Article suggestions: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Tag: Undo |
||
| (44 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion. | This page is dedicated towards providing a communal list for users to submit potential articles to feature on the wiki, and to give editors inspiration on what pages they might want to add to the wiki. If you create an article based on an entry from this list, or see that someone else has done so, please make sure to delete the row from this page in order to prevent confusion. | ||
Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the visual editor, take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via {{Key press|Ctrl|Shift|K}} so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources! | Sources should be inserted within the 'refs' section of the table. If using the [[Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Jargon_buster#Visual_editor_('Edit')|visual editor]], take advantage of '<nowiki/>'''insert reference'''<nowiki/>' via {{Key press|Ctrl|Shift|K}} so that the sources are quick to add to future articles. If you are using the source editor, feel free to copy and paste the formatting from other correctly formatted references on the page. The more sources you include with an article idea, the more likely it is that others will pick the article idea up and run with it, so please attempt to include a good variety of descriptive sources! | ||
Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note. | Please take note of the wiki's [[Consumer Rights Wiki:Inclusion guidelines|Inclusion criteria]] when submitting article suggestions. If you see article suggestions here which do not fit the Wiki, feel free to remove them, leaving your reasoning in an edit note. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
==List of incidents not yet covered==<!-- Something like ethicalconsumer.org, but easier for average consumer to read, research and know exactly why some companies deserve your money over others. Reduce non ethical company profits. --> | ==List of incidents not yet covered==<!-- Something like ethicalconsumer.org, but easier for average consumer to read, research and know exactly why some companies deserve your money over others. Reduce non ethical company profits. --> | ||
[[Category:Sources]] | [[Category:Sources]] | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
!Company | !Company | ||
| Line 29: | Line 30: | ||
|194 Online Marketing Services (incl. [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]]) | |194 Online Marketing Services (incl. [[Google]], [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]]) | ||
|Survey shows that more than half of websites set marketing cookies despite users opting out via Do Not Track header, Browser add-ons or by declining cookie banners. Google calles it a "misunderstanding of how their products work", Meta comments that according to the law an opt-out only prohibits selling of the data, not collecting it. | |Survey shows that more than half of websites set marketing cookies despite users opting out via Do Not Track header, Browser add-ons or by declining cookie banners. Google calles it a "misunderstanding of how their products work", Meta comments that according to the law an opt-out only prohibits selling of the data, not collecting it. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://globalprivacyaudit.org/2026/california}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google, Microsoft, Meta All Tracking You Even When You Opt Out, According to an Independent Audit |url=https://www.404media.co/google-microsoft-meta-all-tracking-you-even-when-you-opt-out-according-to-an-independent-audit/ |website=404 Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=webXray California Privacy Audit: A Legal Minefield that Puts Users at Risk |url=https://globalprivacyaudit.org/2026/california |website=Global Privacy Audit}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[8Player]] | |[[8Player]] | ||
| Line 54: | Line 55: | ||
|Removed Predator/Nitro Sense Applications for laptops from their support sites somewhere in early March 2026 (Looking at wayback machine snapshots). The application is required by the laptops to be able to toggle "Turbo" mode, which applies overclocks and boosts cooling. Additionally, recent Windows update(s) (KB5083769/KB5082417) have broken the application, making users unable to use it even if you were able to install it. | |Removed Predator/Nitro Sense Applications for laptops from their support sites somewhere in early March 2026 (Looking at wayback machine snapshots). The application is required by the laptops to be able to toggle "Turbo" mode, which applies overclocks and boosts cooling. Additionally, recent Windows update(s) (KB5083769/KB5082417) have broken the application, making users unable to use it even if you were able to install it. | ||
|<!-- I can't find any references for this, should this be removed? --> | |<!-- I can't find any references for this, should this be removed? --> | ||
|- | |||
|AcuRite | |||
|AcuRite began emailing customers last month that they’d soon have to control their devices with the "AcuRite Now" iOS and Android app, eliminating the free "My AcuRite" app, the replacement of which, "AcuRite Now" requires a subscription for features previously active in the free app. | |||
|https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/weather-monitoring-firm-hangs-dark-cloud-over-customers-heads-by-forcing-new-app/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Affinity / [[Canva]] page created needs editors to help | |Affinity / [[Canva]] page created needs editors to help | ||
| Line 63: | Line 68: | ||
|{{Wplink|Alibaba Group|Wikipedia entry}} | |{{Wplink|Alibaba Group|Wikipedia entry}} | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|[[AMD]] | |||
|Linux users now have to pay for Vivado even though it used to be free | |||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=2026-05-25 |title=AMD Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Linux Users with Vivado Licensing Changes |url=https://itsfoss.com/news/amd-vivado-bait-and-switch-on-linux-users/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=It's FOSS}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Apotheka]] | |[[Apotheka]] | ||
| Line 79: | Line 88: | ||
|The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu. | |The update that makes the iWork apps part of the new Apple Creator Studio subscription now adds tracking that is enabled by default and implemented as opt-out. The information about it is displayed in a first launch screen without any immediate way opt out, which qualifies as a dark pattern. Instead, the user has to go through a slightly convoluted path via the iPhone/iPad system settings app, and under the submenu "Apps" find each of the iWork apps and disable analytics there individually for each app. On Desktop, it is under a dedicated menu item under the "Pages"/"Numbers"/"Keynote" menu. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=New versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages collect telemetry by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032029/https://old.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=New versions of Keynote, Numbers, and Pages collect telemetry by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260223032029/https://old.reddit.com/r/ios/comments/1qq7q9m/new_versions_of_keynote_numbers_and_pages_collect/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[archive.today]] / archive.ph (Web Archival Service) | |[[archive.today]] / archive.ph (Web Archival Service) | ||
