They Hacked McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines—and Started a Cold War | WIRED
This is a long article, too long to quote, so I'll just give a brief summary.
Apparently, this enterprising young couple, after attempting to start their own frozen yogurt concession, learned quite a bit about Taylor ice cream machines and how unreliable they are. They also were able to figure out that there was a secret menu accessible by a code, which had many features and information which is not available to the end user. Apparently, only authorized service personnel were allowed to know this, but somehow this couple was able to find out.
They were able to learn more about the operations of these Taylor machines, and in the process, they developed a product called "Kytch," which was a device which could be used to override the secret code and access the secret menu for the user. They did this with Taylor's apparent knowledge and consent, at least according to one of the developers of Kytch.
They started selling these devices to McDonalds franchise owners, who apparently have been frustrated by their ice cream machines constantly breaking down. Apparently it's become a national meme, about McDonalds ice cream machines breaking down. The problem is that the machines, described as "overengineered," are very finicky and fragile, where the slightest thing could cause it to stop working. Further compounding the problem is that Taylor has a select group of repair people authorized to work on the machines. The end user isn't allowed to call anyone else, other than the approved repair people. Some of the repairs could have been easily made by the end user if they had access to the "secret menu" on the machine which is only available to the authorized repair people.
This device overrode all of that, but upon learning that franchisee operators were using it, McDonald's put out an email ordering them to cease-and-desist, warning that it would void the warranty on the machine and could cause human injury (although that claim is disputed by the makers of Kytch). Now, the company owners are suing both McDonalds and Taylor. (The article mentioned that Taylor also supplies the grills for McDonalds.)
But it's hard to say what a lawsuit would do, as noted in the final paragraphs:
I never realized there could be so much intrigue in the ice cream machine business.
But it does seem that there's a larger issue about the right to repair. Does the end user have a right to repair something he/she bought from a company? Shouldn't they at least have access to the information that the machine is ostensibly designed to convey? What's with the secret passcode and menu that no one is allowed to see and doesn't appear in any of the service manuals?
I remember when my check engine light was on, I took it to a mechanic I knew. He hooked it up to his computer, and the code said "see dealer." I took it to the dealer, and they said I needed a new fuel pump. But what was this "see dealer" nonsense? The mechanic I knew could have changed out the fuel pump.
Then they wonder why people don't trust capitalists and turn to socialism.
This is a long article, too long to quote, so I'll just give a brief summary.
Apparently, this enterprising young couple, after attempting to start their own frozen yogurt concession, learned quite a bit about Taylor ice cream machines and how unreliable they are. They also were able to figure out that there was a secret menu accessible by a code, which had many features and information which is not available to the end user. Apparently, only authorized service personnel were allowed to know this, but somehow this couple was able to find out.
They were able to learn more about the operations of these Taylor machines, and in the process, they developed a product called "Kytch," which was a device which could be used to override the secret code and access the secret menu for the user. They did this with Taylor's apparent knowledge and consent, at least according to one of the developers of Kytch.
They started selling these devices to McDonalds franchise owners, who apparently have been frustrated by their ice cream machines constantly breaking down. Apparently it's become a national meme, about McDonalds ice cream machines breaking down. The problem is that the machines, described as "overengineered," are very finicky and fragile, where the slightest thing could cause it to stop working. Further compounding the problem is that Taylor has a select group of repair people authorized to work on the machines. The end user isn't allowed to call anyone else, other than the approved repair people. Some of the repairs could have been easily made by the end user if they had access to the "secret menu" on the machine which is only available to the authorized repair people.
This device overrode all of that, but upon learning that franchisee operators were using it, McDonald's put out an email ordering them to cease-and-desist, warning that it would void the warranty on the machine and could cause human injury (although that claim is disputed by the makers of Kytch). Now, the company owners are suing both McDonalds and Taylor. (The article mentioned that Taylor also supplies the grills for McDonalds.)
But it's hard to say what a lawsuit would do, as noted in the final paragraphs:
I never realized there could be so much intrigue in the ice cream machine business.
But it does seem that there's a larger issue about the right to repair. Does the end user have a right to repair something he/she bought from a company? Shouldn't they at least have access to the information that the machine is ostensibly designed to convey? What's with the secret passcode and menu that no one is allowed to see and doesn't appear in any of the service manuals?
I remember when my check engine light was on, I took it to a mechanic I knew. He hooked it up to his computer, and the code said "see dealer." I took it to the dealer, and they said I needed a new fuel pump. But what was this "see dealer" nonsense? The mechanic I knew could have changed out the fuel pump.
Then they wonder why people don't trust capitalists and turn to socialism.
