Startup Set To Brick $800 Kids Robot Is Trying To Open Source It First (arstechnica.com) 29
Last week, startup Embodied announced it was closing down, and its product, an $800 robot for kids ages 5 to 10, would soon be bricked. Now, in a blog post published on Friday, CEO Paolo Pirjanian shared that Embodied's technical team is working on a way to open-source the robot, ensuring it can continue operating indefinitely. Ars Technica reports: The notice says that after releasing OpenMoxie, Embodied plans to release "all necessary code and documentation" for developers and users. Pirjanian said that an over-the-air (OTA) update is now available for download that will allow previously purchased Moxies to support OpenMoxie. The executive noted that Embodied is still "seeking long-term answers" but claimed that the update is a "vital first step" to "keep the door open" for the robot's continued functionality.
At this time, OpenMoxie isn't available and doesn't have a release date. Embodied's wording also seems careful to leave an opening for OpenMoxie to not actually release; although, the company seems optimistic. However, there's also a risk of users failing to update their robots in time and properly. Embodied noted that it won't be able to support users who have trouble with the update or with OpenMoxie post-release. Updating the robot includes connecting to Wi-Fi and leaving it on for at least an hour. "It is extremely important that you update your Moxie with this OTA as soon as possible because once the cloud servers stop working you will not be able to update your robot," the document reads. Embodied hasn't said when exactly its cloud servers still stop working.
At this time, OpenMoxie isn't available and doesn't have a release date. Embodied's wording also seems careful to leave an opening for OpenMoxie to not actually release; although, the company seems optimistic. However, there's also a risk of users failing to update their robots in time and properly. Embodied noted that it won't be able to support users who have trouble with the update or with OpenMoxie post-release. Updating the robot includes connecting to Wi-Fi and leaving it on for at least an hour. "It is extremely important that you update your Moxie with this OTA as soon as possible because once the cloud servers stop working you will not be able to update your robot," the document reads. Embodied hasn't said when exactly its cloud servers still stop working.
Soon to be bricked (Score:5, Funny)
They should sell it to LEGO
Re: Soon to be bricked (Score:2)
Re: Soon to be bricked (Score:1)
Those in the EU/UK ... (Score:3)
might be able to get a refund from the retailer [thisismoney.co.uk] for two, or maybe up to six, years after purchase. These regulations are aimed at faults in the device, I do not know how this will be interpreted by the courts for a fault in something that the device connects to (ie servers going away). The retailers will fight this tooth and nail as at $800 each they will be on the hook for a lot of money for something that is really not their fault.
A good solution is open sourcing of Embodied's code but this might be hard if it depends on licensed components. An update allowing them to be updated from a non Embodied server would be a good start as that would give time for an Open Moxie to be developed.
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A good solution is open sourcing of Embodied's code but this might be hard if it depends on licensed components. An update allowing them to be updated from a non Embodied server would be a good start as that would give time for an Open Moxie to be developed.
Yep. It should be a legal requirement, in the EU, US, and elsewhere, for companies being liquidated to publicly post all code (at least a compiled version) needed for repair including firmware, all repair materials including manuals and fixture information, remove the need for a centralized server or back end as part of the release even if this tautologically removes some or core functionality, and anything else required but reasonable to produce in order to keep the product functioning. If these condition
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the money obtained in liquidation pays for this before any creditors get a cent.
It should be: before shareholders get a cent, creditors are innocent third parties. I think that adding directors would be good as well.
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>"Creditors are not innocent and shouldnâ(TM)t receive a cent until the above is done."
You cannot say such a generality. A creditor is ANY person or company owed money because they provided goods or services. Electricity, water, food, rent, parts, advertising, health care, whatever. Exactly what makes them, in general, "guilty" and of what are they guilty?
Along those lines, the customers paid for a product (with all its inherent limitations and benefits) and got that product, and the use of it.
Kids these days (Score:2)
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The kids these toys are for are more ofthe "secluded" type,
in your days they would have often been institutionalized and left to rott.
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No, thats what Star Wars action figured and G.I. Joe was for. .. and the occasional pen and paper RPG (no not a rocket propelled grenade).
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The kids these toys are for are more ofthe "secluded" type,
in your days they would have often been institutionalized and left to rott.
No. We were told to "go outside and play".
Being the anti-social non-physical types, we mostly sat (alone) under trees (to avoid sunburn) and read books, or drew pictures, and imagined things. We played with sticks, and rocks, and plastic action figures if we could afford them. We found ways of entertaining ourselves without attracting notice of adults and bullies. We grew up to be engineers, scientists, programmers, or other brainy well-paid solitary workers.
We were not "institutionalized and left to ro
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And cigarrettes. That's what made you cool.
Things have changed in the last 40 years. Not just the parents, but society in general.
You let your 8-10 year old kids out to play for 6 hours on a Saturday and they wander off to the mall and you get arrested for abandonment.
Meanwhile, while your kids are out playing on their skateboards and such, the neighbor's kids are watching YouTube videos that are 90% entertainment but 10% educational. That 10% educational adds up over the hundred of hours and suddenly th
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Kids benefit immensely from playing outside. You have instant access to all the world's knowledge yet can't be bothered to check simple things like that?
the neighbor's kids are watching YouTube videos that are 90% entertainment but 10% educational
Have you seen what kids are watching? There is nothing educational there.
Kids these days have the opportunity to learn from the best teachers in the world on any subject
yet they'll still spend 6 hours watching someone else play a video game while pretending everything they do is super interesting and exciting. They spend even longer endlessly scrolling through an incoherent torrent of 15 second videos.
They know colleges are more competitive. They're stepping up.
They're checking out. Increasingly fewer kids a
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Okay boomer. In the meantime there's a whole generation of working class home owners with families who grew up with robotic toys. Except we gave them cuter names, and we needed to because Furbies were fucking terrifying.
A very good and nice decision! (Score:3)
And a great example for others to follow.
Re:A very good and nice decision! (Score:5, Insightful)
Just goes to show they really care about their product and their mission so much that they want to keep it alive even when they are out of business.
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It might have sold better had they did this up front.
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Come on, cut them some slack, they are in the process of dismantelling their company, sometimes you don't think about the nicest solutions, then.
What really matters is that they have changed their stance, and shown their heart.
Cloud Exclusive Hardware (Score:2)
Brick $800 Kids ? (Score:1)
How come they never brick the expensive kids?
Store source code your national library (Score:2)
huzzah (Score:1)
make the server open too (Score:1)
Nice move (Score:2)
This is pretty much what I thought they should do, it's nice to see they agree.