| Line 95: | Line 99: | ||
|Releases bios updates via windows executable, meaning that you can't update your bios to the latest version to amend a security vulnerability or fix an issue unless you're running microsoft windows. The windows executable simply extracts a binary file, that you can drop on a thumb drive. This could be easily done via direct download to support other operating systems. | |Releases bios updates via windows executable, meaning that you can't update your bios to the latest version to amend a security vulnerability or fix an issue unless you're running microsoft windows. The windows executable simply extracts a binary file, that you can drop on a thumb drive. This could be easily done via direct download to support other operating systems. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[AutoAuth]] | |[[AutoAuth]] | ||
|'''AutoAuth''' represents a significant shift toward "repair-by-subscription," where owning a vehicle no longer guarantees the right to maintain it. By placing a digital firewall between the owner and the car’s computer, AutoAuth forces independent shops and DIY enthusiasts to pay recurring access fees and register their personal data with a third-party gatekeeper just to perform basic maintenance, such as electronic parking brake retractions or oil life resets. | |'''AutoAuth''' represents a significant shift toward "repair-by-subscription," where owning a vehicle no longer guarantees the right to maintain it. By placing a digital firewall between the owner and the car’s computer, AutoAuth forces independent shops and DIY enthusiasts to pay recurring access fees and register their personal data with a third-party gatekeeper just to perform basic maintenance, such as electronic parking brake retractions or oil life resets. | ||
| | |||
|- | |||
|[[Backblaze]] | |||
|Backblaze makes canceling a subscription needlessly complex and convoluted. This is referring to their personal backup solution, I do not know how other subscriptions are handled. | |||
To cancel a Backblaze subscription after 30 days you are required to delete your account. A full refund can apparently be requested within that window | |||
[https://www.backblaze.com/company/policy/payments-and-refunds "Payments and refunds"]. | |||
If after 30 days you decide to cancel or switch to a different service after your subscription ends you have the following options: | |||
1. Wait until the end of your subscription to cancel. | |||
2. Delete your account, removing your access to the service prematurely. | |||
There is no "do not renew" option, even removing your payment information is not possible. In my opinion it should be possible to enjoy the access you paid for without having to remember to cancel a year or two later. | |||
[https://help.backblaze.com/hc/en-us/articles/217665728-Canceling-and-Deleting-a-Backblaze-Account "Canceling and deleting a Backblaze account"] | |||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 141: | Line 151: | ||
|[[Chuwi]] | |[[Chuwi]] | ||
|Misleading consumers by falsifying the specsheet of one of their latest laptops, and repeatedly threatened one of the online publications that wrote an article of their alleged misdeeds. | |Misleading consumers by falsifying the specsheet of one of their latest laptops, and repeatedly threatened one of the online publications that wrote an article of their alleged misdeeds. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Simon |date=2026-03-12 |title=CPU fraud, next round: Chuwi CoreBook Plus with supposed AMD Ryzen 5 7430U also affected |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive. | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leitner |first=Simon |date=2026-03-12 |title=CPU fraud, next round: Chuwi CoreBook Plus with supposed AMD Ryzen 5 7430U also affected |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260313120720/https://www.notebookcheck.net/CPU-fraud-next-round-Chuwi-CoreBook-Plus-with-supposed-AMD-Ryzen-5-7430U-also-affected.1248660.0.html |archive-date=2026-03-13 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Notebookcheck}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]] | |[[Cloudary Holdings Limited / Webnovel]] | ||
| Line 161: | Line 171: | ||
|[[Digital Europe]] (lobby organization consisting of [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Amazon]], and [[Meta]]) | |[[Digital Europe]] (lobby organization consisting of [[Microsoft]], [[Google]], [[Amazon]], and [[Meta]]) | ||
|Group lobbied to keep datacenter emissions secret from consumers via confidentiality clause that was adopted almost verbatim by the Eurpean Comission, intentionally keeping consumers in the dark about the environmental impact of the products they use. | |Group lobbied to keep datacenter emissions secret from consumers via confidentiality clause that was adopted almost verbatim by the Eurpean Comission, intentionally keeping consumers in the dark about the environmental impact of the products they use. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=US tech firms successfully lobbied EU to keep datacentre emissions secret |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[E621]] | |[[E621]] | ||
| Line 198: | Line 208: | ||
|GM originally released the EV1 in 1996 on a lease program, and then instead of selling the much loved used/leased vehicles to consumers, they decided to crush the grand majority of them. Very few surviving examples can be found today, with most in private collections or at universities. | |GM originally released the EV1 in 1996 on a lease program, and then instead of selling the much loved used/leased vehicles to consumers, they decided to crush the grand majority of them. Very few surviving examples can be found today, with most in private collections or at universities. | ||
Because it was seen as a failure to major auto manufacturers, It would take over a decade before another EV was produced in the United States. | Because it was seen as a failure to major auto manufacturers, It would take over a decade before another EV was produced in the United States. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 212: | Line 218: | ||
Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with [[GrapheneOS]], now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason. | Right now we don't have these incidents organised chronologically, maybe we should have a table with a timeline of measures Google takes to enshittify and close down Android (more APIs moved to Play Services, Developer verification, withholding AOSP device trees for Pixel devices to mess with [[GrapheneOS]], now delayed source code disclosure). What's worst, they always cite safety as a reason. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025310/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive: Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260107025310/https://www.androidauthority.com/android-risk-based-security-updates-3597466/ |archive-date=7 Jan 2026 |website=Android Authority}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Google]], [[Mozilla]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], but largely Google-led | |[[Google]], [[Mozilla]], [[Apple]], [[Microsoft]], but largely Google-led | ||
| Line 238: | Line 240: | ||
