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People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

arstechnica.com

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Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#91

Post by j-bos »

shawn_w wrote: post #89
nipperkinfeet wrote: post #18

These days, the general rule is to avoid buying anything 'smart'. They are all filled with advertisements and data-sharing practices and are designed to target you through their user interface and applications. They bombard you with offers for their other products and deals.

Is it even possible to buy a non-smart tv these days? All I really need or want is something I can plug a few gaming consoles into... so HDMI, composite and preferably s-video. No bells or whistles or Internet connection necessary.

Ironically advertising displays a pretty good.

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#92

Post by morkalork »

nipperkinfeet wrote: post #18

These days, the general rule is to avoid buying anything 'smart'. They are all filled with advertisements and data-sharing practices and are designed to target you through their user interface and applications. They bombard you with offers for their other products and deals.

Smart just means bait-n-switch to me now. Like those Samsung refrigerators or those cars with the subscription for heated seats or remote start.

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#95

Post by julianlam »

j-bos wrote: post #91
shawn_w wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it even possible to buy a non-smart tv these days? All I really need or want is something I can plug a few gaming consoles into... so HDMI, composite and preferably s-video. No bells or whistles or Internet connection necessary.

Ironically advertising displays a pretty good.

I've read something like 5 or 6 HN threads about a dumb TV, and without fail _this_ is always one of the replies.

Another benefit — advertising displays are also designed to be always-on and last much longer than consumer devices.

The other side of the coin? Because of the first two points, they are also rather cost-prohibitive.

Nevertheless, anyone know where I can pick up a good one?

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#96

Post by hateful »

b00ty4breakfast wrote: post #55
nipperkinfeet wrote: post #18

These days, the general rule is to avoid buying anything 'smart'. They are all filled with advertisements and data-sharing practices and are designed to target you through their user interface and applications. They bombard you with offers for their other products and deals.

Matrix got it a bit wrong; the machines aren't interested in our body heat, they're going to put us in the goo pods and force use to watch adverts 24/7

I don't have a reliable source, but I've heard that the original script had the machines use us for our processing power, not our energy, but that the studio thought it sounded too complicated and had them change it. Of course, changing it makes it make ZERO sense.

Some not so reliable sources I found:

https://www.reddit.com/r/matrix/comments/q2i0by/is_it_true_t...

https://www.reddit.com/r/plotholes/comments/11khig/comment/c...

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#97

Post by [deleted] »

Terr_ wrote: post #70
Andrex wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Throw away the DMCA and you throw away all safe harbors for websites, and then the internet is truly screwed. There's no way the current congress would ever accept such a thing again -- Section 230 has been weaponized against it already. What we should be saying is Improve the DMCA. You've already clued into the biggest thing that needs to change (DRM/anti-anti-circumvention). Let's not throw the baby out with the ba…

The protections of section 230 are from an entirely different law (CDA 1996), even repealing the whole DMCA is separate.

[deleted]

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#98

Post by robomartin »

dmalik wrote: post #90
robomartin wrote: post #85

I see many comments that express the same level of disgust I have for modern TV's, of nearly every brand, having mutated into intrusive digital signage with integrated behavioral tracking in my home. The question is: Would you pay $1000 to $3000 more (depending on size, etc.) for a TV with none of that. Zero. I would.

No need to connect or use any smart tv feature. How much is your time worth? Apple TV is the best experience (not even close to FireTV) for the cost of it. There are ways to get completely ad free if you have time. I've been using a HTPC for close to 20 years for example.

I think that if you want a modern 70+ inch screen I am not sure that plugging anything into and HDMI input will do it. You need to lobotomize the TV. I could be wrong. I am probably going to explore this to some depth next year.

Re: People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

#100

Post by inquirerGeneral »

sa-code wrote: post #41
nipperkinfeet wrote: post #18

These days, the general rule is to avoid buying anything 'smart'. They are all filled with advertisements and data-sharing practices and are designed to target you through their user interface and applications. They bombard you with offers for their other products and deals.

"Smart" just means enshittegenic. Ripe for enshittification. To stick to the metaphor (apologies if this isn't HN friendly) Smart TV? Fart TV Smart display? Fart display Smart fridge? Fart fridge

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