Forcing users to install an app on their personal devices so that Sony can continuously collect and profit from their personal information while also pushing ads at them would be unacceptable to me, but at least somewhat understandable if we were talking about a pair of high quality free headphones.
Paying $350 (your quoted price may vary) and then also having your personal information exploited and sold to third parties while having a bunch of ads pushed at you is just plain insulting. Having your expensive product inevitably crippled after some number of years when the app no longer functions, stops being updated, or can no longer be downloaded/installed for whatever reason is just one more problem on top of having your battery's lifespan shortened.
I guess Sony feels that any sucker who is willing to pay for that kind of abuse deserves it, but I think most consumers are just coming to terms with the idea of "being the product" when it comes to free services and have a very different expectation when it comes to things they spend good money on.
I suppose this kind of product is intended to train consumers into accepting that there is no longer a set price on goods, and that what you pay at checkout should only be considered as your first payment since you'll be expected to be continuously paying with your personal data (including the cost of the consequences of that data being used against you) through your dependence on Sony's app for as long as they choose to keep making money at your expense.
Forcing users to install an app on their personal devices so that Sony can continuously collect and profit from their personal information while also pushing ads at them would be unacceptable to me, but at least somewhat understandable if we were talking about a pair of high quality free headphones.
Paying $350 (your quoted price may vary) and then also having your personal information exploited and sold to third parties while having a bunch of ads pushed at you is just plain insulting. Having your expensive product inevitably crippled after some number of years when the app no longer functions, stops being updated, or can no longer be downloaded/installed for whatever reason is just one more problem on top of having your battery's lifespan shortened.
I guess Sony feels that any sucker who is willing to pay for that kind of abuse deserves it, but I think most consumers are just coming to terms with the idea of "being the product" when it comes to free services and have a very different expectation when it comes to things they spend good money on.
I suppose this kind of product is intended to train consumers into accepting that there is no longer a set price on goods, and that what you pay at checkout should only be considered as your first payment since you'll be expected to be continuously paying with your personal data (including the cost of the consequences of that data being used against you) through your dependence on Sony's app for as long as they choose to keep making money at your expense.