Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#491

Post by nerdponx » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:15 PM UTC

johnklos wrote: post #219

squiffsquiff wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know that some devices essentially "require" network connectivity for initial setup? E.g. https://eu.community.samsung.com/t5/tv/smart-tv-set-up-witho...

The statement, "just don't connect it to the network" still stands. If something requires a connection, return it. It's clearly anti-consumer and will do nefarious things (which we already know Samsung does).

And then you won't have a TV, and Samsung will keep making these abusive TVs without giving one single fuck about your return.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#492

Post by mitemte » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 2:59 PM UTC

behnamoh wrote: post #397

azinman2 wrote: post #361

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Be aware that Roku is one of the worst offenders in selling your watching habits.

What are some better alternatives?

Apple TV with Infuse. https://firecore.com/infuse

It can connect to Plex, Jellyfin, SMB, NFS and more. Bought a lifetime licence a while back before the price was increased and no regrets so far.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#493

Post by xyzzy21 » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 3:55 PM UTC

cronix wrote: post #173

All TV's are dumb tv's if you only use them as an external display/monitor and don't connect them to the net. I have a dedicated computer for a media center and just use HDMI1 input on the TV. Never enter menus. Never update the OS. Never agree to anything. Never let the TV "phone home." Never set up wifi. Never connect a CAT5 to it. Set the input using the remote and forget it. Treat it as a dumb monitor. Computer i…

Exactly! No need to have anything but HDMI and power connected.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#494

Post by xyzzy21 » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 3:56 PM UTC

Volundr wrote: post #252

cronix wrote: post #173

All TV's are dumb tv's if you only use them as an external display/monitor and don't connect them to the net. I have a dedicated computer for a media center and just use HDMI1 input on the TV. Never enter menus. Never update the OS. Never agree to anything. Never let the TV "phone home." Never set up wifi. Never connect a CAT5 to it. Set the input using the remote and forget it. Treat it as a dumb monitor. Computer i…

That's sadly not really true. I have an LG that I (thought) I was using this way until one day in the middle of watching some TV I get a prompt about a OnePlus phone trying to control my TV, do I want to accept? Needless to say and didn't, but I was baffled by what happened. Turns out that the stupid TV is controllable via an app over bluetooth, and there is no way to turn bluetooth off. I'm just stuck with my TV con…

You can disable bluetooth with some effort - find the BT antenna (inside) and replace it with a load terminator - the radio thinks there's an antenna still but there is nothing that can be broadcast or received.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#495

Post by softawre » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 4:03 PM UTC

femto113 wrote: post #294

haunter wrote: post #32

4K monitors. You need a soundbar though or some kind of audio setup + remote. Also no built-in tuner or such but I assume you get a set top box from your service provider or use a streaming device (Apple TV, Fire stick etc.) 4K OLED https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P=7 4K IPS https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P=2 4K VA https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P…

Another approach is to look not for things advertised as "monitors" but instead look for "digital signage"[1]. Nowadays most of these contain some networking features but they'll be oriented at local control (i.e. by you via something on your LAN), not some third-party control center accessed via the internet. Anecdotally this is the approach I took ~20 years ago when buying a (then slightly exotic) plasma flatscreen…

Lots of places call these "commercial monitors".

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Flat-Panel-Displays/ci/16...

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#496

Post by austinshea » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 4:58 PM UTC

Matthias247 wrote: post #471

austinshea wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the trade off is a subsidized price point, and associated specs, and an unsubsidized one. I’d guess the panels are all pretty common.

No they are not. Even the bigger players like Samsung and Sony have dozens of quality levels of panels. The highest quality ones e.g. have a ton of local dimming zones and smart backlighting, and achieve much higher contrast ratios than cheaper models. They also will represent moving objects with high contrast better. Plus, there's usually different levels of color calibration applied. That means usually in order to…

Very helpful info. Thanks for this.

I often forget to consider stuff like consistent/quality back lighting, but it really does make a difference.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#497

Post by krolden » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 5:02 PM UTC

femto113 wrote: post #294

haunter wrote: post #32

4K monitors. You need a soundbar though or some kind of audio setup + remote. Also no built-in tuner or such but I assume you get a set top box from your service provider or use a streaming device (Apple TV, Fire stick etc.) 4K OLED https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P=7 4K IPS https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P=2 4K VA https://pcpartpicker.com/products/monitor/#r=384002160&P…

Another approach is to look not for things advertised as "monitors" but instead look for "digital signage"[1]. Nowadays most of these contain some networking features but they'll be oriented at local control (i.e. by you via something on your LAN), not some third-party control center accessed via the internet. Anecdotally this is the approach I took ~20 years ago when buying a (then slightly exotic) plasma flatscreen…

This is good advice but if you're looking for something fancy like HDR or DV you will be dissapointed as (in my experience) digital signage displays often lack those features.

I have a big 4k tv that was destined for a sports bar but it was slightly damaged, got it for a great price. Sadly it doesn't have HDR either, but it is an older model. Anyway, its great as in there's no WiFi. There is a network port but there's no streaming apps or anything installed on it. I use it paired with an nvidia shield and a nakamichi soundbar and have been enjoying the experience.

But I digress, look for business displays

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#498

Post by qchris » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 5:05 PM UTC

bentcorner wrote: post #321

oblio wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even better, product placement. Your 5 year old is now magically holding BrandNewKoolAid™ instead of the original Coke. You grandpa has a fishing rod from BobsFishingEquipment®.

Oh god - there's the recent posts I've seen about people losing their social media accounts and then having deepfakes of themselves posting about BTC. But what happens when the platforms get into it themselves? Today using a loved one's image in a deepfake advertisement might seem invasive and wrong. But I wonder in the future if this would be seen as something acceptable. I'm sure somewhere there's a social media si…

On the other hand, I think one protection against this particular scenario are the people who make their money using their likeness. Like, what if in that particular situation, Taylor Swift's dad (pick any celebrity) was the one browsing the internet. He just got served an advertisement with not just his daughter's face on it, but an ad with Taylor Swift's unlicensed likeness, where that likeness in most other situations is worth many millions of dollars.

For some tiny group that's below-board anyway with hacking people's social media accounts, I guess maybe there's not much you could do. But for any social media site or other platform, I imagine that IP lawyers trying to protect their client's likeness would descend in packs, which is a probably a genuine deterrent to a group considering implementing something like this.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#499

Post by duderific » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 5:28 PM UTC

joney_baloney wrote: post #439

duderific wrote: post #426

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AppleTV is not analogous to a Roku stick however, unless I'm misunderstanding. It is an app that already requires a connection to Wifi from the TV; Roku stick is what provides this connection. Additionally, AppleTV does not support Netflix or Disney+ among others. [1] [1] https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/29/apple-tv-channels-services/

Pedantic Post Alert, but there's a few different products called "Apple TV". There's the hardware box called Apple TV that comes with a remote and plugs into the HDMI on your TV. That IS an alternative to Roku. Then there's the Apple TV app, which runs on the Apple TV box. This can integrate with some other streaming services and show you their content in the app. Not Netflix or HBO (or some others) though. And final…

Ok, I've been set straight. I wasn't able to get the full picture searching online.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any 4K “dumb” televisions?

#500

Post by slantaclaus » Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 5:40 PM UTC

Yes, I got one but it’s a commercial grade weather proof TV sunbritetv.com