Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

In Defense of Dumb TVs

frame.work

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

241–250 of 391 posts

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#241

Post by jhoechtl »

pridkett wrote: post #15

I’m really pleased the author called out the Apple TV as a device that lets you avoid ads. We tried to go cheap on another of our TVs and get an Amazon Fire Stick and in addition to it being not as smooth (combo of UX and speed) at the Apple TV, it had a good amount of ads all over the place. There’s lots of griping about the cost of an Apple TV 4k, but I’ll pay that extra $100 to avoid ads and not be tracked so exte…

You know you are tracked, right? It's just all the tracking information goes to one big monopolist instead of multiple providers. This may make it feel as if there is less tracking going on but it really isn't.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#242

Post by robin_reala »

jhoechtl wrote: post #241
pridkett wrote: post #15

I’m really pleased the author called out the Apple TV as a device that lets you avoid ads. We tried to go cheap on another of our TVs and get an Amazon Fire Stick and in addition to it being not as smooth (combo of UX and speed) at the Apple TV, it had a good amount of ads all over the place. There’s lots of griping about the cost of an Apple TV 4k, but I’ll pay that extra $100 to avoid ads and not be tracked so exte…

You know you are tracked, right? It's just all the tracking information goes to one big monopolist instead of multiple providers. This may make it feel as if there is less tracking going on but it really isn't.

You can adjust the privacy settings so that you’re not tracked: https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/adjust-privacy-settings-a...

Beyond Apple, you should expect individual Apple TV apps to track by default.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#243

Post by marshmallow_12 »

atoav wrote: post #193
gonehome wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes - I wish Apple would just make a TV. Call it a living room screen or a living room monitor or something. Make it OLED, dumb TV, instant on, Apple TV box plugs in. Separate box with front facing ports that connects to screen with one cable. A remote designed by someone who thought about it for ten seconds (why do modern TVs have dozens of buttons no one ever uses?). This entire market is in desperate need of someo…

The best option that I know of today (in terms of resulting usabilty and long term reliability) is using a dumb computer monitor and roll the rest yourself with a Raspi. While this option is certainly not available to all, it is the only thing that will really fit your needs. I completely gave up on finding anything decent in that market.

Are the graphics on a Raspi really that good?

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#244

Post by leadingthenet »

cm2187 wrote: post #190
TylerE wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing is, Apple could charge 2-3x, because the prices have gotten so cheap. People would absolutely pay $1000-1200 for a 55" Apple TV with nice software, and maybe a nice brushed aluminum frame that looks nice on the wall. (For comparison, the cheapest 55" I could quickly find from a major retail is around $300, with a "name brand" starting around $400).

...and that would only play Apple content.

The Apple TV plays content from other providers just fine.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#245

Post by gurkendoktor »

jhoechtl wrote: post #241
pridkett wrote: post #15

I’m really pleased the author called out the Apple TV as a device that lets you avoid ads. We tried to go cheap on another of our TVs and get an Amazon Fire Stick and in addition to it being not as smooth (combo of UX and speed) at the Apple TV, it had a good amount of ads all over the place. There’s lots of griping about the cost of an Apple TV 4k, but I’ll pay that extra $100 to avoid ads and not be tracked so exte…

You know you are tracked, right? It's just all the tracking information goes to one big monopolist instead of multiple providers. This may make it feel as if there is less tracking going on but it really isn't.

I agree that you are still being tracked on an Apple TV, but that's because the YouTube app is still made by Google, and the Netflix app is made by Netflix, etc.

Apple probably has some sort of tracking system, but they're hardly a tracking monopolist, not even on their own devices.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#246

Post by tjpnz »

freedomben wrote: post #23
lrvick wrote: post #4

This is exactly why I never connect TVs to the internet. Then they are just dumb HDMI panels.

Soon they'll be coming with their own 5G chips that phone home over cell networks - no wifi access required. Or, like the Amazon Echoes, they'll form a mesh network with your neighbors TVs and other devices and then just use your neighbor's wifi to phone home. It's coming. I'm buying Spectres and I suggest others do the same.

And I enclose the display in a Faraday cage.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#247

Post by adtac »

TylerE wrote: post #185
ksec wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As much as I want this to happen. And I have been advocating for it [1] for many years. The more I read into the whole TV, display panel and electronic industry the grimmer it is for such Apple TV set to exist. An Apple branded TV, even if it is without the TV part or just a monitor would have to be at least 2-3x the price of today's similar TV sets. And if anything OP were only willing to paid an extra $100 is proba…

The thing is, Apple could charge 2-3x, because the prices have gotten so cheap. People would absolutely pay $1000-1200 for a 55" Apple TV with nice software, and maybe a nice brushed aluminum frame that looks nice on the wall. (For comparison, the cheapest 55" I could quickly find from a major retail is around $300, with a "name brand" starting around $400).

The $300 TV that you found probably has poor audio, viewing angle, contrast ratio, support, etc. From the limited research I did before buying my TV, a 55" TV with good reviews for panel and sound quality that you can rely on for 5-10 years costs C$1,200 today.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#249

Post by hef19898 »

BrandoElFollito wrote: post #221
hnlmorg wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. Assuming your voice assistant works first time. Otherwise the dialog would go a little more like this: Me OK Google mute Me> OK...Google....mute Me> OKGOOGLE mute G> Sorry, I don't understand Me> mute... Me> MUTE MUTE MUTE MUTE MUTE Me> OKGOOGLE MUTE G> What would you like to mute? Me> The TV Me> Mute the fucking TV Google Me> OKGOOGLE MUTE THE FUCKING TV G> Sorry, I don't understand Me> Fuck it. I should have…

This comedy piece usually sends my family into laughter when I try to ask Google Auto to play a song or to call someone. I end up with some vulgarities and ask my children to do it the old fashioned way (that is to tap the name on their phones, not to use smoke signals)

I stopped wondering where kids pick up vulgarities after I caught myself years ago yelling at a guy in another car.

And we usually end up insulting Alexa as well.

Re: In Defense of Dumb TVs

#250

Post by chovybizzass »

pridkett wrote: post #15

I’m really pleased the author called out the Apple TV as a device that lets you avoid ads. We tried to go cheap on another of our TVs and get an Amazon Fire Stick and in addition to it being not as smooth (combo of UX and speed) at the Apple TV, it had a good amount of ads all over the place. There’s lots of griping about the cost of an Apple TV 4k, but I’ll pay that extra $100 to avoid ads and not be tracked so exte…

apple still tracking you. i like the fire tv because you can side load apps that aren't in the store. great for us hackers.
Post reply on HN