On: Philips reverses decision to close the Hue Platfor...

[anc84]

They can still control it and reverse the reversal in the future. You are at their whim. It is not user-friendly unless it is free software (and hardware). Amazon can still remotely remove books and no one bats an eye. This is just an issue because at the moment these kinds of home automation are per-dominantly "nerd" territory while e-book readers are already mainstream.

[fastball → anc84]

Where is this magical place where I can find free hardware?

[stefs → fastball]

To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech,” not as in “free beer”.

[umanwizard → stefs]

GP's point still stands. Open hardware is very rare.