Live data from Hacker News

I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

zdnet.com

261–270 of 398 posts

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#261
post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, never once ever had an issue with HDMI, although I only go 4K at most. I never even considered it a possibility.

I wish I was in your shoes! I also had no issues with HDMI until recent years--but HDMI-eARC is so buggy on Samsung TVs, especially when being used with surround sound or a sound bar. I had no problems before I moved to a surround system/beyond ARC, but with eARC I need to reboot the TV at the wall once every two weeks or it will "forget" it's plugged into a sound system, it's very annoying. It was far worse when I f…

Why do you keep buying from them then?

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#262
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

", does anyone seriously think that using the duplicate app on the Samsung is going to be anywhere nearly as pleasant a UX as the AppleTV?" I in general think the Apple UX experience is pretty awful across all their products with Apple TV being the worse of all. I have used the Samsung interface and it is bad but I still dislike the Apple TV more.

I can't really imagine what you believe is so bad about the Apple TV UX. It's a basic grid of available apps and videos, with an easy swipe to access video settings (subtitles, language, etc). Not complicated at all. Most streaming boxes have the same basic interface... my usual issue is when one is laggy (e.g. TV built-in, Roku, Chromecast, etc). The Apple TV is buttery smooth, fast to scrub through videos, and neve…

It suffers from the same issue as all Apple devices, a lack of discoverability. It is even worse on the Apple TV given the lack of buttons on the remote.

I much prefer my Roku TVs and don't have any issue with lag which bothers me.

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#263
post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be shocked if we saw dead loved ones deepfaked into ads before long.

https://www.techspot.com/news/96112-james-earl-jones-gives-b... Luke … I … am your father.

Honestly I would pay extra to have Obi-Wan speak in my voice, Yoda like Elmer Fudd and Vader like Daffy Duck.

And Jar-Jar? Like the Coyote. Not even the Roadrunner.

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#264
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody deserves that, you awful awful person. ;)

Oh she deserved it. And the HP windows 10 laptop with 64Gb eMMC storage.

Calm down now, Satan.

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#265
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> perhaps in the near future we'll have public wifi or free Google community wifi, and the new firmware will have the smarts to use that and bypass your wifi. Xfinity WiFi has been around for at least 8 years. Amazon sidewalk has been around for over a year. Wanna bet those are or will be used by your smart TV producers to connect them to the internet via wifi?

What makes me think this will never happen is that - Open Wi-Fi networks are a thing of the past. There hasn't been any around me in a residential area for a long time now. Businesses and workplace lobbies, more likely, though. - No one is going to just give Samsung free Internet except the hapless consumer by supplying Wi-Fi credentials. - Samsung might make a deal with providers, but it would have to have unique cr…

> Even if Samsung embedded an LTE/5G SIM, eSIM, whatever, it would be hacked to bits. "Get model X of samsung TV, get free Internet with this Linux application". It's not realistic for there to be a network connection that you don't know about, pay for, and have your name attached to.

Kindles and cars have had those for years and people haven't torn those apart to come up with free internet.

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#266
post #258
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're probably in the minority with that opinion. Apple UX is wildly renowned for being great and Apple TV is no worse than any of the competitors. The TV input interface is just awkward in general but being able to use an iPhone to automatically fill in passwords, authenticate purchases, or just use as a second remote is smooth as butter. It's another example of how Apple products are better together within the eco…

The Apple UX on all devices lacks discoverability which annoys me to no end. I can use my phone to fill in passwords and as a second remote on my Roku TV without needing to be locked in to the eco system of a single vendor. Haven't used the current remote but the previous one was an atrocity.

Yet Apple devices are usable and enjoyed by both young techies and old grandparents and all groups in between.

>I can use my phone to fill in passwords and as a second remote on my Roku TV

Mind explaining how?

No one is "locked in". I can sell my phone and my Apple TV will still be better than all of its competitors.

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously most users won't be able to do this, but this is exactly the type of reason I use OpenWRT on my RPi-based router. I have a firewall rule that prevents the TV from communicating with anything in the WAN zone. I can still have the TV on the Wi-Fi and still use features like Airplay. I disable the firewall rule if I want to try updating the TV firmware.

QQ: how do you replace the ISP router - my cable provider clT out refused to give me the PPP / etc details or I have to go find an RPi with adsl io. I guess I can solve it but any pointers gratefully rec d

> my cable provider clT out refused to give me the PPP / etc details or I have to go find an RPi with adsl io.

In the USA and perhaps other countries the cable provider is required to let you use your own DOCSIS modem. The list of modems that work with their system has to be on their web site.

They don't want to do this because they are all shitheads and also because they want to charge you "rent". But TBF I imagine it's also because it's easier to debug customer support calls when they manage the whole connection (e.g. GF's kids complain that "WiFi is down" when they mean the cable connection is down).

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#269
post #6

never, ever give a TV an internet connection, wifi password or dhcp lease. I realize there are ads on the homescreen of an xbox series x, ps4 pro, ps5, etc but I would much rather deal with those than whatever shoddy operating system TV manufacturers put on their thing. I have a thousand times more confidence that microsoft and sony will keep their OSes patched and up to date (they have a strong financial/self-intere…

There's ads on consoles now? Wow... I feel like people would not have tolerated that 10 years ago.

I remember reading memes about how you have to "pledge" to the Mountain Dew or else you can't turn your console on... and that was comically exaggerated but we're certainly getting close...

Re: I spent $3k on a Samsung Smart TV and all I got were ads and unwanted content

#270
post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, never once ever had an issue with HDMI, although I only go 4K at most. I never even considered it a possibility.

I wish I was in your shoes! I also had no issues with HDMI until recent years--but HDMI-eARC is so buggy on Samsung TVs, especially when being used with surround sound or a sound bar. I had no problems before I moved to a surround system/beyond ARC, but with eARC I need to reboot the TV at the wall once every two weeks or it will "forget" it's plugged into a sound system, it's very annoying. It was far worse when I f…

I have a Vizio V51x-J6 connected to a Samsung UN65TU7000 over HDMI-ARC and it works fine.

Not that I can really recommend the Samsung-- its UI is surprisingly, brutally slow.

Post reply on HN