Samsung rolls out a software update as part of a pilot to display promotions and ads on the Cover Screens of some $1,800+ Family Hub refrigerators in the US
I am sure ALL of these owners have the proper web security in place to prevent from being a hack launching point. Mastodon: Niki Tonsky / @nikitonsky@mastodon.online : Every program attempts to expand until it can read mail. Every smart appliance expands until it can show ads — https://www.androidauthority.com/ ... @soulfirethewolf@wetdry.world : They made something that was already a gimmick into something unbearable and made their screenless fridges immediately more desirable — https://www.theverge.com/... Forums: Hacker News : Samsung confirms its smart fridges will start showing you ads r/LinusTechTips : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/ABoringDystopia : Samsung brings ads to US fridges. Samsung's ‘screens everywhere’ initiative is morphing into ads everywhere. r/BetterOffline : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/LateStageCapitalism : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/idiocracy : Samsung Putting Ads on Fridges. r/economicCollapse : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/themayormccheese : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/blackmirror : Samsung brings ads to US fridges r/Anticonsumption : Samsung confirms some of its fridges will start showing ads r/StallmanWasRight : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/SiliconValleyHBO : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/nottheonion : Samsung confirms its $1,800+ fridges will start showing you ads r/philipkDickheads : Samsung brings ads to US fridges r/theinternetofshit : Samsung brings ads to US fridges r/gadgets : Samsung brings ads to US fridges | Samsung's ‘screens everywhere’ initiative is morphing into ads everywhere. r/technews : Samsung brings ads to US fridges | Samsung's ‘screens everywhere’ initiative is morphing into ads everywhere. Alyaza To / Beehaw : Samsung brings ads to US fridges Msmash / Slashdot : Samsung Brings Ads To US Fridges
Context & Ripple Effects
Family Hub began as a connected kitchen interface, including grocery ordering through its built-in touchscreen, and Samsung later extended Bixby across its smart-home display products. The new pilot shifts a household screen from utility and commerce access toward an owned promotional surface.
Samsung has already tested ad insertion on another large-screen product through ads appearing in Smart TV programming, while mobile lock-screen media services have pursued a similar always-visible inventory model. That makes the refrigerator pilot a notable extension of Samsung’s screen monetization playbook into premium appliances.
First-order effects
- US owners of the affected Family Hub models will see promotions and ads on the Cover Screen after the update, changing the default experience of a product bought at a premium price.
- Samsung gains a live test of whether an appliance display can carry promotional inventory without undermining use of its smart-home interface.
Second-order effects
- The pilot gives Samsung a basis to weigh ad or promotion revenue against potential customer backlash and support costs; other connected-appliance makers will face the same trade-off as they add persistent displays.
- Retail and brand partners could gain another point of access near grocery planning, building on the refrigerator’s earlier shopping-oriented interface rather than treating the screen solely as a device-control panel.
Third-order effects
- If pilots like this broaden, premium connected hardware may increasingly be managed as an ongoing media surface, making post-purchase software policy a more important part of product value and customer trust.
- The durable fault line will be whether manufacturers can separate useful service prompts from paid placement; failure to do so could make screenless or less-connected appliances comparatively more attractive.
The trend: Connected-device makers are extending advertising and commerce models from TVs and phone lock screens to everyday household displays.