Have any old gadgets around? Your dusty phones, boomboxes and gaming consoles can be worth a fortune. Here’s a list of items to fatten your wallet.
“New” is a relative term when it comes to tech. One product can remain on the shelves for years while another is replaced annually. The impact this has on your buying decisions can vary. Purchasing last year’s toaster oven may mean missing out on the new air fryer, but it’s not the same as getting an older smart speaker.
Here’s why you should avoid buying specific outdated tech.
End of Life
When a product leaves the market, it’s known as End of Life or EOL. This could result from introducing a newer product, low sales, or other reasons. EOS is sometimes used interchangeably with EOS or End of Sale.
EOL does not necessarily mean the manufacturer will stop supporting the product, but this is inevitable as time goes on. Replacement parts will also become more difficult to find.
End of Service Life/Support
A product pulled from shelves can have support from the manufacturer as long as they’re willing to offer it. When that’s removed, it’s known as the End of Service Life (EOSL).
Support could come in many forms, from producing spare parts to software updates and patches. The latter is critical regarding tech, whether it’s a physical product or software.
Without updates, your phone, smart speakers, security cameras, operating systems, browsers and routers become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Developers are constantly working to stay ahead of hackers, and you should always have the latest updates to protect yourself.
As a general rule, connected devices and apps that haven’t had an update in 12 months can seriously compromise your privacy and personal information. Go through your tech at least twice a year and determine which ones might be outdated. Then, either update their software or get rid of them.
Here are 10 products to avoid. If you already have them, stop using them.
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