The advertisement is a full page of text, that you can't either enable or disable while you're driving. Your only options are to (A) select later, to delay the ad for another driving session, or (2) Pull over and park your car so you can (C) enable the feature at $10/mo or (iii) dig through settings menus to figure out how to disable the message permanently (which will probably only be actually permanent until the battery in the car dies). | The advertisement is a full page of text, that you can't either enable or disable while you're driving. Your only options are to (A) select later, to delay the ad for another driving session, or (2) Pull over and park your car so you can (C) enable the feature at $10/mo or (iii) dig through settings menus to figure out how to disable the message permanently (which will probably only be actually permanent until the battery in the car dies). | ||
BlueLink appears to be marketing lingo for their cell-phone-linked remote start/stop, lock/unlock, and climate control features. The only feature that should actually need a cellular subscription appears to be stolen vehicle recovery. | BlueLink appears to be marketing lingo for their cell-phone-linked remote start/stop, lock/unlock, and climate control features. The only feature that should actually need a cellular subscription appears to be stolen vehicle recovery. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Hank |date=2026-16 | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Hank |date=2026-04-16 |title=Should I Sue Hyundai? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1RUyOF2Rk |url-status=live |website=Youtube}}</ref> <ref>https://connected-mobility.hyundai.com/what-we-do/connected-car-services/bluelink</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Internet radios]] | |[[Internet radios]] | ||
|I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices]. | |I'd like a page where I can share information about internet radios "openness." Few allow you to enter a radio station's URL (which I would consider the least intrusive option). Most depend on third-party websites or apps; [https://www.sangean.com/uk/blog/149 some of which have already bricked devices]. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 263: | Line 257: | ||
|[[Kangaroo]] | |[[Kangaroo]] | ||
|A home security camera company that locks local hardware features behind software subscriptions and paywalls that ultimately could work without external service. Access to local storage playback via the app is locked behind a paywall; see reviews. "cooldown" periods provide a risk to security as motion detection does not activate until after a fixed period of time on no-subscription plans with clips that only capture 12 seconds of recording, this was not always the case. | |A home security camera company that locks local hardware features behind software subscriptions and paywalls that ultimately could work without external service. Access to local storage playback via the app is locked behind a paywall; see reviews. "cooldown" periods provide a risk to security as motion detection does not activate until after a fixed period of time on no-subscription plans with clips that only capture 12 seconds of recording, this was not always the case. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=John |date=2021-11-09 |title=Kangaroo Indoor + Outdoor Cam Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kangaroo-indoor-plus-outdoor-cam |url-status=live | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=John |date=2021-11-09 |title=Kangaroo Indoor + Outdoor Cam Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kangaroo-indoor-plus-outdoor-cam |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=PCMag}}</ref><ref>https://www.bestbuy.com/product/kangaroo-indoor-outdoor-wired-1080p-security-camera-white/J3QLYYW64G/sku/6506997/reviews?pageSize=20</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Klarna]] | |[[Klarna]] | ||
|A German consumer rights association reports that payment provider Klarna requests access to users' bank accounts for payment purposes, but instead of just initiating transactions as the user expects, it also scans the complete list of transactions on the user's bank account for advertising purposes and also forwards that data to third parties. Klarna also faces criticism for encouraging debt by offering "buy now, pay later" schemes. | |A German consumer rights association reports that payment provider Klarna requests access to users' bank accounts for payment purposes, but instead of just initiating transactions as the user expects, it also scans the complete list of transactions on the user's bank account for advertising purposes and also forwards that data to third parties. Klarna also faces criticism for encouraging debt by offering "buy now, pay later" schemes. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/klarna-verbraucherschuetzer-kritisieren-konto-schnueffelei-bei-zahlungsdienstleister-a-de915cd3-997e-4b39-ad67-bb5d22969635}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.chip.de/news/Warnung-vor-KlarnaVebraucherschuetzer-sind-besorgt_185654845.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Sicherheit-Verbraucherzentrale-warnt-Klarna-analysiert-Kontodaten-39229147.html}}</ref><!-- Sources are in German since this is based on reports by a German consumer rights group. Not sure how to deal with non-English sources; the citation feature unfortunately doesn't offer a field for a translation service link. --> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Klarna: Verbraucherschützer kritisieren angebliche Konto-Schnüffelei bei Zahlungsdienstleister |url=https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/klarna-verbraucherschuetzer-kritisieren-konto-schnueffelei-bei-zahlungsdienstleister-a-de915cd3-997e-4b39-ad67-bb5d22969635 |website=Der Spiegel |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Verbraucherschützer sind besorgt: Kontoschnüffelei bei Klarna |url=https://www.chip.de/news/Warnung-vor-KlarnaVebraucherschuetzer-sind-besorgt_185654845.html |website=CHIP |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Verbraucherzentrale warnt: Klarna analysiert Kontoauszüge |url=https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Sicherheit-Verbraucherzentrale-warnt-Klarna-analysiert-Kontodaten-39229147.html |website=Computer Bild |language=de}}</ref><!-- Sources are in German since this is based on reports by a German consumer rights group. Not sure how to deal with non-English sources; the citation feature unfortunately doesn't offer a field for a translation service link. --> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Kohls]] | |[[Kohls]] | ||
| Line 275: | Line 269: | ||
|[[KOSA]] | |[[KOSA]] | ||
|KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources. | |KOSA claims to make kids safer, but it’s really a dangerous censorship bill that would give the U.S. government unprecedented control over the internet. This would put youth in danger by preventing them from accessing potentially life-saving resources. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fight for the Future |first= |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fight for the Future |first= |date=2026-01-24 |title=Reject online censorship. Tell lawmakers to oppose KOSA! |url=https://www.stopkosa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Stop KOSA}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250228145348/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/Katy-ISD-blocks-LGBTQ-resources-suicide-16647274.php</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[LBRY]] Foundation, [[Odysee]] | |[[LBRY]] Foundation, [[Odysee]] | ||
