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Why I will never buy another Samsung device

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Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#371

Post by mns »

midrus wrote: post #168
jiggawatts wrote: post #160

I avoid all things Samsung for a much more important reason: They spy on you mercilessly, up to about the same level as Facebook. For example, they take screenshots of what you watch on your Samsung Televisions! Don't believe me? Take it from them: https://www.samsung.com/us/business/samsungads/resources/tv-... and https://www.samsung.com/us/business/samsungads/insights/ You're not their customer, you're the product.…

Any alternatives? What would you recommend instead? I'm under the suspicion that every single Smart TV vendor has the same problems.

Got a Sony OLED (has all that Google TV stuff), connected the TV for a software update, then disable all network connections and plug in an Apple TV. I had a Samsung before that started showing me ads, which was from my point of view a huge violation of my private space and my home (it's a TV that I fully bought, and not a cheap one). Bought the Apple TV, before getting the new Sony and also disabled everything on the Samsung.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#372

Post by koo6 »

samsung TVs have the worst behavior when connected to a computer. Every once in a while, you get a screen that appears as if there's no signal, but instead it's asking you to "configure". But there's nothing to "configure", except to select that the HDMI is connected to a "PC". If you don't do that, there's no way to have a stable, full picture. If you do it, it deliberately limits you to two picture settings presets. The settings details menu often doesn't come up - you have to perform about 12 navigational actions to be able to control brightness etc. And this kind of crap goes on and on and on and on and on

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#373

Post by janto »

josephg wrote: post #357
virtue3 wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

worked for a company doing apps for smartTVs. They all do it. Incessently. I made ad games that would pop up when the system recognized a certain ad was playing. you were supposed to be able to opt out of this but LG got busted in the UK for not listening to that option. This was back in 2013 era. It's worse by now I'm sure. They'd straight up send a screencap of whatever was on your screen every second for content r…

Yep. I have a smart tv. (What other kind exists today?). The remote has a netflix button - which is super useful. But according to my router, the TV sends a trickle of data over WIFI constantly. Even when its "off". So I've banned the TV from my WIFI network, and I just have a PC plugged into it. Its less convenient this way - we need to pull out a wireless keyboard & mouse to watch netflix. But I think its the right…

Do you think it's viable to isolate the data trickle and block it or create fake responses?

Edit: or maybe a pi hole or something like nordvpn cybersec.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#375

Post by rjzzleep »

NoboruWataya wrote: post #346
jiggawatts wrote: post #160

I avoid all things Samsung for a much more important reason: They spy on you mercilessly, up to about the same level as Facebook. For example, they take screenshots of what you watch on your Samsung Televisions! Don't believe me? Take it from them: https://www.samsung.com/us/business/samsungads/resources/tv-... and https://www.samsung.com/us/business/samsungads/insights/ You're not their customer, you're the product.…

> You're not their customer, you're the product. What is really annoying though is that you are their customer. It's sort of understandable when Google or Facebook spy on you and monetise your data to profit from the services that they provide you free of monetary charge to you. With Samsung, you've already handed over a few hundred dollars at least for the product. Spying on you as well is like having their customer…

I just saw the Samsung S22 and it looks kinda like an iPhone 13, very solid build, comparably compact, it would actually be a good device if it weren't for the fact that the moment you unlock it they trip an e-fuse to make sure you can't use certain things. Sony used to wipe the drm keys to brick the camera on their phones.

I had a samsung active2 watch. It advertised ECG, which didn't materialize until almost 2 years after the device was launched. When it finally got released you were only allowed to use that feature if the device was paired to a samsung phone.

For the longest time Samsung Pay was showing ads inside the app, like some random third party play store app.

Then, one day, I decided to go for a swim and the watch crashes, the speaker sucks water on boot and the device bricks. No button combination allows you to turn off the device without the touch screen. Even though it was an issue for the (IP68 rated) device samsung wanted to charge me $180 to repair it. Basically the price of a new watch 1.5 years ago.

Nowadays I look at Sony and Samsung devices and think, man such great looking devices, but wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

EDIT: some people say that in the EU they cannot lock you out of warranty for rooting the device, because non hardware modifications are not cause for warranty removal. But I haven't tried that, so I don't know.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#376

Post by ashwagary »

ComodoHacker wrote: post #340
ornornor wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worked for Samsung a while back and can confirm all of the above. You couldn’t pay me enough to own and use a Samsung anything.

Does it apply to washing machines? I use one from Samsung. It's not connected.

The washing machines are actually great, mine has worked perfectly for the past 7 years.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#377

Post by pph »

asdff wrote: post #135
StopHammoTime wrote: post #21

This is why I always go with Apple. I've always just walked in, yeeted my phone at them and gotten a new one. I've had four warranty issues since my original 3GS and every time the experience has been pleasant. I've also had an AirPod replaced when it no longer kept charge and was within the warranty period. The same has also applied to other family members who have had failing devices and Apple always replaces them…

Do they even do anything in store anymore? When I bring it in they usually scratch their head, wipe the device, and try and charge me $450 to have the laptop mailed to a facility where it will have its logic board swapped out.

Just $450? Pfft. 10 years back I had an issue with an overheating MacBook Pro (within warranty) and because they couldn't reproduce it with their tests they offered a replacement board for about 850€ (parts only). Turns out changing the thermal paste (by myself) solved the issue completely.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#378

Post by jiggawatts »

kkjjkgjjgg wrote: post #308
enw wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An acquaintance who worked as a security consultant for Samsung can corroborate. They said Samsung's security practices were terrible to say the least.

Are other companies really better, though? I would expect all big companies to be horrible.

For phones, Apple is notably much better than Samsung.

Re: Why I will never buy another Samsung device

#380

Post by mpol »

ComodoHacker wrote: post #340
ornornor wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worked for Samsung a while back and can confirm all of the above. You couldn’t pay me enough to own and use a Samsung anything.

Does it apply to washing machines? I use one from Samsung. It's not connected.

My girlfriend in 2016 had a brand new Samsung that sometimes made a lot of noise, as if the shock-breakers were busted (it was standing on the floor correctly). She called the Samsung service, in the Netherlands they advertise with a really nice service where the mechanic will come to your house for service. They asked her a hundred questions, and after 15 minutes she was done with it and put the phone down. That situation made me angry and I called and answered diligently all the questions for about half an hour to make sure that a mechanic would show up. Apparently they play a game on the phone by putting up such a barrier for service, just to save some money. I told her to never buy a Samsung again and also tell her friends that.
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