Tldr: Did Bambu address the issue, and should I look into updating firmware now.
For context, I got a Bambu Printer just before they released the changes to improve “security” and have been on old firmware since. I was looking at the Bambu Wiki and saw this page that indicated that all of the important LAN functions would be opened up. Unfortunately it requires being on LAN only mode, but I’ve been on LAN only since January because of their changes so it doesn’t effect me much.
I’m not dependent on their cloud features as I am home a substantial amount of the time and I have a server for when I’m not (to use home assistant or wtv). From my point of view the developer mode seems to address my issues, but I wanted to know some other people’s thoughts on the whole controversy and how it was addressed by Bambu.
I have no skin in this, but VC is involved with Bambu, as I understand things. That never goes well for consumers. They backpedaled to slow down the path to closed garden exploitation, but took no steps to open source or sell a legitimate product that can be owned. The solution is unplug it from the internet cause we gonna do what we gonna do (fu fu)
Build a Voron and own it for life. I know the excuses, but burning ownership-money, only to rent what someone else controls is mental. In the big picture, that is willingly selling your right to citizenship for neo feudalism as a slave to an overlord. It really is that simple. Normalizing that dystopia hurts everyone else too. But hey you do you. I’m happy for ya if that is your cup of tea.
I read it as Viet Cong before realizing you meant Venture Capitalists… I might need to cut back on Radio Commander play hours
It’d probably be better if it was the Viet Cong and not Venture Capitalists.
I would say unless you have a specific problem that is fixed by the new firmware I would keep your system the way it is.
I got caught the same way with an impulse buy of an A1 Mini/AMS Lite last fall. I’m still running the 1.04 firmware and Orca Slicer on LAN mode for several months now with little issue, (sometimes it drops the LAN connection on start up and needs to be manually reconnected). If you do upgrade to the evil firmware and don’t like it, Bambu currently does let you downgrade to an older firmware and you can go back to a safer firmware.
Most of the Bambu users I have interacted with don’t care because they want to run their printer from the Bambu Handy app. And if you want to use the Handy app, you can’t use LAN mode because you need to be logged in. But I don’t like using my phone for such things anyway.
Well, it sucks that now you have to choose one or the other, but if you’re on LAN mode already, this should be the fix you were waiting for.
Though I haven’t tested it personally.
