I'm the author and linking to my tweets is a bad idea because they auto-delete after 14 days. For future HN context, as the author I'm reproducing them here in full: My @Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app from https://samba.tv and boy oh boy... this is worse than recent @facebook stuff. From their own privacy policy: https://samba.tv/legal/privacy-policy/ … they track what you w…
My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
441–448 of 448 posts
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#442I'm the author and linking to my tweets is a bad idea because they auto-delete after 14 days. For future HN context, as the author I'm reproducing them here in full: My @Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app from https://samba.tv and boy oh boy... this is worse than recent @facebook stuff. From their own privacy policy: https://samba.tv/legal/privacy-policy/ … they track what you w…
I do put TVs on a separate VLAN and also cameras, phones, IoT stuff (those get the SEWER VLAN). I run a pfSense router and am seriously considering SSL splice in Squid in transparent mode for some of that lot. SSL Splice is nearly a MitM but does not need trustable faked SSL certificates, but you do get more logging and the ability to make certain URLs vanish. Now if the security of the device is crap enough to belie…
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#443Earlier quoted context omitted.
Solution: don't ever purchase a smart TV. Preferably, no one would ever purchase a smart TV. When smart TV sales go to zero, the makers would get the message. Sadly, too many folks don't know, or if they do know, they don't care.
Try it. I did. I couldn't find a non-smart TV. They are everywhere. If you want the 4k, then you have a smart TV. The best alternatives were super large monitors (way over the price of a TV, and with no decent sound built in), or corporate display panels (for advertising, signage, etc) whose prices are also way above a TV and include no sound system at all.
Exactly. A commercial display / signage display is indeed what you need to buy if you want a "dumb" TV.
Not only are they as dumb as dumb gets but they are highly reliable and usually fairly rugged.
Many of them have an expansion card slot which allows you to change the inputs - you could remove your 2x HDMI card and insert an SCART card instead, for instance.
Finally, if you get a video wall model, you'll get near-zero bezel.
They're not that expensive - how could they be if they are being purchased twelve at a time for display walls ? Yes, they are more than $399 + mail-in rebate from Frys.
It's worth it.
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#444Earlier quoted context omitted.
By definition, if they are actually accepted by their customers, then yes, they are. And since customers continue to buy PS4s it appears that they are (accepted).
It's a classic bait and switch. The buyer didn't agree to get a bunch of stupid bullshit ads after they purchased it.
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#445Earlier quoted context omitted.
All those things can be easily turned off, but yes, that's not right.
And just as easily, Microsoft will turn them back on for you.
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#446Earlier quoted context omitted.
> maybe cellular networks Now you're getting me paranoid.
That would probably cost too much. At least I hope so.
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#447Earlier quoted context omitted.
What brand of TV?
Samsung, from about 4 years ago I think
Same experience as https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/TVs/Annoying-notificatio... but with a different notification.
I don't think I'll buy a Samsung TV again after that, and I don't connect any TV to the internet anymore.
Re: My Sony "smart" TV has updated itself and tried to force me to use a new app
#448I wouldn't allow anything "smart" in my home, and I urge you to do the same. As for Netflix, I refuse to let a company know what I watch, or tolerate DRM, or agree to a contract not to give, lend or share copies. See stallman.org/netflix.html.