| Line 288: | Line 282: | ||
|LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app. | |LG discontinued its LG Bluetooth Remote app (including plugins such as "btc4") making it non-public on the Play Store and making Bluetooth controllable devices (like for example the CM2630B) half as useful, without even publishing neither the protocol used to control such devices nor the source code of the app. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|Linkedin | |||
|LinkedIn has been caught running a massive, silent operation that scans the local computers of its visitors. Every time a user visits <code>linkedin.com</code> using a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave), a hidden JavaScript program executes to check for the presence of over '''6,000 specific browser extensions.''' | |||
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHj6IvBmlpU | |||
https://browsergate.eu/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Lowe's]] | |[[Lowe's]] | ||
| Line 300: | Line 299: | ||
|In a recent trial Meta and Google were found liable for making there social media platforms addictive and harmful | |In a recent trial Meta and Google were found liable for making there social media platforms addictive and harmful | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jury finds Meta and Google negligent in social media harms trial |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/03/25/nx-s1-5746125/meta-youtube-social-media-trial-verdict |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c747x7gz249o |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meta and YouTube Found Negligent in Landmark Social Media Addiction Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/technology/social-media-trial-verdict.html |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Microsoft]] | |[[Microsoft]] | ||
| Line 322: | Line 316: | ||
|<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minut/pointthe-friendly-home-alarm</ref> | |<ref>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minut/pointthe-friendly-home-alarm</ref> | ||
<ref>https://www.minut.com/</ref> | <ref>https://www.minut.com/</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|[https://www.mobvoi.com/us Mobvoi/Ticwatch] | |||
|Written with partially help of AI | |||
Mobvoi has gained a reputation for a "launch and forget" pattern, where devices are marketed with the promise of future software updates that often arrive years late or are cancelled entirely. This pattern—most notable in the two-year delay of the Wear OS 3 update—frequently leaves consumers with hardware that lacks core advertised features, such as Google Assistant. Additionally, the company faces criticism for restrictive warranty policies and a difficult return process that often places the financial burden of shipping and replacement on the user. Once the app was abandoned subscription was still available for purchases but was unusable | |||
|https://9to5google.com/2025/12/05/mobvoi-ticwatch-wear-os-dead/ | |||
https://www.androidcentral.com/wearables/mobvoi-explains-wear-os-3-holdup | |||
https://www.pcmag.com/news/another-wear-os-smartwatch-maker-appears-to-have-given-up | |||
https://www.xda-developers.com/mobvoi-lying-ticwatch-hardware/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Multiple | |Multiple | ||
| Line 361: | Line 363: | ||
|The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]'' | |The OICA recently pushed for the right to emit sounds from quiet electric cars to make them as loud as conventional cars with combustion engine and against stricter noise regulation in cities. The fake engine noises in question are specifically not for safety purposes, but for emotional effect for the driver. However, instead of playing the noises only inside for just the driver to hear, the noise is to be played on speakers on the exterior, thus affecting the general public. Noise pollution has long been known to have adverse health effects. ''[NOTE: Similar to environmental aspects, greenwashing etc., we will have to find a good angle for how this fits the wiki. I would say it does match the general theme of manufacturers deliberately making their products worse for minor financial gain and lobbies pushing against things that are in public interest.]'' | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108165124/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krempl |first=Stefan |date=2026-01-07 |title=Sound Dictatorship vs. Quiet: The Battle for E-Car Roar |url=https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260108165124/https://www.heise.de/en/news/Sound-Dictatorship-vs-Quiet-The-Battle-for-E-Car-Roar-11133630.html |archive-date=8 Jan 2026|access-date=2026-01-08 |website=Heise Online}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Pearl Abyss | |Pearl Abyss | ||
|Crimson Desert engaged in hardware gatekeeping by purposely locking out support for Intel GPUs. Their response when people asked what was going on was, “Get a refund.” They failed to mention in their hardware requirements that Intel GPUs were not supported. Intel also reached out to Pearl Abyss over the course of Crimson Desert’s development to offer support but was ignored. Pearl Abyss has now backpedaled after public backlash and says they will offer Intel GPU support. | |Crimson Desert engaged in hardware gatekeeping by purposely locking out support for Intel GPUs. Their response when people asked what was going on was, “Get a refund.” They failed to mention in their hardware requirements that Intel GPUs were not supported. Intel also reached out to Pearl Abyss over the course of Crimson Desert’s development to offer support but was ignored. Pearl Abyss has now backpedaled after public backlash and says they will offer Intel GPU support. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intel suggests it was snubbed by Crimson Desert dev after reaching out "many times" about Arc GPUs – company says it provided "early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources" to studio |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/intel-suggests-it-was-snubbed-by-crimson-desert-dev-after-reaching-out-many-times-about-arc-gpus-company-says-it-provided-early-hardware-drivers-and-engineering-resources-to-studio |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert blocks Intel ARC GPUs from playing, studio asks owners to refund |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/crimson-desert-blocks-intel-arc-gpus-from-playing-studio-asks-owners-to-refund/#:~:text=Users%20on%20Reddit%20who%20discovered,resolution%20for%20Intel%20ARC%20owners. