That's probably what GP is implying, because that's how it works. More and more devices require Internet connectivity for no real reason except ensuring vendor's business.
See e.g. a laser cutter featured once on HN, that offloaded its basic computations to my butt, turning it into $2000-worth big paperweight if you lost your Internet connection.
I mean, I understand that people need to make money, but some of the business models today are so user-hostile that it's no longer funny.
> Are you saying these appliances don't work at all without internet connectivity?
Yep. Can't use my Vizio Smartcast TV without connecting it to the internet for 10 hours of updates. Can't use my Nexus 5 without connecting it to the internet to upload my identity to Google.
See e.g. a laser cutter featured once on HN, that offloaded its basic computations to my butt, turning it into $2000-worth big paperweight if you lost your Internet connection.
I mean, I understand that people need to make money, but some of the business models today are so user-hostile that it's no longer funny.