Panasonic Begins To Lock Out 3d-Party Camera Batteries 450
Posted
by
timothy
from the humbly-meeting-customer-demands dept.
from the humbly-meeting-customer-demands dept.
OhMyBattery writes "The latest firmware updated for Panasonic digital cameras contains one single improvement: it locks out the ability to use 'non-genuine Panasonic' batteries. It does so for safety reasons, it says. It seems to indicate that this is going to be the norm for all new Panasonic digital cameras. From the release: 'Panasonic Digital Still Cameras now include a technology that can identify a genuine Panasonic battery. For the protection of our customers Panasonic developed this technology after it was discovered that some aftermarket 3rd party batteries do not meet the rigid safety standards Panasonic uses.' The firmware warning is quite clear as to what it does: 'After this firmware update your Panasonic Digital Camera cannot be operated by 3rd party batteries (non genuine Panasonic batteries).'"
2D For Life (Score:5, Funny)
I never understood the obsession with 3D Parties or their camera batteries.
2D for life, bitches.
Who? (Score:3, Funny)
Adds strength to the Don't Buy Panasonic movement. (Score:4, Funny)
My completely uninformed guess about how this happened. Panasonic executives: "How can we sink the company?" Their answer: "Get a story about us doing something abusive on Slashdot. Slashdot readers understand technology and will make sure everyone knows."
Countdown to FTC action... (Score:4, Funny)
In 5...4...3...2...
Well, you get the idea. Any wagers as to how long it'll take for this to hit the legal system? I'm sure the resultant flare-up will be most entertaining. Time to invest in popcorn futures.
Re:Adds strength to the Don't Buy Panasonic moveme (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Lock is anticompetitive, not consumer prot'n (Score:4, Funny)
I had no problem opening up a Norelco to solder in new NiC. Coincidentally, I also did the same to a couple of Panasonic shavers.
How many megawhiskers where they?
Re:Maybe good justification (Score:5, Funny)
In related news, Sony has announced that it will be installing new firmware locking-out Sony batteries in their laptops, citing safety concerns.
Re:Norelco did this for years (Score:5, Funny)
I had no problem opening up a Norelco to solder in new NiC.
I meant "NiCd batteries."
I was about to ask to subscribe to your newsletter about network-enabled shavers.
Re:Norelco did this for years (Score:4, Funny)
Yes! Imagine all the time savings:
TWITTER: 7:42am - ajlitt has started shaving.
TWITTER: 7:46am - Battery Low.
TWITTER: 7:46am - ajlitt has stopped shaving.
TWITTER: 7:48am - Shaver on AC power.
TWITTER: 7:48am - Shaver on battery power.
TWITTER: 7:48am - Shaver on AC power.
TWITTER: 7:48am - ajlitt has started shaving.
TWITTER: 7:50am - ajlitt has stopped shaving.
TWITTER: 7:50am - Shaver on battery power.
TWITTER: 7:50am - Battery Low.
TWITTER: 7:51am - Shaver on AC power.
TWITTER: 10:37am - Battery at 100% charge.
TWITTER: 10:57am - Battery at 100% charge.
TWITTER: 11:17am - Battery at 100% charge.
TWITTER: 11:37am - Battery at 100% charge.
TWITTER: 11:57am - Battery at 100% charge.
TWITTER: 12:17am - Battery at 100% charge.
Re:Too bad for them (Score:3, Funny)
Yep. If I buy a car, I insist on the ability to use whatever brand of gasoline I want! If it's a bit more volatile than the "recommended" brand, that's a risk I take.
Also (Score:1, Funny)
Panasonic has determined that electricity from non-Panasonic power plants is detrimental to the environment. You are only allowed to charge your genuine Panasonic battery from a genuine Panasonic power plant. Panasonic Power Plantsâ use only the finest ingredients which makes the power much cleaner and purer. It also makes the power cost 150% more. but that's the price of pure.
If you plug the charger into a non-Panasonic outlet, the camera will give you an error message, erase all your pictures, and send your information to the local "child molester" database.
Won't somebody... (Score:3, Funny)