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert doesn't support Intel Arc GPUs on PC, it may never, and the devs say get a refund if you have one — they didn't warn players until launch |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/crimson-desert-doesnt-support-intel-arc-gpus-it-may-never-and-the-devs-say-get-a-refund-if-you-have-one |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert Doesn't Work on Intel GPUs, But Pearl Abyss Is Working On It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/crimson-desert-doesnt-work-on-intel-gpus-but-pearl-abyss-is-working-on-it |url-status=live}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intel suggests it was snubbed by Crimson Desert dev after reaching out "many times" about Arc GPUs – company says it provided "early hardware, drivers, and engineering resources" to studio |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/intel-suggests-it-was-snubbed-by-crimson-desert-dev-after-reaching-out-many-times-about-arc-gpus-company-says-it-provided-early-hardware-drivers-and-engineering-resources-to-studio |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert blocks Intel ARC GPUs from playing, studio asks owners to refund |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/crimson-desert-blocks-intel-arc-gpus-from-playing-studio-asks-owners-to-refund/#:~:text=Users%20on%20Reddit%20who%20discovered,resolution%20for%20Intel%20ARC%20owners. |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert doesn't support Intel Arc GPUs on PC, it may never, and the devs say get a refund if you have one — they didn't warn players until launch |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/crimson-desert-doesnt-support-intel-arc-gpus-it-may-never-and-the-devs-say-get-a-refund-if-you-have-one |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Crimson Desert Doesn't Work on Intel GPUs, But Pearl Abyss Is Working On It |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/crimson-desert-doesnt-work-on-intel-gpus-but-pearl-abyss-is-working-on-it |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Regus]] | |[[Regus]] | ||
| Line 393: | Line 383: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games] | |[https://www.skystone.games/ Skystone Games] | ||
|Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone | |Boundary, a multiplayer online-only first-person shooter, got shut down just a year after its release by Skystone Games, and its publishing rights relinquished, citing "ongoing delays and a lack of updates from the developer". Studio Surgical Scalpels (the developer) stated that the publisher decisions were "extremely sudden and unreasonable", and attempted to "regain the rights to boundary". The game has been offline for more than a year at the time of writing, and no refunds or communications to the user base has been made by Skystone Games. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021143111/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-19 |title=Boundary - End of service notice |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-07 |website=Steam |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021143111/https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1364020/view/4209257868262605607?l=english |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Boundary Shut Down: Who's to Blame? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=Kr8IhV1fovE |archive-date=16 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|Samsung Galaxy S25 | |||
|Samsung s25 ultra one ui 8.5 android 16 needs location for blue light shield even for custom schedule. | |||
|[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Djw8iz7HWTt_uywYQywnMVDwmnBGPt_t/view?pli=1 Screenshot] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]] | |[[Sony]], Sony Online Entertainment/[[Daybreak Game Company]] | ||
|Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well. | |Selling off SOE to the investment firm Columbus Nova, all games published by SOE were delisted without prior notice to consumers or developers, and licenses were revoked as well. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127030103/https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204235742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=S |first=Shawn |date=Jun 10, 2016 |title=Akimi Village |url=https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251127030103/https://delistedgames.com/akimi-village/ |archive-date=27 Nov 2025|website=Delisted Games}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=Feb 2, 2015 |title=SOE acquired, becomes Daybreak Game Company |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |work=GamesIndustry.biz |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260204235742/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/soe-acquired-becomes-daybreak-game-company |archive-date=4 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|[[Sony]] | |||
|Sony implements surge pricing/discounts on a per-user basis on their playstation store by profiling users, similar to airlines, car rentals, and concert tickets... only the goods are digital only and downloadable rather than physical media. Critics are calling this Surveillance Pricing. | |||
|<ref>https://youtu.be/t8yVc6Uarho?si=fJeCzxqmxgyB_tLq</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Spectora]] | |[[Spectora]] | ||
| Line 417: | Line 415: | ||
This one might be tough to document, because it's been slowly going on for the past 15 years. Norton used to offer a great internet security package with a ton of good and useful services for a decent price. Unfortunately, slowly over the years, they've gone further and further down the rabbit hole of charging more money for fewer and fewer features, and then locking some of those features behind even more paywalls and micro-transactions. | This one might be tough to document, because it's been slowly going on for the past 15 years. Norton used to offer a great internet security package with a ton of good and useful services for a decent price. Unfortunately, slowly over the years, they've gone further and further down the rabbit hole of charging more money for fewer and fewer features, and then locking some of those features behind even more paywalls and micro-transactions. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|[[Steam]] by Valve software | |||
|As of 2026 games bought to work and made for Windows 7, are no longer accessible on Windows 7 OS - A system they were made to work on and sold for. Titles that might not even work on modern Windows instalments. | |||
This is done by forcing updates before launching of any title. | |||
If there was a patch it will always fail before finishing update process. | |||
Thus if user is unwilling to move to next installment of supported the operating system for whatever reason, which is not valve's decision to make. User is locked out of his purchase. | |||
|[https://disk.yandex.com/i/ZPOVZYq11i8nJQ][https://disk.yandex.com/i/pBkHSsIhU5KqmA][https://disk.yandex.com/i/-mGVJAJHSTX-5Q][https://disk.yandex.com/i/I-NVZmXmfBrBEQ] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Telus]] | |[[Telus]] | ||
|Data Breach March 2026 | |Data Breach March 2026 | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[TriZetto]] | |[[TriZetto]] | ||
| Line 441: | Line 442: | ||
|[[Vive]] | |[[Vive]] | ||
|In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021. | |In 2022, Vive discontinued the original Vive Facial Tracker module a year after the original release, then released an updated model with proprietary firmware that blocked use on other 3rd party VR headset, while only allowing the new model to work with their new locked-down headset. The 2021 version of the face tracker's long term support was seemingly cut overnight without any software updates since 2021. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https:// | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vive Team |date=2022-08-07 |title=VIVE Focus 3 gets Facial Tracker, and Eye Tracker |url=https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250619155201/https://blog.vive.com/us/vive-focus-3-gets-facial-tracker-and-eye-tracker/ |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-09-21 |website=Vive Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=StateKi |date=2023-10-10 |title=Post by StatekTi on X |url=https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260520140619/https://nitter.catsarch.com/StatekTi/status/1733954156379963393 |archive-date=20 May 2026 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=X (Formerly Twitter)}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Wheatstone Corporation | |Wheatstone Corporation | ||
