Part 5/8:
This modernization peaked my frustration with what seems to be an overarching theme in consumer electronics: planned obsolescence disguised as innovation. My experience with the Bosch 500, while initially positive, soon morphed into skepticism. Was this reliance on app connectivity a ploy to hinder repairability and longevity? After all, the last GE dishwasher’s lifespan was markedly short, thanks in no small part to the poorly designed circuit boards that rusted quickly—but now there appeared to be a new angle to this.
Tools and experience that were once standard in basic appliances are now premium features. Why should consumers be forced to pay more for a display or physical buttons? This feels like a step back; the very essence of user-centric design seems compromised.