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Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

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Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#171

Post by foresto »

gruez wrote: post #160
foresto wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. Sceptr…

>Unfortunately, that won't stop it from using (local or drive-by) open networks if it wants to, Unfortunately that's a rumor that can't be substantiated.

You seem to be confusing "what it can do" with "what it currently does". My comment contains no rumor or speculation.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#172

Post by [deleted] »

bradknowles wrote: post #98
GekkePrutser wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just don't ever give it the wifi password This works for now but Amazon is already working on a way to share messages from devices through echo dots etc in the area. Even your neighbors'. It's intended precisely for this purpose :( To capture days from those trying to stay under the radar. It's called sidewalk.

They're going to get more aggressive about putting LTE/5G SIMs into the devices, maybe as eSIMs. That will make it a lot harder to disable their remote monitoring functions.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#173

Post by undersuit »

stormbrew wrote: post #139
undersuit wrote: post #93

What 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?

I can install some tools maintained on a Github repo that help integrate the Pi with the TV: https://github.com/SharpNECDisplaySolutions/nec_rpi_config_t...

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#174

Post by richdougherty »

Shank wrote: post #5
jitl wrote: post #4

I’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)

> 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. Do these TVs start up and boot directly into the selected input for something like an Apple TV, or do you have to go to extra hoops when it starts up to switch to your desired input? I'd actually be perfectly happy with a smart TV that's disconnected if it never throws its UI in my face wh…

My Chromecast automatically turns my TV on and to the Chromecast input whenever I cast to it.

This is when it's plugged into the HDMI ARC port on a Samsung TV, which I think is a CEC port as well.

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/7199917

> What is CEC?

> CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) allows for HDMI devices to be controlled with one remote control.

> If you try to cast to a CEC supported TV while on a different source input (local TV channel, Cable, USB), source input will automatically switch to the HDMI port where the Chromecast is connected. Certain TVs will also power on (when powered off) when trying to cast to the Chromecast.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#175

Post by GWBullshit »

You and I suspect half the country.

During the 90s I remember there was this big fuss when Gateway 2000 was introducing the first "smart/PC" TV to the market.

Steve Jobs went on record as saying something along the lines of "Not only will it not work out, it shouldn't, because TV is the place where people head to at the end of the day to shut their brains off, not figure out even more ways to interact with tech."

It made sense then and like Steve Jobs said, the Gateway smart/PC TV turned out to be a major flop at the time despite tech mags raving about its introduction.

It would seem, unfortunately, that the approach manufacturers seem to have taken in modern times is one of "WRONG! We'll MAKE it work by shoving the approach down consumers' throats by making sure ALL TVs insist on spending over a half hour pushing buttons before people can sit down to watch something and relax."

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#176

Post by djcapelis »

walrus01 wrote: post #30
Fezzik wrote: post #19

Buy a TCL panel and never connect it to the internet. They are technically marketed as Smart TVs but there is no requirement that you connect them, and there are zero prompts or limits if you don’t. I’ve been using them for years and love them, primarily for the stupidly simple remotes and UI.

there's often a reason TCLs are very cheap, however, the 55" 4K for sale at costco for $280 right now is fine if you only ever use it in a dark room, but even when cranked up to 100% brightness is near unusable in a sunny room when a samsung at 70% brightness is just fine.

If you haven’t yet, try turning on (or up) the micro contrast feature in the picture/display settings. Won’t solve everything, but can make a lot of dark scenes in a bright room a lot clearer to watch.

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#178

Post by Uke »

LeoPanthera wrote: post #3

Rtings maintains a list of ad-free TVs. This isn't the same as smart-free, but maybe that's what some people want: https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/ads-in-smart-tv (The ones with a "10" in the ad-free column.) The often-given advice of "just don't connect it to the internet" is viable only sometimes. My TV shipped with some missing features that were enabled after a software update. Perhaps plug it in, update the soft…

or update via usb

Re: Ask HN: Is there a TV on the market without “Smart TV” features?

#179

Post by throwaway81523 »

LeoPanthera wrote: post #3

Rtings maintains a list of ad-free TVs. This isn't the same as smart-free, but maybe that's what some people want: https://www.rtings.com/tv/tests/ads-in-smart-tv (The ones with a "10" in the ad-free column.) The often-given advice of "just don't connect it to the internet" is viable only sometimes. My TV shipped with some missing features that were enabled after a software update. Perhaps plug it in, update the soft…

If I have to narrow down a specific definition of "smart feature" I would say voice input of any sort. So my take on OP's question is: can I buy a TV that has no built in microphones? Maybe OP meant something different but that is what I would want. Simplest though is to just not have a TV at all. If there is something important, it will be online.
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