| Line 450: | Line 451: | ||
|White House | |White House | ||
|The White House made a news app, but this app tracks your location every 4.5 minutes through third-party OneSignal | |The White House made a news app, but this app tracks your location every 4.5 minutes through third-party OneSignal | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deep Humor |date=2026-03-30 |title=Don't Download This App |url=https://youtu.be/d5OTwcRxaTw?si=REEdhGeYPelHGLEQ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tixon |first=Bernadette B. |date=2026-03-29 |title=White House App Found Tracking Users' Exact Location Every 4.5 Minutes via Third-Party Server |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/white-house-app-gps-tracking-controversy-1788974 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Milden |first=Dashia |date=2026-03-30 |title=I Downloaded (and Deleted) the White House App So You Don't Have To. It's a Hot Mess |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/i-downloaded-and-deleted-the-white-house-app-so-you-dont-have-to-its-a-hot-mess/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website= | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deep Humor |date=2026-03-30 |title=Don't Download This App |url=https://youtu.be/d5OTwcRxaTw?si=REEdhGeYPelHGLEQ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tixon |first=Bernadette B. |date=2026-03-29 |title=White House App Found Tracking Users' Exact Location Every 4.5 Minutes via Third-Party Server |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/white-house-app-gps-tracking-controversy-1788974 |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[International Business Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Milden |first=Dashia |date=2026-03-30 |title=I Downloaded (and Deleted) the White House App So You Don't Have To. It's a Hot Mess |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/i-downloaded-and-deleted-the-white-house-app-so-you-dont-have-to-its-a-hot-mess/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=CNET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-30 |title=White House app sparks concern over location tracking and privacy issues |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/cointelegraph:565f766ef094b:0-white-house-app-sparks-concern-over-location-tracking-and-privacy-issues/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[TradingView]]}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[WHMCS]] | |[[WHMCS]] | ||
| Line 474: | Line 475: | ||
|World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI). | |World Network (Sam Altman/Open AI) scheme to collect biometric data on all people. Tied to cryptocurrency, AI schemes. Supposedly way for people to show they are human (run by the people who are trying to make a profit from AI). | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|Yoti | |||
|Age verification company that operates in the UK, used by Sony for Playstation accounts. A user claims that Yoti reported him to authorities for using their app on GrapheneOS. | |||
|https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/36134-grapheneos-user-reported-to-authorities-for-using-grapheneos | |||
https://imgur.com/a/yoti-hates-graphene-threatens-you-MCHs6NA | |||
https://www.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/1txn8di/did_i_just_got_threatened_by_yoti_age/ | |||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Zhiyun]] | |[[Zhiyun]] | ||
| Line 491: | Line 498: | ||
!Summary of Theme | !Summary of Theme | ||
!Refs | !Refs | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Car manufacturers replacing physical controls by touch-screens | |Car manufacturers replacing physical controls by touch-screens | ||
| Line 503: | Line 506: | ||
|[[wikipedia:Content_delivery_network|WP]], see also [[Cloud (service)]]. While helpful, they can infer the browsing history of millions of users across sites. The bigger their monopoly, the more cross-site tracking power they have. Even GDPR has been against using CDNs in some situations. Examples of CDN: [[wikipedia:Amazon_CloudFront|CloudFront]] (see [[Amazon]] [[wikipedia:Amazon_Web_Services|AWS]]), [[Cloudflare]], [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Azure|Azure]], [[wikipedia:Fastly|Fastly]], etc... | |[[wikipedia:Content_delivery_network|WP]], see also [[Cloud (service)]]. While helpful, they can infer the browsing history of millions of users across sites. The bigger their monopoly, the more cross-site tracking power they have. Even GDPR has been against using CDNs in some situations. Examples of CDN: [[wikipedia:Amazon_CloudFront|CloudFront]] (see [[Amazon]] [[wikipedia:Amazon_Web_Services|AWS]]), [[Cloudflare]], [[Microsoft]] [[wikipedia:Microsoft_Azure|Azure]], [[wikipedia:Fastly|Fastly]], etc... | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|[[Copyright]] | |||
*Consumer License Agreement (CLA) | |||
|Copyright is an important theme, please mention what it covers, what are the exceptions (e.g. [[wikipedia:first-sale doctrine|first-sale doctrine]]), what laws cover it ([[Digital Millennium Copyright Act|DMCA]]), what exceptions the laws provide (e.g. panorama, see Refs column) | |||
*Cover CLA as an incident type (example company/project [[Canonical]]/[[LXD]]), it's a form of forced contract assigning the company (source code maintainer) the copyright to open source contributions, allowing them to use them in closed source releases. | |||
|[https://www.copyrightexceptions.eu/ CopyrightExceptions.eu] | |||
*[https://drewdevault.com/blog/Dont-sign-a-CLA-2/ Seriously, don't sign a CLA] | |||
*[https://stgraber.org/2023/12/12/lxd-now-re-licensed-and-under-a-cla/ LXD now re-licensed and under a CLA] | |||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 510: | Line 521: | ||
|+ | |+ | ||
!Company | !Company | ||
! | |||
!Good deed | !Good deed | ||
!Refs | !Refs | ||
|- | |||
|Saleae | |||
| | |||
|How to react properly! Company co-founder/CTO gives full history — instead of just a PR statement — behind the mystery re-wiring of a used (but still defective) unit and offers replacement. | |||
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onxJqNzUyk0 I Found Hidden Wires... Then the CTO Emailed Me.] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|APSystems | |APSystems | ||
| | |||
|After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device | |After requests from users, the company released a firmware update that adds a local API to their EZ-1M solar micro inverter, allowing it to remain fully usable if the company ends support for the device | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107061040/https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025|website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=APsystems EZHI Local API User Manual |url=https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251107061040/https://global.apsystems.com/document/apsystems-ezhi-local-api-user-manual/ |archive-date=7 Nov 2025|website=global.apsystems.com}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Concept2 | |Concept2 | ||
| | |||
|Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust]. | |Readily provides parts and diagrams. Exists under a [https://www.concept2.com/about/perpetual-purpose-trust Perpetual Purpose Trust]. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches) | |Core Devices (from creator of Pebble Smartwatches) | ||
| | |||
|Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign. | |Not strictly Core Devices, but when Pebble was sold to Fitbit, the servers remained online for some time, and the Pebble app was updated to allow the Rebble community project to take over some of the Pebble server-side functionality. All backers of the upcoming Pebble 2 series of watches were refunded in full, despite it being a crowd-funding campaign. | ||
Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices. | Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit and after many years, Google released much of the Pebble Smart Watch source code on github (excluding proprietary libraries). Core Devices and Rebble replaced the usage of the proprietary libraries with open source alternatives, and released new Android and iOS apps, not only supporting the new core devices, but bringing updated support to legacy Pebble devices. | ||
| Line 527: | Line 547: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Fairphone | |Fairphone | ||
| | |||
|The new Fairphones (5th and 6th generation) are availible with stock android as well as e/os, which is a fork of lineage os and a european alternative cloud provider (murena) instead of google. This has many privacy features (app tracker blocker, tor network usage, and gps spoofing) availible in a few clicks. Also degoogle apps (microg, safetynet, ...) are preinstalled therefore it is w´possible to install everything also from playstore with an anonymous account. As e/os is a fork of lineage os and there is an official guide to flash the fairphone with e/os and is officially supported, flashing lineage os is very easy. | |The new Fairphones (5th and 6th generation) are availible with stock android as well as e/os, which is a fork of lineage os and a european alternative cloud provider (murena) instead of google. This has many privacy features (app tracker blocker, tor network usage, and gps spoofing) availible in a few clicks. Also degoogle apps (microg, safetynet, ...) are preinstalled therefore it is w´possible to install everything also from playstore with an anonymous account. As e/os is a fork of lineage os and there is an official guide to flash the fairphone with e/os and is officially supported, flashing lineage os is very easy. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-24 |title=How to manually install Android on your Fairphone |url=https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-How-to-manually-install-Android-on-your-Fairphone |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fairphone (Gen. 6) with privacy first /e/OS |url=https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system |url-status=live}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-24 |title=How to manually install Android on your Fairphone |url=https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/18896094650513-How-to-manually-install-Android-on-your-Fairphone |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Fairphone (Gen. 6) with privacy first /e/OS |url=https://shop.fairphone.com/the-fairphone-gen-6-e-operating-system |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Framework | |Framework | ||
| | |||
|They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for most of their products. They also support right to repair themselves. | |They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for most of their products. They also support right to repair themselves. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://frame.work/sustainability |url-status=live |website=[[Framework]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Framework Laptop 13 Repair |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Framework_Laptop |url-status=live |website= | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sustainability |url=https://frame.work/sustainability |url-status=live |website=[[Framework]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frauenheim |first=Carsten |title=Framework Laptop 13 Repair |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Device/Framework_Laptop |url-status=live |website=iFixit}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Home Assistant | |Home Assistant | ||
| | |||
|Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]]. | |Open-source smart home platform that provides local control, automation, and interoperability for a wide range of smart home devices. Provides support for many cloud devices after they're subject to [[discontinuation bricking]]. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Assistant |url=https://www.home-assistant.io/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260129222300/https://www.home-assistant.io/ |archive-date=2026-01-29 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Noctua | |Noctua | ||
| | |||
|Extremely long support for old products and availability of upgrade kits | |Extremely long support for old products and availability of upgrade kits | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |date=19 Feb 2026 |title=The Last CPU Cooler You Will Ever Buy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=LMG Clips |date=19 Feb 2026 |title=The Last CPU Cooler You Will Ever Buy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=D3g4-fb6u90 |archive-date=23 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Numatic International | |Numatic International | ||
| | |||
|A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility. | |A UK based manufacture of commercial and consumer wet/dry floor cleaning products (vacuums, scrubbers, floor buffers) that provides a robust library of technical documents, parts breakdowns, data sheets and training for free on both new and existing products without the need to login, pay additional fees or be an approved repair facility. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Oral-B | |Oral-B | ||
| | |||
|When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent. | |When installing the Android App, there is no login, and the user is asked for analytics tracking consent. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|Orange Pi (Shenzhen Xunlong Software Co., Ltd.) | |||
| | |||
|Commitment to Open Source Hardware and Transparency. (written with help of AI) | |||
Public Schematics, Open Documentation (extensive datasheets for the SoCs), Right to Repair Friendly by using standardized components and providing the "map" (schematics) to the board. Community-Centric: hey actively support the "maker" ecosystem by allowing third-party OS developers (like Armbian) easy access to the hardware information needed to keep older boards running for a decade or more. | |||
|http://www.orangepi.org/index.html | |||
http://www.orangepi.org/html/serviceAndSupport/index.html | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Philips | |Philips | ||
| | |||
|Added files for replacement parts to Printables so you can 3D print parts for your Philips products | |Added files for replacement parts to Printables so you can 3D print parts for your Philips products | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philips |url=https://www.printables.com/@Philips |url-status=live |website=Printables}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philips |url=https://www.printables.com/@Philips |url-status=live |website=Printables}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|ratgdo | |ratgdo | ||
