Search the Community

This article sibeh zhunkar : https://medium.com/@BookSamurai/you-bought-it-but-dont-own-it-when-tesla-lg-and-smart-locks-turn-against-you-ad2dc552b4bc Think you own your smart TV, car, or digital lock? Think again. This deep dive exposes how companies like LG, Tesla, and others are quietly rewriting the rules of ownership through subscriptions and digital locks. Learn how to fight back and make smarter choices. We used to buy things. Now, we rent features from the products we own. Subscription capitalism has crept into every corner of our lives — quietly, aggressively, and often without consent. It’s no longer just about Netflix or Spotify. It’s your $2,000 smart TV, your fridge, your EV — and, in one horrifying case in Singapore, your front door lock. We are watching in real-time as the idea of ownership is being dismantled, feature by feature, ad by ad, paywall by paywall. LG’s Subscription Play: Turning Appliances Into Ad Platforms In 2023, LG announced it would transform its smart TVs and appliances into an ecosystem of services — complete with ads, subscriptions, and ongoing monetization through its webOS platform. Think your smart fridge is just for storing milk? Think again. It might soon push recipe ads, suggest grocery services, or require a subscription for premium functions. LG’s goal is clear: turn your home into a recurring revenue model. This isn’t just feature expansion — it’s feature gatekeeping. The Printer Industry Walked So LG Could Run This model isn’t new. Printers pioneered it decades ago. They sold you cheap hardware, then charged exorbitantly for ink. Worse, they often blocked third-party cartridges with DRM or “low ink” warnings even when the cartridges were full. And insultingly, people have realised that printer ink costs much more than human blood! One comedian even said in a stand up show that he might just fill his ink cartridges with his own blood to save money. Consumers hated it. But companies loved the profits. And now, it’s scaled into multi-thousand-dollar products. Of course savvy consumers fight back! And companies have relented and offered reasonable alternatives. We actively search for ink‑tank printers from Epson HP or Brother that offer cost-efficient, cartridge-free alternatives. Never will a savvy customer be held hostage to subscription based printing anymore! Consider these Ethical and Pragmatic alternatives: Epson EcoTank L1250 Color Catridge free ink tank — A reliable, refillable printer that minimizes cartridge waste and resists overpriced consumables. Tesla’s Hidden Battery Range: Pay to Unlock What’s Already There Tesla has followed the same playbook. Many Model Y RWD owners discovered their cars were capable of far more range — but only if they paid Tesla a software unlock fee. Up to 60 extra miles, already built in, just sitting behind a digital paywall. This sparked widespread backlash. Imagine buying a full tank of gas, but being told you need to subscribe to access the last quarter. Again, the Internet comes to the rescue, where Hackers have managed to Unlock Tesla Software locked features worth up to $15,000 Tesla reversed some controversial unlocks — but the model raises tough questions about digital ownership. And Then There’s Singapore: Smart Locks Gone Rogue In one of the most chilling examples of digital control, over 50 homeowners in Singapore were locked out of their homes in July 2025. Their smart digital locks — sold and managed by SHP (Smart Home Products) and distributed by Technex International — were remotely disabled after a supplier dispute. Not a tech failure. Not user error. This was a business conflict weaponized. On a personal note, I still trust a regular lock and key and put a copy with a trusted neighbour or family friend. What if your smart car doesn’t start because your subscription lapsed? Or your home becomes inaccessible because of a contract fight? The Bigger Issue: Ownership Is Becoming Illusionary Let’s be blunt: the devices in your home, the features in your vehicle, and the software in your locks are no longer fully yours. Corporations are: Locking hardware behind software Charging for features already built in Injecting ads into previously ad-free appliances Retaining remote control over essential devices This is not just about revenue — it’s about control, trust, and ethics. Where Is the Ethical Responsibility? Is it ethical to sell hardware that can be remotely disabled? Is it fair to charge for functions you already bought? Should customers dig through EULAs to protect basic rights? When a lock company can literally lock you out of your home, we’re not just dealing with subscriptions — we’re confronting corporate gatekeeping of reality. How Consumers Can Fight Back 1. Do Your Research Before Buying Look for products that don’t require ongoing subscriptions to remain functional and that don’t carry remote-disable clauses. 2. Choose Open, Offline-Ready Hardware Schlage Offline Electronic Lock — A robust, stand-alone lock that works without cloud dependencies, protecting you from remote lockouts. 3. Read the Fine Print — and Ask Questions Check for remote-control terms in warranties or T&Cs. Ask sellers directly: “Can this device be deactivated remotely?” 4. Share Your Story The Singapore smart-lock fiasco gained traction because people spoke out. Use reviews and social platforms to shed light on abusive policies. 5. Reward Ethical Brands Support companies that respect ownership and transparency — even if they charge a premium for device autonomy. 6. Demand Better Regulations Call for laws that prohibit unilateral remote disabling and mandate clear disclosure of subscription-based features before purchase. We Must Be Savvy — or Be Subscribed to Death The modern consumer must be vigilant. A fridge that shows ads today; a locked door tomorrow — if we don’t fight to retain control, we risk renting every aspect of our lives. We also have seen this with another glaring example of Microsoft Office being exponentially ditched when they started a subscription and individuals + corporations embracing the full Google Workspace. Individuals hate the subscription service model. We need to let companies know. When they hold consumers ransom and backed to a corner, consumers will fight back.

