If you live in the UK a Freeview USB stick might do what you want, e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/August-Freeview-Tuner-Stick-DVB-T20...
Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
131–140 of 413 posts
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#132Earlier quoted context omitted.
Then we burn the wireless card
Which violates the warranty. And if the TV can’t phone home it can just refuse to boot. So you need to root and modify firmware too. The answer is not giving these companies money.
Yeah, I agree, best is to vote with my wallet.
Second best, though, is getting out the soldering iron.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#133I’ve kept my Samsung offline since I purchased it in 2019. I’ve kept my LG offline since I purchased it in 2016. As long as you have an AppleTV or similar connected to service your need for “smarts” it won’t be hard to leave the TV offline. (I recommend LG over Samsung - Samsung TV has native undismissable ads from 2019 still)
> (I recommend LG over Samsung - Samsung TV has native undismissable ads from 2019 still) Wow you get ads even when you never connected it to the internet? That's really user hostile design. If I get a tv it'll be LG anyway because they do real OLED, not that Qled stuff that Samsung does.
The AppleTV he recommended to use in its place has ads too I believe, through sponsored app placements.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#134Earlier quoted context omitted.
> (I recommend LG over Samsung - Samsung TV has native undismissable ads from 2019 still) Wow you get ads even when you never connected it to the internet? That's really user hostile design. If I get a tv it'll be LG anyway because they do real OLED, not that Qled stuff that Samsung does.
The AppleTV he recommended to use in its place has ads too I believe, through sponsored app placements.
What a nit.
> AppleTV or similar
Pick your poison. Doesn't have to be Apple TV, you could use anything from a Roku to a kodi stick to plugging a computer into the TV and playing things locally. What you're criticizing isn't the point.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#135Yes, it's called a monitor.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#136It's one of the things that doesn't make sense anymore, like cars with manual transmission. Smarts in smart TV might cost $25 per unit, but OEMs get paid for streaming service placements on remote / home screen and a cut of revenue if users sign up. Even without streaming functionality, TV would still need some smarts to display tuner/inputs/settings UI and it's cheaper to develop Android apps than go custom route. P…
"It's one of the things that doesn't make sense anymore, like cars with manual transmission." Lost me already. I enjoy manual transmissions. The function they perform which makes sense anymore is being enjoyable. And I'm allowed to thankyouverymuch. You have confused pointless to you with pointless.
So long as lots of people care about manual transmission, there will be a niche market, but don't expect every car maker / model to be available. Don't see that happening for removal of smart functionality that nobody has to use.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
If true, this is an excellent chance for white hat flooding. Knock, and keep that ip offline. With no way to change locationation(DNS), their little ad sceme won't work. Even better if it makes companies shy about using such methods.
> white hat flooding Very curious definition of “white hat” you have
A white hat works for the public good, yes?
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#138Just don't ever give it the wifi password. Drive the TV from a PS4/PS4, xbox series X or home theatre PC. Use the youtube/netflix/amazon video/whatever client software on those platforms. I have a thousand times more confidence that microsoft or sony will keep their operating system patched and free from zero days than some random OS on a TV. And at least they're big enough that their telemetry and data collection pr…
> Just don't ever give it the wifi password.
Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, nor will it signal to manufacturers that some of us don't want internet-connected TVs.
If stuck with a smart TV, I would remove or disable the radio module. If buying new, I would look at computer/gaming monitors, commercial displays, a few lesser-known models/brands (e.g. Sceptre), and projectors.
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#139What about getting a smart TV that respects you, because you paid a premium. I have a Sharp/NEC c651q. The Raspberry Pi 3 Compute Module in it lets me watch media on the internet(newer models will accept the RPi4 CM). It has no integration with Netflix, Amazon, Apple, etc.
Oh this is really interesting. I had no idea this was a thing. Does the compute module need to run anything special or does it just behave as an input separate from any HDMI or whatever other inputs on the back?
Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?
#140I'm really sickened after reading this thread that the basic answer here is, "no."
Not true, author just asks for a monitor, not TV.