| | |||
|A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features). | |A garage door opener controller developed by Paul Wieland, allowing you to locally control it (namely Chamberlain openers that would otherwise require the MyQ app for smart home features). | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wieland |first=Paul |title=About - ratgdo |url=https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251213022055/https://ratcloud.llc/pages/about |archive-date=2025-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-05}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Reticulum | |Reticulum | ||
| | |||
|Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum. | |Reticulum is an open-source, decentralized networking stack designed to communicate between practically any wireless device, even without internet. Its purpose is to provide fully anonymous end-to-end encrypted communication by default, especially in the age of government surveillance. The Reticulum network, protocol, and hardware are not tied any company in particular but were initially created by Github user 'markqvist'. Honorable mention to NomadNet, which is a network of nodes that serve webpages, similar to the internet, that communicate via Reticulum. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222180553/https://reticulum.network/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=markqvist |title=Reticulum Network |url=https://reticulum.network/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=Reticulum |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222180553/https://reticulum.network/ |archive-date=22 Feb 2026}}</ref> | ||
|- | |||
|RME Audio | |||
| | |||
|Audio equipment manufacturer that provides reliable, high-quality audio interfaces and equipment with driver and firmware support that spans 15+ years. Extensive documentation and support for both Mac, Windows, and USB Class-Compliant machines on all of their products across several OS generations ensures compatibility, transparency, and a dedication for keeping old hardware alive. | |||
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Apr 2026 |title=RME Downloads |url=https://www.rme-usa.com/downloads.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Apr 2026 |website=RME-usa.com}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|stevesgames.co.uk | |stevesgames.co.uk | ||
| | |||
|Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future. | |Will never put ads or in-app purchases in their computer games and will make gamees available for free after securing the companys future. | ||
| | | | ||
|- | |||
|Sweetwater Sound | |||
| | |||
|The largest US-focused audio and music retailer that offers one of the best customer support systems to customers. Provides near 24x7 support with each customer being designated to a dedicated "sales engineer" who becomes the primary point of contact, with support networks that have direct contact to product vendors. Also contributes to more than 600 non-profits across the US. Also keeps outdated or obsolete product pages online as references, acting as a sort of music product database for most audio vendors. | |||
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 Apr 2026 |title=Why Choose Sweetwater? |url=https://www.sweetwater.com/about/why-choose-sweetwater/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 Apr 2026 |website=Sweetwater.com}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Tektronix | |Tektronix | ||
| | |||
|Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community. | |Provided extensive product data on unsupported products to a museum, vintageTEK, and thus to tekwiki and the rest of the community. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lenihan |first=Thomas F. |date=2012-02-28 |title=Copyright Notice |url=https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828004431/https://vintagetek.org/copyright-notice/ |archive-date=2025-08-28 |access-date=2025-10-18 |website=vintageTEK museum}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Ulanzi | |Ulanzi | ||
| | |||
|The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines. | |The company offers a tutorial on how users can mix their own fog juice to use with Ulanzi mini fog machines from readily available low-cost ingredients, whereas competitors sell proprietary fog juice at extortionate prices, refuse to release the formula and refuse to honour the warranty if users use anything but the OEM brand with their machines. | ||
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM Archived])</ref> | |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tutorial {{!}} How to DIY Ulanzi FM01 Fog Machine Juice? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM |type=Video}} ([https://preservetube.com/watch?v=qiq1B6-dcEM Archived])</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|ZSA | |ZSA | ||
| | |||
|This company produces programmable ergonomic keyboards. They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for one of their keyboards <ref>{{Cite web |title=ErgoDox EZ Keyboard Repairability Assessment |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ErgoDox+EZ+Keyboard+Repairability+Assessment/125077}}</ref>. They also support right to repair themselves <ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting the Right to Repair |url=https://blog.zsa.io/2105-right-to-repair/}}</ref>. They have their own web software to modify keyboard layout <ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyager default layout |url=https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/default/latest/2}}</ref>, but it's possible to download source code of your layout and compile and flash it yourself using their fork of the QMK <ref>{{Cite web |title=QMK, forked for ZSA's Oryx Configurator (to safeguard stability) |url=https://github.com/zsa/qmk_firmware/}}</ref>. The flashing can be done with standard tools, without any signing and bootloader unlocking. | |This company produces programmable ergonomic keyboards. They have 10/10 repair score by iFixit site for one of their keyboards <ref>{{Cite web |title=ErgoDox EZ Keyboard Repairability Assessment |url=https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ErgoDox+EZ+Keyboard+Repairability+Assessment/125077}}</ref>. They also support right to repair themselves <ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting the Right to Repair |url=https://blog.zsa.io/2105-right-to-repair/}}</ref>. They have their own web software to modify keyboard layout <ref>{{Cite web |title=Voyager default layout |url=https://configure.zsa.io/voyager/layouts/default/latest/2}}</ref>, but it's possible to download source code of your layout and compile and flash it yourself using their fork of the QMK <ref>{{Cite web |title=QMK, forked for ZSA's Oryx Configurator (to safeguard stability) |url=https://github.com/zsa/qmk_firmware/}}</ref>. The flashing can be done with standard tools, without any signing and bootloader unlocking. | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
==See | ==See also== | ||
*[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]] | *[[Louis Rossmann - Video Directory]] | ||
*[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - Video Directory]] | *[[Other Channels - Video Directory|Other Channels - Video Directory]] | ||