If you really don’t think there’s a legitimate reason someone might want their washer connected to the Internet, you need to get out more.
Have you considered that a washer might be in the basement? And the person might be 2 floors away where they can’t hear it? And they might appreciate being able to get a notification when it is complete to remind them to move it to the dryer?
That’s more effort per wash instead of being something that only needs setting up one and then will work forever. Also, it’s common for post-90s appliances to include sensors and vary the cycle time based on how dirty the water gets. Except for the data privacy and security concerns, which are mainly because it’s proprietary software rather than inherent in Internet-connected devices, there’s no advantage to using your phone timer over getting a notification.
Again, that’s specific to it being proprietary software. I’ve got some devices in my home that are connected to the local network (but not the internet), and have configured Home Assistant (which I’ve got running on an old desktop PC) to send a notification to my phone when it detects that those devices report that they’re finished with what they do. That’ll keep working until I turn off the Home Assistant server or replace the devices.
Whether or not I can isn’t relevant to whether I want to or not. My point is that you act like you can’t conceive of why someone would want it that way. It’s an absolutely narrow minded stance.
If you really don’t think there’s a legitimate reason someone might want their washer connected to the Internet, you need to get out more.
Have you considered that a washer might be in the basement? And the person might be 2 floors away where they can’t hear it? And they might appreciate being able to get a notification when it is complete to remind them to move it to the dryer?
Open your mind a little more.
Have you considered that you could learn how long it takes to do a cycle and then set a timer on your phone?
That’s more effort per wash instead of being something that only needs setting up one and then will work forever. Also, it’s common for post-90s appliances to include sensors and vary the cycle time based on how dirty the water gets. Except for the data privacy and security concerns, which are mainly because it’s proprietary software rather than inherent in Internet-connected devices, there’s no advantage to using your phone timer over getting a notification.
It won’t work forever. It’ll stop working once they stop supporting the app or shut off the servers.
Again, that’s specific to it being proprietary software. I’ve got some devices in my home that are connected to the local network (but not the internet), and have configured Home Assistant (which I’ve got running on an old desktop PC) to send a notification to my phone when it detects that those devices report that they’re finished with what they do. That’ll keep working until I turn off the Home Assistant server or replace the devices.
Whether or not I can isn’t relevant to whether I want to or not. My point is that you act like you can’t conceive of why someone would want it that way. It’s an absolutely narrow minded stance.