Hive dropping support for their smart cameras

Keithy13

Not just their cameras, I got email today saying my hub will be disabled (all be it August 2023) and would I like to buy the new model. (Half price). 
Never been entirely happy with it, it's sold as being able to control your connected devices from anywhere, but it's the only device I have that does not reconnect automatically after internet drop out. Meaning someone has to be physically present to pull out the plug and reconnect.

crazy_crow

Dean Dunham from LBC radios ‘Consumer Hour’ is asking to hear from people who have bought hive cameras in the last year.  

Twitter @DeanDunham

“ Has anyone purchased a Hive security camera this year? If you have, please get in touch - dean.dunham@global.com “

crazy_crow

Hope it’s ok to post a screen shot of Dean Dunhams tweet? 

victor2

As others have said, it doesn't appear that Hive will remotely disable the devices they are no longer supporting. They are just shutting down the service the devices connect to. I would guess the connection details are hard coded into the electronics, so cannot be changed without replacing components or circuit boards. Some enterprising business may come up with a means to change that, but it may not be realistic.
Negative publicity for Hive might be the only way to extend the life.

Neil_Jones

MattMattMattUK said:

tommaule said:

Does anyone know if this move is legal?

Yes it is legal.

tommaule said:

I buy a product with X features, then after Y years the manufacture effectively remotely disables the product by dropping support for dependent services, rendering the product useless. How can that be allowed without an up-front warning when purchasing?

There will be a warning on the packaging, as well as in the terms and conditions of usage. They cannot be expected to provide servers indefinitely to facilitate the product. Whilst I agree that three years does seem somewhat short they are perfectly within their rights to do this. 

Its the same thing as online gaming.  If you buy a computer game that you can play with and against others online (F1 or whatever) eventually the online services will be shut down as the usage base for that game dwindles and for games that only work in an online mode, they're inaccessible.

Indeed Nintendo shut down the whole WiiConnect24 platform back in 2013 and it had only lasted seven years, though the user base did generate a home brew of the same service to keep the online portions of Wii games working.  So if the demand is there (with regards to the Hive cameras) somebody will find a solution/way to keep the cameras working - and since (as above) the Hive cameras go through central servers it'll just be a case of replacing that server homebrew style (or an ability to reflash the firmware of cameras, whichever is the best solution.

No end of things that work through central servers and then stop working because the manufacturer/supplier stops supporting them.  And no end of things that go through central servers that couldn't cope with the initial rush and a mad scramble to catch up soon follows in an attempt to save face.

inspectorperez

Interesting that these products are still being advertised for sale at certain retailers including Currys, Amazon, Screwfix and John Lewis. At least the latter does have an alert in the product description advising of the withdrawal of support from 2025.

Think if I was the retailer I would be returning these to Hive for credit rather than sell to customers who may well be totally unwary or make the discovery after they have made their purchase.

Chino

MattMattMattUK said: Yes it is legal.

Really? How did you establish that a product which stops working at the whim of the manufacturer is fit for purpose and that the vendor is not in breach of section 10(3) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ?

The contract is to be treated as including a term that the goods are reasonably fit for that purpose, whether or not that is a purpose for which goods of that kind are usually supplied.

If I buy a product which stops working at the arbitrary whim of the manufacturer I do not consider that product to be reasonably fit for purpose.

rarrarrar

This is a warning about using and becoming reliant on any connected device which relies on connection via a 3rd party server and which you cannot connect to directly. 
Not only are you dependent on the internet not going down but  also the supplier can as we now see just pull the plug.

fisherjim

Chino said:

MattMattMattUK said: Yes it is legal.

Really? How did you establish that a product which stops working at the whim of the manufacturer is fit for purpose and that the vendor is not in breach of section 10(3) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ?

The contract is to be treated as including a term that the goods are reasonably fit for that purpose, whether or not that is a purpose for which goods of that kind are usually supplied.

If I buy a product which stops working at the arbitrary whim of the manufacturer I do not consider that product to be reasonably fit for purpose.

They are actually going against their own terms and conditions IMO:

Hive products

In relation to any products, the law requires that goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. During the expected life of your product, your legal rights entitle you to the following:

• up to 30 days: if your item is faulty, then you can get a refund;

• up to six months: if your faulty item can't be repaired or replaced, then you're entitled to a full refund, in most cases; and

• up to six years: if the item can be expected to last up to six years you may be entitled to a repair or replacement, or, if that

doesn't work, some of your money back.”

 https://assets.ctfassets.net/mijf9lz5yt3u/2SJhgq6sssiMMOLelyq8cx/428bca76bdd88b5a289d2b63d30744fc/Hive_Terms___Conditions_-_February_2022.pdf

victor2

fisherjim said:

Chino said:

MattMattMattUK said: Yes it is legal.

Really? How did you establish that a product which stops working at the whim of the manufacturer is fit for purpose and that the vendor is not in breach of section 10(3) of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ?

The contract is to be treated as including a term that the goods are reasonably fit for that purpose, whether or not that is a purpose for which goods of that kind are usually supplied.

If I buy a product which stops working at the arbitrary whim of the manufacturer I do not consider that product to be reasonably fit for purpose.

They are actually going against their own terms and conditions IMO:

Hive products

In relation to any products, the law requires that goods must be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. During the expected life of your product, your legal rights entitle you to the following:

• up to 30 days: if your item is faulty, then you can get a refund;

• up to six months: if your faulty item can't be repaired or replaced, then you're entitled to a full refund, in most cases; and

• up to six years: if the item can be expected to last up to six years you may be entitled to a repair or replacement, or, if that

doesn't work, some of your money back.”

 https://assets.ctfassets.net/mijf9lz5yt3u/2SJhgq6sssiMMOLelyq8cx/428bca76bdd88b5a289d2b63d30744fc/Hive_Terms___Conditions_-_February_2022.pdf

That much used phrase "up to"!

You would think that Hive have taken legal advice regarding shutting down that particular service, hence the three year deadline (it's only one year for some stuff). Then again, it could just be a decision taken by a "management team".