Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

zdnet.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

291–300 of 398 posts

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

#291

Post by fomine3 »

TacticalCoder wrote: post #105
sgtfrankieboy wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

> and a projector has tons of downsides? I'm not so sure. I've been using a projector as a TV for something like four years straight: no TV at home, only a projector. As a bonus the living room becomes a home cinema. I didn't see much downsides. Zero issue. No ads. Cheaper than a TV for a much wider diagonal and a more "cinema'ish" picture too (I hate it when movies look like cheap sitcoms on modern TVs). And as many…

A big cons for me is that it's useless on bright room, as who prefer bright room. Darker room is fine to watch movie sometimes, but I just buy a TV to cover all use case.

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

#292

Post by bitL »

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-…

My Apple TV is happily showing me ads when watching Amazon Prime Video. So it's up to the app anyway - if Amazon wants to bundle LOTR:ROP with ads, they will do it on any box/platform.

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

#293

Post by challenger-derp »

cantrevealname wrote: post #35

The sentiment here on HN is to never connect the TV to the Internet and instead use a digital media player or external streaming device. I wholeheartedly agree. But then several people mentioned wanting to update the firmware. If you'll never connect it to the Internet, then you should never update the firmware either. It goes against conventional wisdom, but updating the firmware in this situation is more likely to…

So far, my experience with Samsung products is that they're really badly put together in my experience. In the past, I've had multiple Samsung Note Smartphones (changed every 2-3 years because they would stop functioning), two Samsung smart TVs (latest one that's still in use is one whose wifi module stopped functioning after a firmware update), and a Samsung 27-inch monitor (unstable connectivity to computer).

All the Samsung products were poor experiences one way or another.

I've replaced my last Samsung Note with an (my first) iPhone (that has lasted 6-7 years since and is still going!); and replaced the monitor with a Dell one (none of my current or previous Dell & Philips monitors ever gave issues!).

Hearing how some Samsung TVs now comes with ads feels like a new low for the user experience. I'm personally avoiding Samsung products until things change.

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

#294

Post by alphabettsy »

Melatonic wrote: post #215
xienze wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, you’re right. I was thinking of the TV itself. Yes for a box it’s a little more complicated. Personally I go with Apple TV. Much more polished UI than a Roku and certainly no being bombarded with ads.

Roku has a lot more features. Plus the remote on the Apple TV annoys me. Give me real buttons any day! NextDNS has been working great to block Roku BS for me

The Apple TV remote has real button. You don’t have to use that remote either.

I like the headphone jack on Roku and it works with Airplay. I prefer the Apple TV though for overall polish and integration.

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

#295

Post by sethammons »

cantrevealname wrote: post #35

The sentiment here on HN is to never connect the TV to the Internet and instead use a digital media player or external streaming device. I wholeheartedly agree. But then several people mentioned wanting to update the firmware. If you'll never connect it to the Internet, then you should never update the firmware either. It goes against conventional wisdom, but updating the firmware in this situation is more likely to…

I'm stuck in a similar boat. Expensive TV now trying to steel my attention when I turn it on because my 12yo thought they were being helpful by connecting to the internet. Was just thinking about trying a factory reset. 30s of "look at our apps" followed by 30s "update your software." I love the picture quality and HATE the "smart" features.

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

#296

Post by adastra22 »

fomine3 wrote: post #288
adastra22 wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does your sound bar connect to the TV?

To play sounds from TV?

From what source though? Antenna broadcast? Otherwise it’s better to route through the set-top box if at all possible, and that can output directly to the sound bar.

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

#297

Post by afavour »

adastra22 wrote: post #296
fomine3 wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To play sounds from TV?

From what source though? Antenna broadcast? Otherwise it’s better to route through the set-top box if at all possible, and that can output directly to the sound bar.

OP said they have both an Nvidia Shield and a Blu-Ray player so there is no single set-top box. Running from the TV means you catch all audio output no matter the source.

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

#298

Post by fomine3 »

adastra22 wrote: post #296
fomine3 wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To play sounds from TV?

From what source though? Antenna broadcast? Otherwise it’s better to route through the set-top box if at all possible, and that can output directly to the sound bar.

Still video from STB is needed to be routed to TV, STB->soundbar->TV via HDMI with CEC.

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

#299

Post by odysseus »

etrautmann wrote: post #24
jrib wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

my parents' TCL TV would blink a white light at the bottom of the front bezel unless we gave it access to the wifi... :(

Time for electrical tape or desoldering an LED…

If you use electrical tape, the remote can no longer change the volume on the TV. Or maybe I need to trim my electrical tape a bit ..

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

#300

Post by abawany »

EastSmith wrote: post #181
shaboinkin wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I learned this with my router. I updated the firmware thinking it was the smart thing to do, security fixed and all that, but instead I was greeted with ads for their other products and them wanted to shove their stupid phone app in my face to interact with the router. I then installed OpenWRT and said nuts to using proprietary router firmware.

I am in a search for Wi-Fi 6 router, can you please name the company I should avoid?

A low-price option is the Netgear WAX202 that recently got support merged into main. It supports wifi-6 and can be had for as little as $30.
Post reply on HN