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Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

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Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#41

Post by albert_e »

koolba wrote: post #27
ectospheno wrote: post #10

Once I verify a home video product works as intended I remove its network connection and never connect it again. I then leave its static ip address configured and block any traffic from it on the off chance it’s ever connected again. The sole exception is my PlayStation 5. I use apps on it for all streaming.

Pro tip for devices that refuse to simply remove working WiFi credentials ( cough Samsung), is to connect them to a different “dummy” WiFi and then simply turn that off. I’ve yet to see a device that caches more than one set of credentials. But I suppose it’s only a matter of time.

Cat and mouse.

Then we shall only ever connect to a throwaway wifi ssid created for the sole purpose of setting up that TV and deleted promptly afterwards.

Samsung will then use NFC / QuickShare transient hotspot to helpfully sync all useful info from your Samsung phone nearby.

Then we block that IP address or MAC ID from router side.

Then smart TVs will switch to open mesh networks hosted by unsuspecting ISP customer boxes in neighborhood.

And maybe even starlink.

=====

Maybe wifi standard should stop using static passwords and create a device specific hash to let it connect. Wifi admin should get to approve each device connection request.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#42

Post by aerhardt »

john_strinlai wrote: post #31
ectospheno wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My car has heated and ventilated seats. These do not require a subscription.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-commits-to-subscriptions-e... "But while BMW ultimately backed down over heated seats, the company still believes in the features-as-a-service model, and will continue to offer post-purchase upgrades through its ConnectedDrive platform. "

I drive a Cupra (a Spanish brand, a spinoff of SEAT, owned by Volkswagen) and when I was driving my car out of the dealership I had to tell the salesman I was not interested in signing up for the free app they were trying to foist me. He was dumbfounded. The model was selling like hotcakes yet I was the first customer that had outright refused to sign up for their shitty app. They pulled off the inevitable switcheroo, it now costs a monthly fee and I don’t want to think about what insidious things they can do with it.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#43

Post by HelloMcFly »

greatpatton wrote: post #36
aerhardt wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also had to take this approach with my LG TV. The OS actually had its use for a while but Apple TV has become my driver. I no longer wish to consent to LG’s EULAs which are starting to look like the legal corpus of a small nation. I’m also not interested in their software updates. Internet privileges: revoked. It’s concerning nonetheless as others are pointing out that in the current trajectory the TVs may soon ref…

It's simple: not buying them is the way. There is enough competition to just buy a screen that will not do that.

There is not a ton of competition in the OLED TV space

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#44

Post by xiconfjs »

greatpatton wrote: post #36
aerhardt wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also had to take this approach with my LG TV. The OS actually had its use for a while but Apple TV has become my driver. I no longer wish to consent to LG’s EULAs which are starting to look like the legal corpus of a small nation. I’m also not interested in their software updates. Internet privileges: revoked. It’s concerning nonetheless as others are pointing out that in the current trajectory the TVs may soon ref…

It's simple: not buying them is the way. There is enough competition to just buy a screen that will not do that.

fewer competitors every year...Sony gave up as well :/

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#46

Post by vikingerik »

bilekas wrote: post #6

Ughh.. I recently turned on my 1000EUR+ LG Oled TV to find that it had automatically installed a Copilot app.. And keeps doing it every few days. Is there any smart TV that I can actually just use a TV how I want? Or am I reduced to buying an Apple TV device and unplugging the TV from the internet entirely ?

One workaround is to buy a computer monitor and use that instead. Most of those are still pretty dumb HDMI or USB terminals that you can plug any signal source into. They don't come in huge sizes like TVs (although search "digital signage" for some options), and you'll need a dedicated sound speaker system, but this route could be an option.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#47

Post by yccs27 »

chung8123 wrote: post #16
ktallett wrote: post #3

Another brand I will not buy. What has become of so many companies selling out? Apple, Lenovo, Hisense, and so on.

Supply and demand. Unfortunately there are way more people that would rather the lower price than the ad-free.

I'm not so sure this is really a free market equilibrium. There are two effects which explain the prevalence of ads even if consumers are willing to pay more for ad-free products:

- Imperfect information, aka Market for Lemons: It can be hard to find out how prevalent ads will be when buying a product. Consumers often make a purchasing decision without knowledge about ads.

- Changing terms after lock-in, aka Enshittification: Manufacturers (like Hisense here) can add advertising to products after consumers have already bought them. Initially, consumers have negotiation power since they can freely choose a product, but later they are locked in and cannot easily react to the manufacturer changing the product to their detriment.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#48

Post by user3939382 »

aerhardt wrote: post #24
ectospheno wrote: post #10

Once I verify a home video product works as intended I remove its network connection and never connect it again. I then leave its static ip address configured and block any traffic from it on the off chance it’s ever connected again. The sole exception is my PlayStation 5. I use apps on it for all streaming.

I also had to take this approach with my LG TV. The OS actually had its use for a while but Apple TV has become my driver. I no longer wish to consent to LG’s EULAs which are starting to look like the legal corpus of a small nation. I’m also not interested in their software updates. Internet privileges: revoked. It’s concerning nonetheless as others are pointing out that in the current trajectory the TVs may soon ref…

I’ve read reports of these devices turning on wifi and auto connecting to known public wifi networks. Seems we went from a generation of technologists dismissing Stallman as paranoid to one living in his nightmare and not being appropriately familiar with his work, issues of art vs artist aside.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#49

Post by smusamashah »

bilekas wrote: post #6

Ughh.. I recently turned on my 1000EUR+ LG Oled TV to find that it had automatically installed a Copilot app.. And keeps doing it every few days. Is there any smart TV that I can actually just use a TV how I want? Or am I reduced to buying an Apple TV device and unplugging the TV from the internet entirely ?

IF its an android, connect to it via ADB and disable all the BS apps, even launcher. I am using projectivity launcher on mine, even has child lock which we really need. No ads or popups etc at all. YouTube is all we watch on this TV anyway, and retro gaming and movies.

I also have Nvidia Shield connected to it, that one is setup the same way.

Re: Hisense TVs add unskippable startup ads before live TV

#50

Post by richardhawthorn »

albert_e wrote: post #41
koolba wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pro tip for devices that refuse to simply remove working WiFi credentials ( cough Samsung), is to connect them to a different “dummy” WiFi and then simply turn that off. I’ve yet to see a device that caches more than one set of credentials. But I suppose it’s only a matter of time.

Cat and mouse. Then we shall only ever connect to a throwaway wifi ssid created for the sole purpose of setting up that TV and deleted promptly afterwards. Samsung will then use NFC / QuickShare transient hotspot to helpfully sync all useful info from your Samsung phone nearby. Then we block that IP address or MAC ID from router side. Then smart TVs will switch to open mesh networks hosted by unsuspecting ISP custome…

I'm going to convert my living room into a Faraday cage, only bringing in pre downloaded content via hard drive. That should solve this problem.

Although I'm not sure my family will be too happy.

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