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posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday August 23 2017, @12:47PM   Printer-friendly
from the and-you-thought-you-owned-it dept.

DJI Spark drones will not fly after September 1 until users have applied a mandatory software update:

DJI Spark drones will not fly after 1 September unless owners apply a mandatory software update, the device's maker has warned. DJI said the update to the small drone's core software fixes some flight control issues suffered by the gadget.

The drone maker said it had warned owners about the deadline so they could avoid having their craft grounded. But the mandatory update has caused some owners to question the control DJI retains over their devices.

In a statement, DJI said the update would improve how the Spark manages power. It also helps it work with smart spectacles that give owners an immersive view of what the drone films. It added: "If the firmware of either the aircraft or the battery is not updated by September 1, Spark will not be able to take off."

Also at The Verge and Quartz.


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  • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday August 23 2017, @06:28PM (1 child)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Wednesday August 23 2017, @06:28PM (#558109) Journal

    This is essentially an involuntary recall performed through software update.

    There's a bit of precedence in the auto industry. [nytimes.com]

    If a manufacturer knows their product is hazardous it does seem they should be under some duty to protect the public. Whether this is going to far, or not, is another question.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @07:35PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @07:35PM (#558141)

    That example is a bit different, since it just used the law. These drones are defective by design if they allow someone else to disable their functionality, since that shows the user is not truly in control.