[Electronics-Talk] Fw: [blind-hams] FW: ACB-L Talking Thermostats.com Closing

[Matthew Chao]

As far as I'm concerned, any "smart" device can be hacked.  or, the 
server running the application could be shut down.  Are there manual 
backups for these things?--Matthew Chao



On 8/26/2019 10:40 AM, Tracy Carcione via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> Really?  I have heard that the Nest is frequently hacked.  Not a fan of "smart houses".
> Tracy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy Baracco via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 2:00 AM
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
> Cc: Andy Baracco
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Fw: [blind-hams] FW: ACB-L Talking Thermostats.com Closing
> 
> Thank you Sherri,
> 
> I have also heard good things about the Nest.
> 
> Andy
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sherri Brun via Electronics-Talk" <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances"
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Sherri Brun" <flmom2006 at gmail.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 10:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] Fw: [blind-hams] FW: ACB-L Talking
> Thermostats.com Closing
> 
> 
>> I am using the Ecobee 4 thermostat! It works withinthe Alexa app and its
>> app is fairly easy to use. I like it because you can change your
>> temperature while you are out. There is an at home mode and an away mode.
>> HTH!'
>>
>> Sherri
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Aug 26, 2019, at 12:21 AM, Andy Baracco via Electronics-Talk
>>> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> This is sad news indeed!  which other accessible thermostats are folks
>>> using?
>>>
>>> ------ Original Message ------
>>>
>>> From: janet.dickelman--- via ACB-L
>>> To: leadership at acblists.org, acb-l at acblists.org
>>> Sent: August 25, 2019 at 5:08 PM
>>> Subject: ACB-L Talking Thermostats.com Closing
>>>
>>> Many of you have this product, please see note below from Harry Cohen.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Janet Dickelman
>>>
>>> Talking Thermostats.com
>>>
>>> P.O. Box 27145  ???  Golden Valley, MN  55427  ???  Tel  (763) 591-9557  ???
>>> Fax (763) 544-7166
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Dear friends of the Blind and Visually Impaired Community,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My name is Harry Cohen and my company, Talking Thermostats.com has
>>> supplied many of you with talking thermostats and excellent customer
>>> service over the past sixteen years.  I am writing to inform you that as
>>> of this date we will be exiting the talking thermostat business and
>>> closing our company.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This was a difficult decision to make.  We were helped with this decision
>>> by the manufacturer, BuyMax Alliance who is also our supplier of the VIP
>>> talking thermostat.  Because of poor inventory control by our supplier,
>>> their stock of talking thermostats was depleted in January of this year.
>>> In addition, our supplier changed to a new electronic assembly vendor in
>>> China. Both of these issues by our supplier have caused very long lead
>>> times resulting in a stock out condition of thermostats not only for our
>>> company but also for our competitors.  All the VIP talking thermostats
>>> come from the same factory in China.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> We have not had thermostats to ship since February.  BuyMax Alliance told
>>> us we would have thermostats in April.  Then they changed the delivery to
>>> the end of July.  It is now the third week of August and still no
>>> thermostats. During these six plus months, we still offered customer and
>>> technical support even though there was no income being generated.
>>> Without income, we can no longer afford to pay rent, keep the lights on
>>> and keep the phones active.   Therefore, we are closing up shop.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> With the closure of our business, product questions and warranty issues
>>> now revert back to BuyMax Alliance, the VIP 3000 manufacturer / supplier.
>>> BuyMax Alliance can be reached at 866-936-6622.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Over the past sixteen years this business has given me the opportunity to
>>> establish relationships with the blind and visually impaired community of
>>> the United States and provide another means to help people with visual
>>> impairments live more independently.  Thank you for this opportunity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Harry Cohen
>>>
>>> Harry at talkingthermostats.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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> 
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