The Bosch eBike Flow App wins the CES Worst in Show award for Enshittification!

@iFixit Very, very disappointing, considering Bosch generally used to be a pretty good company.

@thor @iFixit I don’t know about “ethical” and “company” going so well together. If it doesn’t affect their bottom line or is good PR, sure, they’ll be ethical. But if it does…

@iFixit I choose a Bosch e-bike instead of a VanMoof because the battery, etc were easily replaceable/repairable. So this OSS a disappointing move from Bosch #ebike

@thor Almost all other regions got pressured by the US to pass equivalent laws during trade agreement talks. This effects the EEA as well. Also see https://media.ccc.de/v/39c3-a-post-american-enshittification-resistant-internet @iFixit

@iFixit I think you're missing several points, (a) the battery lock is opt-in and only on the paid subscription, (b) if, as in your example, the battery is stolen and taken to the police, an online database might help return the battery to the owner, (c) is there even an online DB? that design doesn't make sense because the bike would require internet access when the battery is attached, something which cannot be guaranteed.

@iFixit You definitively should use hashtags such as #Bosch or #Flow #FlowApp in order to let people discover that important toot about #ebikes.

Avoid Bosch products!

#enshittification #eBike #CES

@publicvoit @iFixit you can use the bikes without ever using the app.

@schmittlauch @iFixit as I said - they tried. Even little Iceland didn't bow down.

Icelnadic copyright law:
art. 11; An individual can copy a published copyrighted work (book, music, movie) for own use as long as there is no financial gain.

@schmittlauch @iFixit

art. 11a; A legal owner of a computer program can copy it for safe-keeping (only!)
A legal owner of a computer program can disassemble the program to examine, investigate or test the program to learn its workings and the ideas and views the individual parts of the programs rest on, given that these actions are in conjunction with the permissable use rightholder has in conjuction of the perusal of the software.

@schmittlauch @iFixit
Remember DVD-Jon? That case made Europeans well aware of the scare tactics the eminate from the US. The Icelandic version of the MPAA tried to copy the US scare tactics, claiming copying was illegal - but they were shot down - because it isn't.

And unlike americans, European people are VERY APT at watching their rights and fighting to keep them.

@iFixit adding that if a vehicle has "illegal parts" fitted and is involved in an accident, any insurance would not pay out and the owner and user of the vehicle could technically be taken to court.

@exus1pl @mihamarkic @iFixit proper implementation is important

@Tho99 @iFixit As far as I understand the video, this doesn't help with the part pairing issue.

@thor @schmittlauch @iFixit in addition, when you flashed your own software on that hardware, it would also be legal.

@mihamarkic @iFixit CES 2028 will announce the "using the battery you've bought" subscription where you get to pay $50 a year to use your own battery. Likely with a $100 subscription variant to use the full capacity, or a $10 one-day full capacity microtransaction - or $20 if it's very cold or if it detects that you're far from home & the battery is almost "empty".

@utf_7 @schmittlauch @iFixit

Exactly

@dascandy @iFixit I hear you, but this is a little bit different problem

@exus1pl @iFixit antitheft is always just rising the bar. As per local shops, I'd say they should be allowed to, granted a proof of ownership is presented

@Tho99 @publicvoit @iFixit AFIK Bosch hast long mechanisms in place that prevents you from repairing Akkupacks and the like. The protocol for service apps is totally opaque.

It's enshittified, don't buy.

@mihamarkic @iFixit I completely understand that preventing your bicycle to be stolen is a good thing. I want that.

But I don't want that if it comes with a side of being tied into somebody's ecosystem, with a half million dollar & 5 year jail penalty for fixing your bike, because based on history we just *know* that corporate will push through on such schemes if they are physically able to do so.

What about instead having a yubikey (or equivalent security key) that functions as your bicycle key? And requiring it to be able to replace any parts? That accomplishes the exact same thing that this tethered system does, without the downsides and risks.