I stopped and unplugged my laptop when I saw a story about how Sony is now shopping around for ways to start charging people for using electricity!
After further investigation, it states that they are looking into authentication kits for wall outlets. This device would lock out anyone not authorized to be getting electricity.
It would use a similar technology as NFC, as there would be wireless transfer of data between the outlet and an authentication system, which may, or may not be asking for money to plug in.
They would be used in apartment buildings in vacant units as well as some coffee shops. I can understand the first use, it would save money for an owner and keep people from leeching in abandoned apartments, but the second use is nefarious.
I don't want to ever walk in to an establishment that has "Free-Wifi" planted on their door, only to find that they have put the electronic equivalent to a parking meter on the outlets.
After further investigation, it states that they are looking into authentication kits for wall outlets. This device would lock out anyone not authorized to be getting electricity.
It would use a similar technology as NFC, as there would be wireless transfer of data between the outlet and an authentication system, which may, or may not be asking for money to plug in.
They would be used in apartment buildings in vacant units as well as some coffee shops. I can understand the first use, it would save money for an owner and keep people from leeching in abandoned apartments, but the second use is nefarious.
I don't want to ever walk in to an establishment that has "Free-Wifi" planted on their door, only to find that they have put the electronic equivalent to a parking meter on the outlets.
That would be pretty fucking ridiculous. And it wouldn't surprise me a bit if they actually try to implement it in a bunch of places.
ReplyDeleteLike the outdoor outlets at the bus station. How else am I supposed to charge up on the go?
Deleteat first I was like wtf, then I was like OHHH, wtf...?? now I'm like that's just stupid, so stupid in fact it just might happen
ReplyDeletewho do they think they are? charging customers for a normally complimentary service, which is already paid for by the customer!
Why do companies think of stupid ideas like this!?! Get working on Laptop who's cd compartment actually makes a good coffee holder Sony! That's much more productive.
ReplyDeleteI'd buy a drive like that, if not for anything but the nostalgia factor.
DeleteThat's retartd; bonkers to say the least. "They" know how much we rely on electricity so to charge us is like a mother charging her child to be raised. . . .
ReplyDeleteAnyway, nice post. And thanks for following my blog, though I don't see you, I'll follow yours, because it's just so cool to get news about craziness.
Chow!
I have since corrected the mistake. Thanks for joining!
Deleteand yeah, like a mother telling her infant "You've got to give me 2 laughs and 5 smiles before you can feed frome me." Ridiculous.
First pay toilets, now THIS!
ReplyDeletePretty soon, they'll charge us per heartbeat.
DeleteI dont like this idea this is almost as bad a Pay-per-ounce toilets!
ReplyDeleteIf that were the case, I'd probably get by with the least amount of taxation.
DeleteThat's it, time to build a windmill ... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThey'd probably figure a way to charge you for the wind.
Deletewtf man i wont pay for this....
ReplyDeleteI'm with you there.
DeleteMan, first Microsoft with their Usedgate, Megaupload's illegal takedown, the various acts and laws attempting to fuck up the internet...
ReplyDeleteOld Media is just losin' its' collective ever-lovin' mind, just flippin' its' shit tryin' to corral the frontier of the Internet.
In this case, just trying to figure out how to jack out yet another dollar from the consumers they depend on. If it's not the consumers paying extra, it's their own friggin' employees and anyone else at ground level. Never content with mere profits, it has to always be escalating no matter how damage they do to themselves, their image, or their consumer base.
Let yer money do the talkin', folks. Me personally, I'd refuse going to any place that had these things installed. Just sayin'.
Edit: Won't let me edit so I deleted. Now it just looks bad sitting there, "This comment has been removed by the author" blah. I just forgot to type out the rest of this message.
I'll take rid of that for ya, Bastard.
DeleteAlso, I'll see in the near future, when this comes to fruition if there are a list of businesses that use this for pay. I'll put them all together, so we'll know what to avoid.
That is ridiculous. Soon we will have to pay just to enter a damn store, or leave our homes or something. I mean seriously, these corporations are way too powerful.
ReplyDeleteSo powerful that I think they watch us when we're not looking. Cameras are so cheap, I'd not be surprised if DcMonalds cups had them embedded into the sleeves.
DeleteOutrageous!
ReplyDeleteThis is ridiculous. Why pay for the electricity twice just to use it? :/
ReplyDeleteThey want their money to exponentially grow without providing anything new, other than a meter and a switch.
