32
Locked hardware
A repair tool is not a dealer-only feature.
US environmental guidance says manufacturers cannot use emissions law as a reason to withhold repair tools or software from farm-equipment owners and independent repairers.
5 min read
Topic file
Digital ownership
What remains yours when access, licensing and the storefront can change after purchase.
03
Locked hardware
You bought the printer. HP kept the keys.
Firmware locks and subscription cartridges turn an ordinary appliance into a permissioned service—with your urgent document held in the middle.
7 min read
05
Digital ownership
Sony is taking the disc away. The price tag gets to stay.
From January 2028, new PlayStation games will be sold digitally only. Retail boxes may still exist—but as download codes, not copies you can lend, resell or preserve.
7 min read
06
Digital ownership
You bought the movie. Sony kept the licence.
PlayStation customers in the UK were told that 551 StudioCanal films would disappear from their libraries in September 2026 after licensing agreements expired.
5 min read
07
Locked hardware
Bambu sold a printer. The cloud kept the keys.
When Bambu Lab restricted direct third-party cloud access, owners discovered that a fast, polished printer can still be a platform with a gate around it.
6 min read
12
Locked hardware
Bose updated the headphones. Some of the useful bits went missing.
A 2026 firmware update for Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones added new audio features while removing or obscuring controls customers already relied on.
5 min read
15
Digital ownership
A game can be paid for, downloaded and still be designed to die.
California’s Protect Our Games Act would require publishers that shut down online games to offer a refund or a version that can keep running without the operator’s services.
6 min read
27
Locked hardware
The Nest stayed on the wall. Its smart features left the house.
Google ended app and cloud support for first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats, turning a connected appliance into a local-only device after purchase.
6 min read
39
Digital ownership
The Game Pass price fell. The launch-day promise moved away.
Xbox says future Call of Duty releases will arrive in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass about a year after launch, rather than on release day, even as it reduces the monthly price of those plans in some regions.
5 min read
40
Digital ownership
The subscription renews. The older console library slows down.
PlayStation says PS4 games will be added only intermittently to PlayStation Plus monthly selections and Game Catalog updates from January 2026, while Plus remains a recurring subscription.
4 min read
41
Digital ownership
The operating system knows enough to sell you more operating system.
Microsoft documents that Windows collects required diagnostic data and that, when personalised offers are enabled, it can use diagnostic data to show tips, ads and recommendations—including suggestions for OneDrive or more storage.
6 min read
44
Digital ownership
When the server goes away, the game needs an answer.
The European Commission will engage with consumers and game publishers after the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative, while saying it cannot currently require publishers to keep games playable after commercial support ends.
5 min read
48
Digital ownership
The platform fee starts with who gets to name the price.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority is consulting on requirements that would let app developers tell customers about payment options outside Apple and Google’s platforms.
5 min read