Is there any theory as to what NordicTrack hopes to gain out of preventing customers from using the screen as they see fit? NordicTrack already has the customers' money, so why would they really care?
Are they trying to do some kind of advertising on the screen? Are just going through run of the mill security updates and there's bad communication between the customers and NordicTrack not understanding each other because of a layer of dumb bureaucracy between marketing/developers?
NordicTrack is owned by iFit which sells a workout subscription service.
The screen is "intended" only for iFit content so they've locked users out of other uses.
Probably because they want to be the middle man for these services they provide or are going to. After all just like Apple they feel entitled to these cuts. The people who buy these gadgets are people with too much money or techbros that go out of their way to justify the control apple has over the platform or 30% apple takes.
Business wise it makes sense. And of course if everything is not locked down then you can always scare people with hackers.
Are they trying to do some kind of advertising on the screen? Are just going through run of the mill security updates and there's bad communication between the customers and NordicTrack not understanding each other because of a layer of dumb bureaucracy between marketing/developers?