REAL LIFE NEWS: PRECISION COOKER CUSTOMERS FURIOUS AT REQUIREMENT TO HAND OVER PERSONAL INFO
by Hazed
Last week I told you about a new problem the Internet of Things can cause – companies that shut off access to devices unexpectedly. Now here’s a new twist to the issue, as the maker of a cooking device has angered its users by suddenly requiring a whole lot of personal information before they can use it.
The Anova Precision Cooker is a sous vide cooker – that means you seal ingredients into an air-tight bag, then cook them in a water bath at a controlled temperature. You’ve probably seen it used on cookery programmes on TV, but this gadget allows you to do it in the home.
It’s controlled by a smart phone app, which until recently the users found very convenient. But after a recent update, the Anova’s users say they can no longer use it unless they create an account with the company, which means giving them a whole lot of personal information.
Yes, you have to share your personal info just to use a cooker.
The company has responded with a lot of waffle about adding extra features, saying it is a “stepping stone for us to provide a more customizable experience.”
But customers are furious at the change – and quite rightly. It’s one thing to say they can’t use additional features without setting up an account, but to stop them being able to do things they have previously been able to do is just wrong – particularly when at $150 it’s not a cheap gadget.
I can see a class action suit brewing…
