A frustrated homeowner's experience with a new Bosch dishwasher highlights growing concerns about unnecessary cloud connectivity in household appliances.
After his 8-year-old GE dishwasher died, the owner purchased a Bosch 500 series based on positive reviews. However, the excitement of a new appliance quickly turned to disappointment when he discovered that basic features like rinse cycle, eco mode, and delayed start required connecting the dishwasher to WiFi and creating an account with Home Connect cloud service.
"I don't need Internet on my dishwasher," states the owner, pointing out that remote controlling wash cycles while away serves no practical purpose, unlike cloud-connected security cameras or doorbells where remote access adds genuine value.
The situation raises several red flags about the direction of home appliances. Basic functionality that was previously accessible through physical buttons now sits behind mandatory cloud connectivity. This creates potential security vulnerabilities by adding network access points and raises questions about long-term feature availability if cloud services are discontinued.
The owner suggests manufacturers should prioritize local control first, with cloud connectivity as an optional convenience rather than a requirement. "Cloud should be an add-on, not a prerequisite for basic features," he emphasizes.
While the dishwasher performs its primary washing functions adequately, the forced cloud integration represents a concerning trend of manufacturers limiting device functionality unless users surrender data and network access. This approach appears driven more by business metrics than consumer benefit.
The experience serves as a cautionary tale for consumers and a call for appliance makers to reconsider their approach to smart features. As the owner concludes, "We shouldn't let vendors get away with this stuff."