Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
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Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#2On the one hand this is understandable and sort of "evil genius", on the other hand, this will also affect grey market buyers who cannot produce a legitimate receipt. It's also problematic because this means they can alter your property at will.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#3This technology was used for good this time, but there's nothing stopping it from being used for evil next time. The fact that Samsung is even capable of doing this means you don't have control over your Samsung TV even if you do own it legally.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#4I am quite ambivalent to this feature. On one hand, if someone steals your TV, you can deactivate it. But
now there is also a benefit to having a dumb TV. Imagine if you have too old of a model, so Samsung decides to remotely disable your TV.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#5This technology was used for good this time, but there's nothing stopping it from being used for evil next time. The fact that Samsung is even capable of doing this means you don't have control over your Samsung TV even if you do own it legally.
At least they’re not scanning your media library against a list of hashes yet.
Edit: Ahh, I see from the replies I have had my fill of curiosity for the day.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#6This is bad.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#7I am quite ambivalent to this feature. On one hand, if someone steals your TV, you can deactivate it. But now there is also a benefit to having a dumb TV. Imagine if you have too old of a model, so Samsung decides to remotely disable your TV.
While not the same, crippling of Smart TVs already exists - their apps become incompatible with latest youtube, netflix, etc. APIs and therefore become less usable. You can get away from that with a smart stick, but then, you could've bought dumb tv instead.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#8I am quite ambivalent to this feature. On one hand, if someone steals your TV, you can deactivate it. But now there is also a benefit to having a dumb TV. Imagine if you have too old of a model, so Samsung decides to remotely disable your TV.
My samsung TV was never connected to the internet. I didnt even accept the user agreement, it still works just fine.
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#9> The blocking will come into effect when the user of a stolen television connects to the internet, in order to operate the television
I purchased a Sony TV in 2019 after giving up on looking for 70" "dumb" television sets that would only connect to my PlayStation and act as a screen.
I decided that I would buy a smart tv but never connect it to the internet.
Every few days when I start my TV, I get an annoying "set up your Android TV" prompt that takes over my TV. I have to grab my remote and dismiss it to go back to my PlayStation.
If I happen to have a stolen television set, I would never know the difference. (My TV is from Sony, article is about Samsung TVs)
Re: Samsung remotely disables TVs looted from South African warehouse
#10I am quite ambivalent to this feature. On one hand, if someone steals your TV, you can deactivate it. But now there is also a benefit to having a dumb TV. Imagine if you have too old of a model, so Samsung decides to remotely disable your TV.
My samsung TV was never connected to the internet. I didnt even accept the user agreement, it still works just fine.
Just wait until they include Amazon Sidewalk, so the TV can connect using your neighbor's internet connection to download the latest ads.