nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Why is Wi-Fi required for firmware update?

Clinton_Ingram_416399

The update instructions in the app say I have to leave my phone/tablet on and close to my Joule for the duration of the update, which leads me to believe it's updating over bluetooth. So why does it then tell me I have to connect Joule to wi-fi to continue? I have no desire to put my Joule on the internet. I've seen enough security vulnerabilities in other appliances to be wary of putting anything on the internet unnecessarily.

Can't the update be done only over bluetooth? If not, why not? If it is done over bluetooth, why is wi-fi required? And if it's done over wi-fi, why does my tablet have to be on an in range?

Find more posts tagged with

How To Joule

Comments

meyer8863

This is just speculation... but I assume that the Joule device itself is actually downloading the firmware over wifi (presumably from chefsteps servers), which means that the firmware update isn't actually transferred to the circulator by the device that is connected via the app. The app itself is just monitoring the update and telling you when it is done, rather than transferring the update to the device via Bluetooth. If this is the case, I don't have the technical know-how to know why they can't transfer over Bluetooth.

On a more proactive note (or cynical depending on your level of trust), connecting to the chefsteps servers also gives chefsteps an opportunity to monitor the times and temperatures in which you cook... which in the future may lead to individualized content.

fisher23

Unless it has changed you can preform the update via Bluetooth without a WiFi connection. When I was doing beta testing my WiFi wasn't connected to Joule and I was still able to perform the update. Your phone or device needs to be connected, either by WiFi or data to receive and transfer the firmware update to Joule. If your device and Joule are connected to WiFi I don't believe it really needs to be in close proximity, I did the last update out of Bluetooth range and it worked fine. That has been my experience, but it may not be the official method.

Clinton_Ingram_416399

That's interesting, but it most definitely has changed.

There's no technical reason the update can't be done without wi-fi, so I'd like to know why they changed it.

Clinton_Ingram_416399

"connecting to the chefsteps servers also gives chefsteps an opportunity to monitor the times and temperatures in which you cook"

You just nailed one of the many, many reasons I don't want to connect Joule to wi-fi. Chefsteps has no business knowing what I'm doing with my Joule, and if they want to collect any such information, they need to disclose that and ask permission. And, of course, I need to be able to deny that permission and continue.

meyer8863

This is directly from the chefsteps privacy policy:

Information Collected in Connection with Joule: When you first activate your Joule, you will have the option to link the device to your ChefSteps account. If you choose to do so, we will collect information about your use of the Joule, including what and how you cook, your cooking and recipe preferences, and any other information you choose to provide through the app.
Mobile Device Information:Information: When you access or use our mobile sites or apps, we may collect information about the mobile device, including the hardware model, operating system and version, device identifiers, mobile network information and information about your use of our mobile applications.

Sounds like you may be able to avoid their collecting of information about you, by making sure that the Joule app is not connected to your account. I agree the idea is scary and caused pause for me before my purchase. But ultimately, I decided there was no danger in Chefsteps collecting the times and temperatures in which I cook. Particularly since I usually use manual mode, which means the best they can do is make an educated guess about what I'm cooking.

All that said, I agree you should be able to update the firmware without connecting to wifi.

Clinton_Ingram_416399

"When you first activate your Joule, you will have the option to link the device to your ChefSteps account"

I saw that too, but as far as I can see, it's mandatory, not an option.

"I decided there was no danger in Chefsteps collecting the times and temperatures in which I cook"

It's really one of those things where if they asked permission, I'm sure most people would allow it, but they're not asking permission and they're not allowing me to opt out. That grinds my gears.