@VsnGarcia 

I can only figure 2 reasons, both are evil:

1. Forced obsolescence.  TPLink can "flip a switch" and instantly brick every one of these devices when they want to force us into upgrades.

2. Backdoor data access for the Chinese Communist Party. 

These devices need to be banned from importing into the US, just like Huwei.

Greg

  @TP-Link I just realized you need to install an app and create an account to setup your own hardware? I'm amazed, I'll never touch this brand after seeying so many messages with no change from TP-Link side, it's pure insanity.

  @TP-Link 

This is simply not acceptable. Via your server and my TP-link-id, you can eavesdrop on my network, you can configure MY OWN devices, you can monitor my network usage, and you can link illegally gathered data to me.

Your behaviour is illegal and ridiculous.

You MUST provide your customers with a way to configure this device without connecting to your people control centre.

I will never purchase a TP-Link device again.

Blame on you.

  @TP-Link: It is hard to understand how tone deaf your marketing team can be. This feature has been requested for months/years with nearly 500 posts in this thread alone, and yet you steadfastly refuse to implement a "standard" control/config interface, which does not require an account and/or some "foreign" app on one of the customer's devices. It appears that you value your revenue stream from sharing/selling my data/info and adding me to your personal marketing/spam database too much.

I, for one, do not want to share my data (account and information collected by TP-Link) with anyone or be required to install some app of unkown quality and security simply to use your product -- especially something as fundmental as a network router. I do not trust companies to secure my information and I do not know the qualility of the app I am being forced to install on one of my devices.

TP-Link has been one of my "goto" brands for networking products for years. But this policy has moved the company to the "only if nothing is better" list.While I realize this trend of collecting/selling customer information is becoming pervasive among many companies. While I will not say that I'm nevery buying from TP-Link again, this policy has significantly raised the bar to acceptance or recommendation of your products. 

  @TP-Link 
Now I bought this to have a good coverage for a local network - without connection to internet. What now? How would it work? It will not be able to connect to tplink cloud.

So tell me, how will I be able to use your equipment in this case.

I initially installed them with internet access, and set them up as AP. But I plan to move them into another zone, another subnet that is without internet. Will they still work?

Sorry Guys, I understand, that you want to minimize your dev costs - but then why choosing the app? The web ui would work both ios and android - and windows, linux, so on.

Crazy idea.