I shall share these after LTA released the monthly data every month (usually it's on the 12th or the next working day). Here is my 1st sharing basing on LTA's jz released data for Oct 2014. 1) Both the number of dereg for Cat A and Cat B went up 11% and 9%, respectively. Cat A dereg for Oct is doubled of Jan's!!

The high profile divorce suit between socialite Jamie Chua and Indonesian tycoon Nurdian Cuaca was settled yesterday. The couple came to a settlement under confidential terms following which a freeze on Mr Cuaca's $93 million worth of assets was lifted by the High Court yesterday. Chua, 36, was seeking $450,000 a month in maintenance from Cuaca based on the previous standard of living with her husband. According to the Straits Times, Mr Cuaca is known to spend around $303,000 a month for more than 27 months. He also has cash in the bank and trading share accounts, together worth some $15.4 million. Mr Cuaca's other assets include two houses in Sentosa Cove and in Hong Kong worth $14.6 million, $79.2 million in shares in a private company, his wine collection and his three cars - a Lamborghini, a Porsche and a Ferrari. Madam Chua was a former flight stewardess and is currently the managing director of the Manolo Blahnik Singapore shoe boutique. She is also frequently spotted at high society events in Singapore. [email protected]

Is the HDB housing loan a reducing balance loan? If so, how is the monthly instalment amount calculated? I understand that if the monthly instalment is X, then X = Y+Z where Y goes toward principal and Z toward interest. Over time, X remains constant but Y and Z will change. How is X determined? How are the proportions of Y and Z determined? attached: example using CPF website calculator

http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/middle-income-family-hopes-more-help-budget-2018 Really not enough?

Hi guys, I am rather new to credit cards and I am wondering is it a good idea to consolidate all the bills into one credit card on the following 2 bills 1) monthly car loan ($700) 2) monthly season parking ($90) Which card can offer the best cashback or offers?? Please enlightened newbie on cc stuff, thanks Cheers and have a great weekend everyone!

The CPF salary ceiling, the maximum amount of ordinary wages that employee and employer contributions are calculated on, was raised from $5,000 to $6,000. "Middle-income Singaporeans will be able to accumulate more CPF savings during their working years," Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said when he announced the latest change during the Budget in February last year. At least 544,000 CPF members are expected to benefit. - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/business/more-cpf-savings-new-rules#sthash.pajiY2Zl.dpuf ==== 1. There are 544,000 people earning $5000 or more here. Excluding sole proprietors, directors and private tutors. 2. Each person (and employer) will pay $370 more monthly. Gov will receive >$200mil cash monthly. Or gov really short of cash meh? 3. $370 more in the CPF account. About $200+ can be used for housing loan. Positive impact to the property price. 4. $200 less take home pay.... Retail business and COE.... down down down. 5. Boss will tell us... "You already got $170 increase in your CPF. No increment this year." Are we really richer? The ChengHu is for sure.

hi anyone using the monthly parking coupon? i read from HDB website it only usable in carpark whcih allow usage of coupon parking. does it mean those EPS HDB/URA carparks cannot use??? thanks!!

As Usual. Meeting up at Kallang carpark with at least 10 to 20 cars. Let's see if we can beat the biggest gathering of of 29 cars. Hopefully we get to see the latest import from Japan and have a nice feel of it.. And many new members too. 1. Please prepare carpark coupons 2. Umbrella if it's hot 3. Drink lots of water. 5. Drive safe

Out of curiosity fellow forum members, what kinda mileage are you all doing in a month?? I'm clocking 3000km/month, commuting from Woodlands to Tuas and at least twice a week to my JB branch... Works out to be about 36,000 - 38,000km a year including twice yearly trips up north to KL/genting.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltaweb/corp/PublicationsResearch/files/FactsandFigures/M03-Car_Regn_by_make.pdf even if so many bad comments out from this forum, but impressed VW still made brilliant sales figure in 1st quarter of 2014, major contribution comes from Jetta how to interpert?

