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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?

#361

Post by vineyardmike »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #45
walrus01 wrote: post #26

Just 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 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.

> It's intended precisely for this purpose

Its literally not. Sidewalk is based off LoRa, which has serious bandwidth and duty cycle constraints. Its effectively limited to sub-dialup speeds, which will heavily limit its ability to get OTAs over it, never mind download 4k video ads.

It probably could be used for very limited telemetry, however.

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

#362

Post by walrus01 »

indrora wrote: post #356
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.

That's a gross misunderstanding of Sidewalk. If you read the paper, the goal of Sidewalk is to handle "how do I unlock my smart door" when your power/internet has gone sideways. It's intended for super low bandwidth "please pass this note to this device" type situations.

thinking that amazon and its partners won't inevitably abuse having a backdoor network path for low data rate/telemetry in and out of consumer electronics without your consent (possibly feeding off a neighbor's sidewalk-enabled AP or similar) is a very naive view.

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

#363

Post by ornornor »

account-5 wrote: post #216
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.

This sounds right up my street. My crappy smart TV is the worse. I went searching and this warning stood out: > Legal Disclaimer To California Residents >WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Styrene and Formaldehyde (gas), which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and Lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.…

Fwiw everything gets a prop 65 warning.

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

#364

Post by vineyardmike »

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.

From the website of the display's successor model...

> Accepts Intel® Smart Display Module Small or Large allowing for sleek all-in-one intelligence and interoperability in a small form factor setting by accepting Intel processor-based products and other peripherals directly into the displays

> Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 allows for future proof expansion and NEC Mediaplayer support (Q2 2021)

TIL about a new standard (Smart Display Module + Open Pluggable Spec). This is the real killer solution to bad smart tv's. This would be a killer way to control a smart tv, and allow replacing the smarts inside it without needing a bunch of HDMI dongles. Get the benefit of integration, without the commitment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Pluggable_Specification

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

#365

Post by ornornor »

monkeybutton wrote: post #157
bradknowles wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

As a Canadian, I'm wondering what would happen if I popped across the border and bought a TV in the US. Would it still connect? Are they paying roaming charges or do they have a plan that covers all of NA?

IoT type data plans are not super expensive and they can include roaming.

I’d expect manufacturers to split it by continents so their NA model has roaming in Can, US, Mex. And their EU model has roaming all over the EU because otherwise it’s a stocking nightmare if you can only sell one device in one country.

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

#366

Post by cheriot »

JonathonW wrote: post #306
cheriot wrote: post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thin bevel TVs don't have space for the logo. For example https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-oled65c1pub-oled-4k-tv

That model has a logo on the stand. It's pretty small, but logos are generally fairly small on almost any current TV (since thin bezels are in style, which doesn't leave much room for a logo).

Mine is on the wall with a $40 mount. Stands/mounts are pretty reasonably priced.

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

#367

Post by molszanski »

frob wrote: post #336
JellyBeanThief wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you considered concealing the logos? I ask because I haven't and I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of someone who has. I imagine there could be lots of ways to conceal logos attractively if know-how and slightly greater effort is on the table.

Matte black nail polish ought to do the trick

I removed a logo with a nail polish and a dental floss

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

#368

Post by richardfey »

geerlingguy wrote: post #335
richardfey wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-epPf7D8oMk Note: Sharp paid him for this

Technically, they didn't pay... but they did send the display, speakers, stand, and Pi kit for review (I'm going to be integrating it into a new studio build—if I can get that to happen!). A silly distinction in some ways, but a distinction nonetheless. I explain how I accept different types of sponsorship / review samples in my youtube repo: https://github.com/geerlingguy/youtube#paid-videos--product-...

Sure, I only mentioned it because YouTube says that with a semitrasparent popup when video starts.

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

#370

Post by simooooo »

noduerme wrote: post #358
mcculley wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a proper term or category for a monitor meant for high end installations that has no branding on it (e.g., as one would put into a display at a museum)? I refuse to buy something with a logo on the front of it.

I refuse to hang a TV on my wall at all. That's why I have a projector.

Don’t you still have to hang a screen?
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