| Firmware updates? [message #93847] |
Tue, 01 June 2021 21:03  |
LCallan
Messages: 42
Registered: June 2021
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Baron |
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How do you feel about firmware updates? It seems like every AV product on the market today goes through a push of firmware updates. Do you typically install these or do you ignore the notifications? Does it depend on the thing to be updated? I typically have a rough go of it when updating my amp. I might let it go this time.
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| Re: Firmware updates? [message #93850 is a reply to message #93848] |
Wed, 02 June 2021 11:16  |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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I've seen a huge change in manufacturing direction over the years.
Prior to around the year 2000, manufacturers of electronics rigorously tested their products before packaging them for delivery. They were very concerned that the products worked as intended. Not only did they want this for reasons of customer satisfaction - but even prior to that - they don't want to package and ship the product and have a bunch of stuff on the shelves that doesn't work right. That would involve warranty service or possibly even a product recall. Both are extremely expensive and could bankrupt a company. So testing was typically pretty exhaustive prior to Y2K.
During the 2000s, I saw a manufacturing trend of less thorough testing because of an expectation that firmware updates could be applied after delivery. Electronics manufacturers began to risk putting buggy stuff on the shelves in order to try and get product out to market. Some did it as a race to be first, others did it as a race to get revenues going. Some did it for both reasons. But the point is the manufacturers started taking short-cuts in testing and sometimes even in completing the initial firmware coding, all in the race to get products out.
The risk, of course, is that firmware of new devices on the shelves might be botched enough that it wouldn't take an update. Developers call this "bricking a device," with the inference being that the device was then made as worthless as a brick. So focus is on making sure the firmware update mechanism is solid. Another risk is to customers that purchase a device and then attempt to use it in an environment that is isolated from connectivity. A modern device may or may not perform well, and is probably lacking functionality if it doesn't do a firmware update right away, as soon as it is first used.
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| Re: Firmware updates? [message #93856 is a reply to message #93854] |
Thu, 03 June 2021 19:38 |
Madison
Messages: 334
Registered: June 2017
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Grand Master |
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I used to because I thought it was super important to protect against cyberattacks. Now I'm more careful about what I update and what I don't. I've noticed a trend towards using updates as another way to advertise. It happened with my Sony smart TV. Sure, there might've been some useful improvements in there, but so was extra advertising that I didn't ask for. I always update my operating system and web browser, but I wait on the others until I can see what is about to be installed and how it will affect my device.
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