- And this is why "mandatory app to configure" is an instant dealbreaker for me for any piece of hardware. Don't buy crap like this. Force companies to be better.
by WarOnPrivacy
0 subcomment
- According to Google Play reviews for the MotoSync+ app, this issue is
due to server license expiring, after the host ended operations and
has been in play since at least May 12
A June 4th review says this: The latest issue is "Server Licence Expired". I have been
unable to manage devices for months. So..I reset my router.
I no longer have a mesh network. I have only the single
point router and still unable to manage devices.
The licence verification issue continues. I found out this
is because a 3rd party managed the Server and folded.
3 weeks of almost daily Chat promises to connect to a
specialist which never materializes.
I left some chats open for hours.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.motosyncpl...
by userbinator
2 subcomments
- I haven't been in the market for a WiFi router for a long time so I thought all the consumer stuff still used a web server for config. Enterprise stuff is either the same or has a serial port. In any case, it doesn't make sense to require a separate app that they also have to spend resources maintaining when their users will already have a browser they can use, so I suspect the only reason is the app collects usage information that they can sell...
On the bright side, maybe someone can get Claude or some other LLM to figure out how to crack it; and perhaps even vibe-code an alternative app.
by Reason077
2 subcomments
- > “It suddenly stopped working, and no one knows why.”
Based on the screenshots I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s because someone forgot to update, or just stopped paying for, the server license.
- Ridiculous to have no way to configure a router via some normal method, like local web UI or serial/ssh console, or whatnot. Even more ridiculous this app does not satisfy itself with a local wifi/bt link to the router, and needs some "server" with "expiring license" whatever that is. Triple ridiculous this costs more than $50.
by criticalfault
3 subcomments
- there is an explanation: Motorola is extremely bad at software.
opinion based on their support system, correspondence and android updates,
- I don't know what happened here, but if someone told me that a manager fired all of the dev team and replaced them with cheaper overseas replacements, I wouldn't be surprised.
by JumpCrisscross
2 subcomments
- Is there really no jurisdiction in which this is illegal?
by WarOnPrivacy
1 subcomments
the Motorola MotoSync+ app is required to set up all new compatible
WiFi routers released by Motorola
AFAIK, more Motorola routers are installed by cable ISPs than anywhere else. Many or most have WiFi. I can't imagine cable installers are futzing with a phone app.
- > and no one knows why.
I think we can make an educated guess as to why. Maybe we could get Claude to reverse engineer it to clean up its own mess.
- Without minimizing the impact, we should not blow it out of proportion, either. It sounds like every existing installed device continues to work. "Bricked" is used too expansively here.
- This is extremely disappointing corporate behavior coming from Motorola. I've had better luck with $350 unlocked Moto something I can use anywhere and comes with no bloatware. I like that part, do more of that.
by effnorwood
1 subcomments
- explanation - they made wifi routers?
- Motorola was my last Android phone.
Once they pushed an update that took 99% of my phones memory and I couldn’t install even a single app - I moved to iPhone and never looked back. Over 10 years and counting. I still can’t believe they literally bricked my phone back then.
So far Apple “just works”. Is it perfect? No. But I can’t imagine fuckup of this magnitude from them.
- [dead]
- Probably AI.
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