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Samsung Software Update Will Brick Few Note 7s Left in the Wild

posted by Snow on Tuesday December 13 2016, @03:03AM   Printer-friendly
from the over-the-air-masonry dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

Starting December 19, Samsung will begin distributing a software update that prevents the phones from charging and "will eliminate their ability to work as mobile devices." The software update will be rolled out over 30 days.

[...] Samsung is encouraging anyone who has not yet returned their device to power it down and contact their carrier to obtain a refund or exchange, or visit its Note 7 recall website for more information. The company recalled the device earlier this year because the battery on some units overheated and caught fire. Samsung also permanently stopped production of the phone.

But leading US mobile carrier Verizon has decided not to push out the update, citing safety issues. Here's the statement it released:

"Verizon will not be taking part in this update because of the added risk this could pose to Galaxy Note 7 users that do not have another device to switch to," the statement read. "We will not push a software upgrade that will eliminate the ability for the Note 7 to work as a mobile device in the heart of the holiday travel season. We do not want to make it impossible to contact family, first responders or medical professionals in an emergency situation."

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  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 13 2016, @04:39AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 13 2016, @04:39AM (#440665)

    You would think that but it isn't so. Samsung doesn't treat Canadian customers as good as US customers wrt replacing exploding washing machines. Fuck Samsung.

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  • (Score: 2) by hamsterdan on Tuesday December 13 2016, @11:24AM

    by hamsterdan (2829) on Tuesday December 13 2016, @11:24AM (#440744)

    I'd like to know, because someone I know is getting theirs fixed for free, which is exactly what they are doing in US

    • (Score: 2) by quacking duck on Tuesday December 13 2016, @02:22PM

      by quacking duck (1395) on Tuesday December 13 2016, @02:22PM (#440783)

      It's if you *don't* want it fixed, and try going for the rebate, where Canadians get screwed.

      Americans are offered "a rebate that can be applied towards the purchase of a new washer from Samsung or other brand. Consumers who choose this option will also be reimbursed for any installation and removal fees charged by the retailer."

      Canadians are offered "a rebate that can be applied towards the purchase of a new washer from Samsung. The rebate amount is based on the manufacture date and model of the recalled washer."

      So, Canadians can only use their rebate to buy another Samsung washer. Americans, on the other hand, can use their rebate to buy a washer from any other brand. On top of that, Americans will also have their installation and removal fees covered.

      http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/samsung-note7-galaxy-washer-electronics-exploding-phones-1.3887154 [www.cbc.ca]

      So that's a double "screw you" to Canadians by Samsung if you want to dump them. Sadly for us Canadians, getting screwed on remediation compared to the US is not new, nor limited to Samsung.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 13 2016, @07:18PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 13 2016, @07:18PM (#440942)

        We invited you to join our revolution; in return you burned our capital. So yes, screw you, Canadians. You brought this on yourselves when you refused to assimilate.

      • (Score: 2) by archfeld on Wednesday December 14 2016, @06:04AM

        by archfeld (4650) <treboreel@live.com> on Wednesday December 14 2016, @06:04AM (#441195) Journal

        PLEASE, disregard the AC response and come back and burn our capital now, only this time get it right and do it when congress is IN SESSION.

        --
        For the NSA : Explosives, guns, assassination, conspiracy, primers, detonators, initiators, main charge, nuclear charge