Consumer safety remains our highest priority and we’ve had overwhelming participation in the U.S. Note7 Refund and Exchange Program so far, with more than 93 percent of all recalled Galaxy Note7 devices returned.
To further increase participation, a software update will be released starting on December 19th that will prevent U.S. Galaxy Note7 devices from charging and will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices.
One the one hand, it’s great these potentially dangerous devices can be rendered inoperable. On the other hand, it’s a deeply unsettling – especially in the current US political climate – feeling that devices can just be shut off at a moment’s notice.
“it’s a deeply unsettling – especially in the current US political climate – feeling that devices can just be shut off at a moment’s notice.”
Really this has always been the case. Your cellular, broadband, and even your POTS connection have always only functioned because your government allows them to.
Verizon has already said that they wont’ be issuing this patch, at least for a few months at least. They don’t really want to leave people with a non-functioning device which is unable to make emergency phone calls, especially with a lot of people traveling in inclement weather.
I suppose the bright side is that, should their phone explode, they could stay warm in said weather for a bit.
Drumhellar,
Bah, it’s just like them to withhold an update, there’s always an excuse with these guys!
I can understand this concern, but how about an update that takes some inspiration from “nagware” and frequently displays a message that the phone is known to be a fire and explosion hazard, should be returned as soon as possible, and should only be used in emergencies until a replacement can be obtained?
I’d think something else – an update that blocks Google Play Services, for example, which would effectively nuke a ton of apps.
Keep it usable as a phone, but make it usable for little else.
I think both approaches would be good. Nag people that they really need to return it ASAP, and disable their ability to play Fruit Ninja etc. Perhaps even an update that instead of breaking Play Services (since some apps will still work without it), simply disallows running any apps other than Phone, Contacts and Messages, and whatever background apps are necessary for the OS to function.
Anyone traveling with a loaded Samsung Note 7 in his pocket has more to worry about than not being able to call AAA after a flat tire. People who continue to operate this device are by now well aware of the risks and have had plenty of opportunities to exchange the device. Samsung is right to entreaty the carriers to kill those remaining devices.
Nagware would probably be a lesser evil alternative. It will inform all users –in case somebody is unaware of the issue– and still not be as intrusive and aggressive an action as what that update intends.
As good intentioned as that move might be, it is unsettling indeed that your owned device can be rendered a brick by an update, much like a virus does. One can never trust technology these days.
And the big brother mentality that “This is for your own good, I know whats best” is also disturbing.
And apparently I failed to read your message before replying above, which is somewhat ironic in terms of depending on people reading messages. Just goes to show it would need to be the naggiest of nagware, something fullscreen that doesn’t let you dismiss it for at least 5 seconds after appearing.
I haven’t seen any article mention if this is a forced update. If it isn’t, what’s to stop a Note 7 owner from simply not applying it? If they haven’t returned the phone by now, chances are they’ll try their best to keep it beyond the 19th Dec kill-switch update too…
I wonder if this would work on Nexus devices. I could always just install an alternate ROM.
Theoretically it is possible for an OTA update to rewrite the baseband firmware and then render it read-only, but only if the hardware was designed for the possibility. I have no clue if any of the Nexus or Pixel devices have/had this capability.
If any of those phone that are liable to explode do explode and injure someone seriously, would Verizon or Samsung be expected to pay for the damage.
You can’t make Samsung responsible for this and then prevent them from fixing the issue.
US Political climate doesn’t grant a fascist President fascist powers. We still have 3 branches of government with checks and balances, so no Trump(or Hillary, Obama, whatever) cannot go force a company to disable phones.
Trump is human garbage, but if we inject paranoia at every turn, suddenly Trump supporters will look more reasonable.
Drawing comparisons to political issues and totalitarian regimes is really strange. There is no kill switch in the Note 7 nor in any other phone. The means for disabling these devices is to provide a regular system upgrade that is programmed to (sort of) break the device.
The users can always decide not to install any updated to their devices and avoid the issue that way. Yes, users can even decide if they want to install the software which will cause their devices to become useless.