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

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

#281

Post by tylerhou »

cgrealy wrote: post #159
jmcphers wrote: post #125

I own this exact model -- the QN90A, though in a smaller size -- and have had exactly the same experience. The most maddening advertisement is the one that is forcibly inserted in the menu between the apps and the settings. Using the remote, you must literally click past an ad to switch inputs. You ... must ... click ... past ... an ... ad ... to ... switch ... inputs. Every time. Unbelievable for a TV that costs thi…

Get an LG. Picture quality is just as good, and bugger all ads. I will never buy anything from Samsung ever again.

I'm pretty sure I have ads on my LG C1 on my input switch screen. Maybe there is a way to turn it off, but I tried (for all of two minutes) and couldn't find one.

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

#282

Post by anotherevan »

pianoben wrote: post #27

When I was a kid, the most frustrating technical challenge around TVs was how to get the VCR clock to stop flashing. How the world has changed since then!

Twice a year, every time daylight savings changed, I had to go over to my great aunt's place and update the clock on her VCR...

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

#283

Post by dleslie »

NaturalPhallacy wrote: post #273
dleslie wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Got any Amazon/BestBuy/Costco links for a 65" 4k "plain" TV that lacks advertisements?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?st=commercial+di... https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?d=commercial+display

Do those accept regular cable?

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

#284

Post by tarakat »

Tenoke wrote: post #73
falcolas wrote: post #8

Corporate slogan of the 21st century: Why settle for some of your customer's money when you can get all of your customer's money (and monetize their data too)? Microtransactions, ads, selling customer usage data, up-front costs, PPV, subscriptions... I'm shocked we as customers can actually afford to obtain and use any of these devices anymore.

A lot of things are sold cheaper than they would be otherwise (including at a loss) because they can make part of the money through ads/add-ons instead. It's customers who have shown they prefer those cheaper on the face of it options rather than those with much bigger up-front cost (which still exist but have been mostly left to business products since only there are enough of their customers fine with it).

> It's customers who have shown they prefer those cheaper on the face of it options rather than those with much bigger up-front cost

I question the "much" - I'm sure the price difference isn't as big as those who are spying on us would have us believe (and coincidentally they are also keeping their costs secret).

But more importantly, how can you attribute this to "preference", when the hypothetical price difference is front and center, while the ads and spying are hidden, and there is not an equivalent TV without the ads and spying being sold next to the ad-infested one at an unsubsidized price?

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

#285

Post by fragmede »

jedberg wrote: post #265
tenebrisalietum wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Free Internet via Kindle sim totally used to be a thing until they locked it down. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27999534

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

#286

Post by OneLeggedCat »

tssva wrote: post #110
mikestew wrote: post #31

Just give me my Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, HBO Max,... All of which are available on an AppleTV, and I assume other less-intrusive devices. TFA comes to that conclusion in the last paragraph, but just in case anyone didn't make it that far. And then, as everyone on this page is going to say, never let that TV anywhere near a network connection. Why anyone would go to the effort of dicking with a pi-hole cat-and-…

", 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.

As you can see from the other replies, you are wrong to not love the locked-down Apple way of doing things from the bottom of your heart. Science has proven that people who are given options are less happy than those who never had options to begin with.

I too am in the wrong group, like you. I was finally talked into becoming an owner of an Apple device for the first time in my life about a year ago (an iPhone), and I have hated its interface with increasing passion every day since. I hate getting rid of electronics before the natural end of their lives, because I'm cheap and I'm environmental and I'm obstinate, but I may actually do it in this case.

But anyway it is all right, everything is all right, the struggle is nearly finished.

That feeling of absolute helplessness when trying to deal with any issue on your Apple device, you must embrace. It is by design. Your helpless feeling will some day be transformed into a warm feeling of being nannied, which will eventually feel maternal, and that will eventually become love.

We will win the victory over ourselves, and we will love Big Brother Apple.

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

#287

Post by OneLeggedCat »

jason-phillips wrote: post #162
jmcphers wrote: post #125

I own this exact model -- the QN90A, though in a smaller size -- and have had exactly the same experience. The most maddening advertisement is the one that is forcibly inserted in the menu between the apps and the settings. Using the remote, you must literally click past an ad to switch inputs. You ... must ... click ... past ... an ... ad ... to ... switch ... inputs. Every time. Unbelievable for a TV that costs thi…

If only they could get access to the real estate inside your eyelids, just imagine the possibilities!

There was a Black Mirror episode that almost went this far.

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

#288

Post by fomine3 »

adastra22 wrote: post #274
owenwil wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 does your sound bar connect to the TV?

To play sounds from TV?

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

#289

Post by fomine3 »

jakeinspace wrote: post #184
roody15 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm I like just buying 4k displays with no smart features at all. 65 sceptre works great.. is just a display (does need a sound bar as built in speakers are poor). No need to fight against your device IMO.

Sure, but that’s not a very high-end panel. When Samsung and LG make almost all the best panels, it’s tricky to avoid if you aren’t willing to sacrifice picture quality.

They sell their best panels to 3rd party. Is 3rd party's best TV available is depending on country.

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

#290

Post by fomine3 »

sgtfrankieboy wrote: post #61
agilob wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why even buy a TV then, why not a PC screen or a projector?

Because a 32" monitor is small for a TV? and a projector has tons of downsides? The solution is to buy a commercial TV used in retail environments.

55 inch monitor is a thing.
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