DeleteThis is just plain sad! What next? Only allowed to flush the toilet once a day, pffft.
ReplyDeleteMaids everywhere would be on strike for having to clean those filthy bowls!
Deletesigh. that's it, i'm moving to a scandinavian country
ReplyDeleteWhich one? I'd like to know where it's cool to live that's not too cold.
Delete"I don't want to ever walk in to an establishment that has "Free-Wifi" planted on their door, only to find that they have put the electronic equivalent to a parking meter on the outlets." LOL!
ReplyDeletethat sounds awful :(
ReplyDeleteLet's hope it never gets past the design phase. Maybe the prototype chips will accidentally wipe out their system. We can always hope.
DeleteSo they want everyone to hate them?
ReplyDeleteI believe they do. Or, I believe they don't really care whether we love or hate them, we must go to them for our needs, regardless.
DeleteYou have some really interesting posts here, my friend. I'll be following you from here on out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the readership. I'll be paying you back with my own brand of loyalty.
DeleteNo way. That's crazy/
ReplyDeleteYes, but they're big enough to take crazy and make a huge profit from it.
DeleteThese corporations are trying to nickel and dime us to death.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be more like dollaring us to a vegetative state if they have their way.
DeleteI agree, but what can we little people do other than boycott Sony?
ReplyDeleteUgh this is bad news!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment on my post :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem. I usually try to get to everyone I can as soon as they post to mine. Recently, time has gone haywire for me and I skip some people that I like. Apologies.
DeleteBut... don't people already pay for using electricity...?
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteSome things just should be left alone!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a stupid idea...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting- I hope it never comes to this but it is something to keep in mind.
ReplyDeleteIt pays to know how they plan to screw us. If we stay steps ahead, we'll almost have true control over what companies provide.
DeleteOh Sony, they'll do whatever they can to milk money out of their customers.
ReplyDeleteCashcow syndrome has lulled the consumers into a warm milk-induced sleep that will only take the starvation of boycotting to cure. I'm not sure buyers are willing to fast with their spending to curtail abuses like this.
DeleteAny time they can milk us for a few extra dollars, they'll do it. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteAnd we'll all have to let them because they stand behind walls of politicians, legislative loop-holes, and corporate kick-backs. Only our bottom dollar united can speak to slap them in their finances.
DeleteI like my free electricity at places :(
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what this is all about. They want our free things, and in turn will take all of our freedom in doing so. If a person cannot choose to travel somewhere to replenish their digital thirst for no or little cost, then he is doomed to fail in every aspect of life.
Deletefree electricity is the best kind
ReplyDeleteRidiculous, that would not be fair at all..
ReplyDeleteoh gosh so very silly!! juss came across your blog! do drop by my blog sometime..follow eachother thru GFC if u like :))
ReplyDeleteIt's like the past year has been all about 'what technological freedoms can we take away from people?' Like poor starving Starbucks, how dare I consume 10 cents in electricity running my laptop on battery power while I drink my $5 cup of coffee. So completely unfair.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds horrible!
ReplyDeleteWhoa this site is awesome, thats intense! Im definitely going to be following and tuning in if I can hear back from you :D
ReplyDelete-college speed
They have enough ways to take money from us already
ReplyDeleteEven if they do this, the more they leave it out in fore the more people will warm up to these type of changes. Not that it's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI remember it snowed really bad here last year and everyone was in subway one night trying to charge their electronics on two outlets haha.
ReplyDeletethat is some major BS! i agree with you about the sign on the door & parking meter thing. most of us are already too broke to cope. what's next?
ReplyDeleteHaha, well if the nintendo 3ds is eating up their PSP VIsta sales they better make money somehow, It was great hearing back :D +folllow
ReplyDeleteahhh ridiculous
ReplyDeleteI agree with WizWayne
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, that's absurd!
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
This sounds awful.
ReplyDeleteThis is just pure evil.
ReplyDeletegreeeeeee
ReplyDeleteThey couldn't spend their time on a better project?
ReplyDeleteMan, they could be doing something useful like providing fibre optic internet everywhere. But noo lets just charge to use outlets.
ReplyDeletewow that sounds ridiculous
ReplyDeleteupdate update
ReplyDeleteGrr the only thing that upsets me more than that, is when someone names their wifi "Open Air" or "Free Campus Connec" [like my college does] and its freaking WEC or higher secured.
ReplyDeleteNefarious indeed.
ReplyDelete