Good old Microsoft pulled the plug today on MSNDirect radio services. MSN Direct was
used to deliver data feeds over FM radio signals. Companies like Garmin (GPS) and Oregon
Scientific designed many of their
products to use this service. I own a
Garmin Nuvi GPS that had traffic updates that were using MSN Direct. My Garmin can still navigate but I will no
longer know if there are any traffic issues on my route. I would have to buy a new GPS to get back that
functionality.
What’s more upsetting are weather stations. My Oregon Scientific weather station has
turned into a door stop since Microsoft pulled the plug. What’s even more insulting is they are still selling these MSN Direct weather stations on Amazon!
I wonder how many
people will be placing support calls over the next few weeks wondering why
their electronic gadgets stopped working all of sudden. I hope Microsoft gets some heat from this
latest move.
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| My now useless weather station |
I miss mine already. I've had the same one in your picture for about 5 years. Still can't help feeling like I've been shammed. Really liked the cool blue. Oh well, the big corps got me again.
ReplyDeleteThis sucks. Sure I have smartphones and lots of computers -- but it was nice to have this passive-push always-there weather info right there on the bathroom counter every morning. I also have the same unit pictured -- now dead.
ReplyDeleteAmazingly irresponsible that they're still being sold.
That's MSN for you. I agree with everything you've said. How come Oregon Scientific still sells that model?
ReplyDelete