Be interesting to know the true cost of smart TVs without the subsidized benefit of tracking that the "smart" element has.
A comparison of a dumb 4k panel vs the equivalent "smart" tv for example>
216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
261–270 of 1001 posts
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#262I've bought an LG Smart TV 5 years ago, read t&c where I was supposed to grant them any data they wanted, decided to disagree and kept all network functions disabled. I was ridiculed by my friends for that. At some point, I thought - maybe I'm really crazy to do so? Who am I, a caveman, a luddite? Oh well, I'm not. Not a bad tv though, many HDMI ports!
Is there a list of all LG tracking services and external DNS endpoints? I'd just block them - and keep local streaming and remote control working edit: just found out WebOS doesn't support DoH/DoT so nextdns won't work. I wonder if one of the public dns providers got LG blocklisted natively with specific IP
Oh, by the way, these things spoof MAC addresses too, so you can't rely on DHCP.
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#263Why are people so infuriated by Flock cameras but just completely shrug at this (much worse) TV thing? Nothing is going to change until people are that enraged by it.
Can't watch football on a flock camera
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#264Earlier quoted context omitted.
Did you know that ethernet can run over HDMI? It's called HDMI Ethernet Channel (HEC).
Yes, but support in devices and cables is very limited.
Support in cables is nearly universal, because the same pins in the cable are used for the Audio Return Channel feature that allows a TV to pass audio from its internal apps back out to a soundbar or receiver via the same HDMI cable it takes signals in on from other devices. As far as I'm aware no one has made a cable lacking those pins since 1080p was still the high end.
But yes, support for the ethernet mode as far as I'm aware was never actually implemented in any devices that reached retail availability.
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#265Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but support in devices and cables is very limited.
How much would support increase when manufacturers realise how few of their TVs don't get connected to the network?
Not at all, because it uses the same pins as ARC, so the two features can't operate at the same time, and a lot of people use ARC to get audio from TV apps back to a soundbar or receiver.
HDMI Ethernet is dead, it's never going to happen in consumer televisions because it has a hard conflict with a feature a lot of people actually use.
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#266Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#267Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nah, you're not crazy. I'm also someone who actually reads terms documents, because I find that they're often the only thing that will be truthful about a company's intentions. And keeping it completely disconnected from the internet should be the default, in my opinion.
There is absolutely no reason to read those contracts any more. As Louis Rossman keeps pointing out, most of them now include the ability for them to change terms at any time. That's basically the null contract. Since the legal system has once again failed to protect users from corporations, it's up to users to use technical means for self defense.
Interestingly, in Brazil and I'm sure in some other legislations, those contracts are essentially void because there's a presumption the average person does not have the time, patience, or ability to understand every clause—so they are by definition unable to agree to their terms.
I'd love to have a similar standard applied in the US but I'm not holding my breath.
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#268Earlier quoted context omitted.
Only good until the device starts using a neighbor's LG TV as access point, without telling you, for the sole purpose of upgrading itself and sending this "telemetry".
Really?
Well that is how Airtags work.
Any iphone/ipad/mac nearby will act as a router for them[1]
Given that we have already established that LG is a shady company, I wouldn't put it beyond them to try to use the same trick.
[1]https://lifehacker.com/tech/how-apple-airtags-actually-work
Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#269Re: 216M Spy TVs – The LG Smart TV Problem [video]
#270I've bought an LG Smart TV 5 years ago, read t&c where I was supposed to grant them any data they wanted, decided to disagree and kept all network functions disabled. I was ridiculed by my friends for that. At some point, I thought - maybe I'm really crazy to do so? Who am I, a caveman, a luddite? Oh well, I'm not. Not a bad tv though, many HDMI ports!
Is there a list of all LG tracking services and external DNS endpoints? I'd just block them - and keep local streaming and remote control working edit: just found out WebOS doesn't support DoH/DoT so nextdns won't work. I wonder if one of the public dns providers got LG blocklisted natively with specific IP
Worse, if you watch the GN video this article is based on you'll find the TV can figure out how to leverage other non obvious networks (threads, etc) to reach LG servers. Worth a watch to see how bad this is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IFVTcM28KA