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https://hackaday.com/2021/08/02/home-depot-is-selling-power-tools-that-require-activation-in-store

(post is archived)

[–] 5 pts

why pay for anything anymore.. cops wont come out for theft under 1000

[–] 2 pts

WTF. How did bluetooth licensing become cheaper than a Black and Decker tool?

I can get a Bluetooth chip onboard ready to be wired, for ~$4 each. Big companies can probably get an even better deal. If it adds a dollar or two to the cost of producing the product, then its affordable to them. The chip producer is paying any licensing fees, not the chip users.

[–] 2 pts

Seems unbelievably easy to get around. If the circuitry is located in the relay, you'd need to replace it with a similar, older model relay. If it's anywhere else, you can just bypass it entirely.

It would take 60 seconds to open it and bypass the Bluetooth dongle in the power circuit. This will only stop idiot thieves. Its pointless really and is only a jogger deterrent.

[–] 1 pt

Oh great, maybe next itll be monthly fee to use tool activate only on your wifi network. How about we start beating the shit out of theives, might be a good deterrent

[–] 1 pt

More reasons not to buy their shit

[–] 1 pt

Try to put a bluetooth activated switch on this one:

[–] 0 pt

Oh come on, it's probably just a mechanical switch triggered by a magnet.