that its functionality relied on its software? Did a product stop working because the manufacturer went out of business? [Share Your Story]( You might have bought one of these “smart” products that connected to an app or the internet because the manufacturer advertised convenience or a cool feature: the ability to open your garage door, change the color of your lightbulbs, or adjust the temperature of your home, all from your smartphone. But consumers can lose big money on products with perfectly good hardware when they are no longer supported. Recently, that includes versions of the Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader, the Spotify Car Thing, and the Mellow sous vide cooker. This kind of lost investment may only get worse as automakers and major appliance manufacturers equip those products with software tethers. CR believes companies should design products that continue to function when software support is ended. And when a company decides to end support, they should provide advance notice, refunds, and a plan to recycle the non-working hardware. Your stories are important. They can help illustrate why we need strong rules that protect consumers from products that become useless when manufacturers drop their support. [Help us make change by sharing your story, and we’ll use it to push for the strongest protections possible.]( [Share Your Story]( If you don’t have a story, but have a friend or family member who does, please share this with them. The more examples we have, the better chance we have at holding these companies accountable. Thank you, Angel Han Consumer Reports [Unsubscribe from Consumer Reports action alerts.]( © 2022 Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY, 10703 [Contact Consumer Reports](