41–50 of 74 posts
I don't regret sticking to dumb appliances. I hate Smart TVs with a passion, but they are all you can get nowadays. But I can just throw the TV out the window if it stops working when I unplug it and continue living just fine. Not so much with my washer, dryer, stove, car and fridge/freezer. I do not look forward to the day you CAN'T buy a non-smart appliance like a fridge or water heater.
I think we are at a point where legislation will be needed and there should be a clear list of what kind of data will be collected by the device throughout this lifespan akin to nutrition facts for food. That list should not be possible to alter at all (because otherwise they would lock the app lest you approve the new requirements). Something like: This device will share: - Age - Gender - Voice commands - Wifi name…
I don't regret sticking to dumb appliances. I hate Smart TVs with a passion, but they are all you can get nowadays. But I can just throw the TV out the window if it stops working when I unplug it and continue living just fine. Not so much with my washer, dryer, stove, car and fridge/freezer. I do not look forward to the day you CAN'T buy a non-smart appliance like a fridge or water heater.
People here regularly recommend a brand of dumb tv that is very reasonable in terms of image quality.
Wow. I do not believe changes to terms after purchase should be allowed unless required by law. We need a lemon-like law for consumer electronics. Also, I believe it is important to not buy connected devices and appliances that are not entertainment purposes only. I’d rather pay $200 extra for a dumb tv that will last be 10 years and guaranteed to not start showing me ads in the menu screen someday.
I’m in the market for a TV currently, and have found (in the US) that it doesn’t matter how much extra I’d be willing to pay for a dumb TV, there just aren’t any beyond super low-end ones. Any pointers to some would be much appreciated!
https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...
I haven't investigated fully but they don't mention WiFi or YouTube support on the few products I checked.
1GB of data per day? That's incredible. Have you tried to inspect the data? I'm curious to know what a washer and dryer could possibly send home per day to total that. If what you're saying is true, it smells like you're getting spied on.
It definitely is 1GB per day. Any insight/links on how I can do that? I'll admit I have no idea where to begin when it comes to this.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m in the market for a TV currently, and have found (in the US) that it doesn’t matter how much extra I’d be willing to pay for a dumb TV, there just aren’t any beyond super low-end ones. Any pointers to some would be much appreciated!
I got a TV that wishes it were smart. I just refused to accept the ToS upon turning it on, never connected it to the wifi, and use an HDMI cable instead. To this day if I accidentally click the wrong input button it asks me to accept the ToS. But since I haven't and won't accept them at least that's something. Though I think it should be extremely illegal to change the terms of service for an appliance. Software mayb…
In my mind: I purchased the washer/dryer with these specific features in mind. Now I no longer have access to what I bought and I'm being locked out of using these features unless I accept the new terms.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I’m in the market for a TV currently, and have found (in the US) that it doesn’t matter how much extra I’d be willing to pay for a dumb TV, there just aren’t any beyond super low-end ones. Any pointers to some would be much appreciated!
I got a TV that wishes it were smart. I just refused to accept the ToS upon turning it on, never connected it to the wifi, and use an HDMI cable instead. To this day if I accidentally click the wrong input button it asks me to accept the ToS. But since I haven't and won't accept them at least that's something. Though I think it should be extremely illegal to change the terms of service for an appliance. Software mayb…
Wow. I do not believe changes to terms after purchase should be allowed unless required by law. We need a lemon-like law for consumer electronics. Also, I believe it is important to not buy connected devices and appliances that are not entertainment purposes only. I’d rather pay $200 extra for a dumb tv that will last be 10 years and guaranteed to not start showing me ads in the menu screen someday.
I wonder how this should apply to planned obsolescence of devices like smartphones.
On one hand, it's obscene that manufacturers expect us to routinely spend ~$1k on a device that will in the best case scenario last for three years. There's no inherent reason that a flagship Samsung from 2017 shouldn't be perfectly serviceable today, and likewise for a Pixel 6 or iPhone 13 in 2030. However, the discontinuation of security updates makes it so that for all practical purposes they are not.
On the other hand, we can't exactly compel speech or labor. It would be one thing if there were a kill switch triggered after N years, but in this case the obsolescence isn't caused by an active update, rather a lack thereof.
Here's a possible middle ground:
1. Block device manufacturers from arbitrarily deprecating hardware. We can't compel the release of new software, but we can block the release of new software. Require manufacturers to submit a filing with request for approval before the release of any new mobile OS update, which must include an exhaustive list of all supported devices. In the event that a device is dropped from the list in a subsequent filing, it must be explained to the satisfaction of regulators that a specific hardware limitation makes continued support for the device problematic or impractical. Given approval to drop support for a device from an OS release, there would be no obligation on the manufacturer to backport security updates to prior releases.
2. Block component manufacturers from arbitrarily deprecating hardware. Any hardware included in a publicly available consumer electronic device must have its manufacturer commit to providing up-to-date driver software with support for the latest OS for the lifetime of the device. Failure to provide this within a certain time frame (say, three months) following the request of a device manufacturer would open them up to a lawsuit, wherein they could be compelled to publish the most recent release of the driver as open source / public domain. #1 would provide the incentive for each device manufacturer to proactively enforce this, as their entire product roadmap would be effectively frozen if they allowed component manufacturers to drag their feet.
3. Ban irreversible bootloader locking in new devices. Maybe an initial bootloader lock would be acceptable, but power users should have some way to override the lock and install a custom ROM without relying on vulnerabilities in the software.
There are just enough edge cases that they need that ability. Laws change, and they need to update to account for that. Sometimes the previous policy was wrong and they can't work at all without adding something that should have been there all along. Of course most of the time changes are not needed at all to get the job done, just to violate your privacy.
If a device was bought with privacy as a feature and then it flips 180 and you're locked out of using it with no recourse for returning it. To me it that seems as a clear violation of a consumer's rights.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
People here regularly recommend a brand of dumb tv that is very reasonable in terms of image quality.
Would you mind mentioning the name of that brand? I'm currently looking for a TV.