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The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

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Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#291

Post by rightbyte »

xoa wrote: post #157
nesk_ wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

However those TVs are not easy to get and, like you said, they come with an increased price. I couldn't recommend enough to buy an Apple TV (or equivalent) and block all Internet access to your "smart" TV. I did this and everything was instantly better.

> I couldn't recommend enough to buy an Apple TV (or equivalent) and block all Internet access to your "smart" TV. I did this and everything was instantly better. I'd be worried that's a losing battle long term though (maybe even short/medium term?), same with other hacks like running your own DNS and blackholing ad stuff that way. At the ultimate level, cellular modules and fixed data plans are getting real cheap, a…

> But I could definitely see a point where everything comes with its own 4G module just for advertising usage

I guess those Google Maps cars can hook up to everything they can while driving around your block without the need for sim cards.

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#292

Post by scarface74 »

blueflow wrote: post #282
scarface74 wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes because without such great insight, everyone would have thought that TV was a necessity in life like food water and shelter…

Worse, they think they need an TV because its "used by 95% homes in the US".

Would you say it’s good advice if someone needs to know how to change a tire - “I haven’t owned a car in 10 years. Just don’t buy a car?”

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#293

Post by woogley »

hhjinks wrote: post #129
mrweasel wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're paying for Twitch Prime, but still getting ads, then what are you paying for exactly? Less ads? Sadly I think it's what happens when companies are pushed to generate more and more profit each year. So you you start just a few ads to the paying users, because: "They won't mind one short ad" and then suddenly it's all ads all the time. It does make you wonder exactly how ads are so profitable and which produc…

Isn't Twitch Prime just the extras you get alongside a regular Prime subscription? I'm pretty sure Twitch Turbo is the no ads thing.

You're correct, though until about 2019 or so, Twitch Prime included no-ad viewing

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#294

Post by vonseel »

stevage wrote: post #115
uptown wrote: post #53

At home, I've never connected my TV to my network. The few firmware updates I've needed to do were applied using a thumb drive, and I use an AppleTV as my interface. When I travel, I bring along an AppleTV and plug the HDMI port into their set. This lets me keep the services I subscribe-to and use them with their display. This has worked great until my most-recent rental, which had a RokuTV -- presumably setup on Wif…

I'm really glad that our "smart TV" just pre-dates all of this stuff. It can't connect to a network - it doesn't have that functionality. Firmware updates? No idea if there are any. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

How is your TV a "smart TV" if it doesn't connect to networks?

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#295

Post by ospzfmbbzr »

vonseel wrote: post #254
kornhole wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if you have been following the news about Apple expanding its advertising business. If you don't want a corporation collecting data about your viewing, you could modify your approach slightly and try kodi.tv. I have Librelec running on a RPI with attached SSD as house media server. The add-ons catalog is large and growing, but it won't have all the channels you might want.

Does kodi / librelec have decent Netflix/Prime/HBO Max/Apple TV+ apps? I was under the impression they don't really support the big streaming apps and aren't really of use outside of watching torrented content.

If you can't wait for the p2p download then you are already lost.

Needing the latest an greatest or not being able to wait a year to watch something means they already have you firmly in their grip.

Just pay the media troll toll if you can't wait.

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#296

Post by Markoff »

scarface74 wrote: post #150
sergiotapia wrote: post #61

If you have children you have a moral imperative to pirate content and prevent this from infecting their lives. Search for a plexshare. $20 for everything, zero ads. Screw these greedy bastards.

You’re right, it’s a moral imperative to show children that if you can’t legally get what you want just do it illegally…

downloading video content copy for personal consumption without owning original is legal in many European countries, uploading/distributing would be very different matter, let alone software

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#297

Post by emeril »

Gigachad wrote: post #16
DethNinja wrote: post #6

There is a much better option for HN crowd: Buy a large/modern computer monitor and connect it to your homelab’s media server. Literally there is no need for a smart TV so long as you are capable of setting up a small homelab.

I’d honestly rather watch adverts than have to run a home server again.

haha - I rec just getting the cheapest option at ultra.cc ($5-6/month) and load whatever apps you want on it (e.g., rutorrent/sabnzbd) connecting that to your media player/app/stick of choice (e.g., firestick with kodi) - haven't tried it with super high bitrate content but seems pretty quick

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#298

Post by xeromal »

Markoff wrote: post #267
xeromal wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're going to have to put it in a faraday cage when they start including modems into the TV. lol

Two can play this game if they provide free SIM card they should expect people hacking and freeloading this built in SIM card.

I'm sure 1% of their users will do that. I'm also sure they'll still make money from ads.

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#299

Post by ValentineC »

pnut wrote: post #223
ValentineC wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This type of expectation is why I've always gravitated towards Roku sticks. I like Roku's interface and price, but it's a shame that they're nigh-useless outside the US.

I can do youtube, Netflix, and Amazon prime with mine, plus BBC and ITV etc here in the UK. What else can they do that I'm missing out on?

Whoops I think my statement above wasn't specific enough. Roku promises official support in 18 countries across America and Europe [1], but I'm in Asia.

[1] https://www.roku.com/intl

Re: The downfall of smart TVs: From promises of seamless viewing to ad tool

#300

Post by anthony_d »

ericmay wrote: post #253
Karsteski wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Words have meaning. I despise the insertion of ads in every form of media, but it is not violence. That's just silly.

We have precedent for mental and emotional harm. I'd argue that invasive advertisements including but not limited to ads that make you remember catchy jingles, billboards on highways, ads that specifically target you based on profiling ("addictive") etc. are or can be emotional and mental harm. Ever hear the phrase "stuck in my head"? This happens with commercial jingles all the time. What if I don't want it to be st…

None of that changes word meanings. Violence is physical: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence
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