Hi everyone, I'm looking to rent a car on a monthly basis with my budget of $900. I will be using the car primarily on local roads and to Johor Bahru maybe once a week to makan and do some grocery shopping as well as to pump petrol and shower your car. I am 27 this year and happily married with a daughter who is turning 1 this month. I have been driving since I was 19, cleared my theory and practical tests in one attempt and have never accumulated any demerit points nor met with any accidents. I am currently working as a Department Manager with a MNC Electrical, Electronics and Furniture retailer. My household income is about $7k/month. The reason as to why I decide to rent a car instead of buying one is because I would like to see if my family can cope with the financial burden of having a car. Thus, the length of rental can be anything from 3 months to 1 year. Should you rent me your car, you have my word that I will take care of your car like my own and I will never conduct any illegal activities in your car. I do not smoke and I will ensure nobody smokes in your car, I will also not ferry durians or stinky people in your car. Promise! I am a car lover, you can trust me with your car. Really. (: Thank you for reading, and if you can't rent me your car but happens to know of someone who can, please help to link me up! Thank you. Benson Wong

The LTA recently revealed a Land Transport Masterplan which maps out enhancements to the public transport as well as road management. We look at the some intrinsic details and finds out what they can mean to us. Naturally, one of the key highlights of the plan lies in the public transport sector. Both the rail and road systems will receive substantial boost, such as extending bus services to more areas, giving more priorities to buses, as well as an ambitious plan to double the island's rail network by 2030. For a moment, the plan does seem to have hit the nail on head. But we reckon there is more than meets the eye. Our rail system has been plagued by frequent service faults and disruptions. Even with the current network, train operators have been struggling to keep maintenance up to the mark, and statistics have proven this point. There were four cases of service disruptions in October alone, and no less than nine cases in previous three months. On that point, imagine the amount of workload on the maintenance with the doubled network, which will likely lead to more disruptions if all things remain constant. Then, there is the mindset of the local commuters. A study has shown that locals still prefer private mode of transport. And if nothing is done to adjust this preference, the enhanced public transport network will just be a 'white elephant'. Next, the plan aims to address road congestion by putting ERP gantries on major roads (Bukit Timah Road, Holland Road etc.). At this instance, one question springs to our minds: If the current 71 gantries placed on expressways and arterial roads have limited effect on congestion, how will adding gantries to major roads help? And hence, the big question remains: Do you think the master plan will succeed?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/detroit-cheap-houses Most of you here drive, and for the cost of your car's one month upkeep (installment or depre, insurance, fuel, parking, erp, etc), which house can you get?

Trying to find out salary range in MCF forumer

Bought above from a bank after recomendation from the RM. 2,3 months down the road , keep receiving calls from the first RM and others to sell asthey claim am already making profit and is time to sell and buy into other product. I felt the sales commissiion payable to the first RM is not able to recover from the profit and uf i sell, have to pay commision again. At the end , there us no profit gain. Also, when check with them on the commission percent, different RM offer different rate from 4 to 2.5. Anybody encounter same?

Anyone got the full story? How can one underestimates their household incomes? Unless the wife or hubby under declare their monthly salary to each other?keep spare cash for personnal flings and Bags/cosmetics? my paper Thursday, Jun 28, 2012 Nearly seven in 10 people underestimate their monthly household incomes, a survey commissioned by fund management firm Fidelity Worldwide Investment revealed. About 500 people here were polled in March. For more my paper stories click here.

If your job involves meeting and dealing with lots of people everyday, there is a high chance that you are not saving enough. According to a JobsCentral survey released on Tuesday, the top three lowest savers are those that work in events management, public relations and sales. The survey, which sampled 2,278 respondents, said that less than a quarter of workers in these sectors save 20 per cent of their monthly income. This is likely because of the social nature of their jobs, as well as how they are wired, said Ms Huang Shao-Ning, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of JobsCentral Group. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_756611.html

REALLY MERH??!?!?!?! HOW COMES I DUNNNO!!?!?!?!?! http://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-residen...comes-rise.html Incomes of Singaporeans and permanent residents rose sharply this year amid good economic growth and a tighter labour market. Also, the employment rates for older residents and for women in their prime-working age reached new highs, according to findings of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Based on the Labour Force Survey conducted in June, the median monthly income from work of full-time employed residents

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post...-020251685.html Good for them... and for the tax collector.. Quite silly of them to be interview for such thing.. now the iras will be after them.

Deleted - Multiple post

Just curious:-...... Not text books hor, but just any other books. (adult books counted, since they are not considered text books, hahahaha) Strange it may sounds (or may not?), i can count with my two hands the total number of complete books i have read from birth to now..... i got a feeling i have set the lowest record ever.... i also have piles of un-finished mags... by the time i pick them up try to finish them, they are already 1-2 years out of date..... I think I spent too much time sleeping/napping. Hope you guys are at the other end aka at least 4 books, or many more, a month? yes/no? ps:- next time i meet my pri school teachers, i will tell them "what, read more books?... no need lah, I survived with just less than 10 books in more than 40 years...." and see how they will react but to be exact, i do enjoy reading articles in journals, online, etc, maybe they are short and therefore manage to retain my attentions.... i know I am missing alot, will try starting to read more books one day in the not so far future

What you guys think? True?? http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...718&DL=1117

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1110600/1/.html

any one know the current market? pleae advise thank you