Comment by TeMPOraL

> This to me indicates that they don't take the internet capability of their kettles/cars seriously enough. It's just a gimmick.

Of course it is, and of course they don't. There are exactly two reasons why stuff like cars or kettles get connected to the Internet:

1) A value-add gimmick to justify a price hike on what's pretty much a commodity product;

2) A way to lock you into paying (with money or data) for a cloud service, using a physical appliance as an anchor.

Actual utility of an Internet-connected appliance doesn't even enter the picture.