For the data harvesting, TVs should be free. Consumer value will revert when your humanoid can project shows on any home surface and retailers will rejoice that freed up flatscreen floorspace.
Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
181–190 of 190 posts
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#1822040: a $30k neural interface becomes available. 2042: a $20 budget neural version hits the market but requires the user to watch a 15s ad every 5 minutes.
We already live in Harrison Bergeron's world, for anyone forced to, say, watch the NBC broadcast of the Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies. "Don't go having unsanctioned thoughts about that artistry, or forgetting about our commercial sponsors!"
I remember the 2010 Olympics were aired on pre-enshittified Youtube (in a few countries). You could click on icons to go to a live stream of different events, zero ads, no cutting to studio announcers (stayed on the fields), zero fuss. It was glorious.
I feel like living in a country advertisers don't care about makes your digital life better. For example the NBA league pass is very cheap in my country, all teams. For an amount I'd be glad to pay per month, I can watch all games for all teams on demand, without blackouts. And during game breaks we either watch the stadium feed, an animated NBA logo, or highlights and countdowns of other games.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#183Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't assume that because you don't connect something to the internet that is doesn't connect to the internet. Things can use cellular modems to phone home. This is already done. Walmart could also easily cut deals with cable providers for outbound access via WiFi and cover most of the country.
They could also make agreements with ISP's where their TV's can be whitelisted for access to a public or potentially unlisted WiFi, enabling them to connect that way, without the vast majority of customers ever being aware. Similarly, these TV's could connect to any open wifi hotspot it can find and phone home/download updates that way. Cox for example proudly boasts how more than 4M of it's residential customers mod…
Mine is a Vizio from Target that's never been online. I've gotten close to cutting its wifi antenna circuit to prevent this but I think I got it before they started programming anything like this in and I should be safe if it stays offline.
But then I still think about cutting it in case I ever have anyone over that would be stupid enough to sign in to the wifi on it. Better for it to have never happened.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#184Earlier quoted context omitted.
They're also cheaper because they're subsidized. I did the same thing with a FireTV but understood the extra crap they want to boot and use is part of why they're so cheap, they're hoping for information to sell or puchases they can monetize.
The most insane thing which I wouldn't believe if I hadn't experienced it myself, but Samsung will periodically just install random apps and games on your phone. You delete them, then a month later, new apps show up. It's one of the most aggressive anti-consumer thing I've seen and it's coming from such a large player.
I'd guess it's happening during silent updates to your android OS. Those can come packaged with anything Samsung wants. I had a similar fight lately with HP's printer software which insists on waking your computer up for a printer health check and reenables the scheduled task randomly even without updates. Finally excised it from my PC.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#185Earlier quoted context omitted.
They're also cheaper because they're subsidized. I did the same thing with a FireTV but understood the extra crap they want to boot and use is part of why they're so cheap, they're hoping for information to sell or puchases they can monetize.
The frustrating thing is the lack of options. If you buy a $300 TV or a $3000 TV it will still come loaded with bloat/ad/spyware built in.
I'd pay $3000 for a 85" OLED panel that doesn't have anything except an on/off button and a HDMI 2.1 port.
(Yes, and options to adjust the image a bit, but I'll turn on "filmmaker mode" anyway, so even those can be cropped by 90% vs regular TVs)
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#186This is why I have protonmail aliases, a burner second phone, and an x1 virtual cc. While I can't stop the enshittification, I can fight back by remaining pseudo anonymous and compartmentalize each service.
What you described is aliasing, not compartmentalization. To effectively compartmentalize requires a different email, phone, and CC for every service. By only having one alias of each, the ad networks that are sharing information about you with partners have no obstacles tying together your habits when they see the same proton email, etc across several vendors, even if you have a different name on your alternate prod…
Valid points! I do create a separate email (proton has an alias generator and allows unlimited if you pay), credit card, and phone number for each service. Adds about 90 seconds to each sign up, which is a great chance to ask myself if I really need that service .
X1 (and I bet there are others) have a button called "free trial" cc that generated a real, valid anonymous (j doe) cc that cannot be used for an actual charge. When I pay for things (I do), I creat a separate virtual card for each service. Side benefit is when I want to cancel, I don't have to find the dark-pattern account cancel button. I cancel the cc and the email. No more subscription; no nagging.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#187Earlier quoted context omitted.
What you described is aliasing, not compartmentalization. To effectively compartmentalize requires a different email, phone, and CC for every service. By only having one alias of each, the ad networks that are sharing information about you with partners have no obstacles tying together your habits when they see the same proton email, etc across several vendors, even if you have a different name on your alternate prod…
Valid points! I do create a separate email (proton has an alias generator and allows unlimited if you pay), credit card, and phone number for each service. Adds about 90 seconds to each sign up, which is a great chance to ask myself if I really need that service . X1 (and I bet there are others) have a button called "free trial" cc that generated a real, valid anonymous (j doe) cc that cannot be used for an actual ch…
Awesome, just wanted to make sure you weren't fooling yourself with a security posture that was less than what it seemed you were going for. I misread x1 as only having one alternate.
What is the URL for x1? I tried to check it out but am finding lots of unrelated things.
Also do you have a recommendation for unique numbers? Quackr.io has bulk public ones on rotation which is okay for some needs, and private ones for a fee. Ironvest similarly has private ones, but with any private ones, there is friction with getting new ones. I suppose that may just be the cost of privacy, but I'm interested in comparing.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
Option A: use Amazon Prime Video to watch shows. Share your viewing habits with Walmart/Vizio and Amazon. Option B: use Amazon Prime Video to watch shows. Share your viewing habits with Amazon.
Using a firestick means amazon collects data on what you watch regardless of the platform you view it on. Also ads.
I have more control over where Amazon shows me ads versus my own TV. Someone will always collect the data, I prefer USA's Amazon does it than Singaporean's Samsung. And I never seen Ads on Firestick, BUT that could be because I'm prime member, which actually works very well in my zip code (there is Amazon distribution Hub about 10 minutes away from my home)
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#189Earlier quoted context omitted.
Valid points! I do create a separate email (proton has an alias generator and allows unlimited if you pay), credit card, and phone number for each service. Adds about 90 seconds to each sign up, which is a great chance to ask myself if I really need that service . X1 (and I bet there are others) have a button called "free trial" cc that generated a real, valid anonymous (j doe) cc that cannot be used for an actual ch…
Awesome, just wanted to make sure you weren't fooling yourself with a security posture that was less than what it seemed you were going for. I misread x1 as only having one alternate. What is the URL for x1? I tried to check it out but am finding lots of unrelated things. Also do you have a recommendation for unique numbers? Quackr.io has bulk public ones on rotation which is okay for some needs, and private ones for…
I think Robinhood bought x1, so I think the Robinhood gold card is the same thing (citation needed). I pay something like $100/yr and the app generated numbers on demand.
I made the choice that my privacy was worth something so I pay for proton , my x1 and burner.
Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
#190Earlier quoted context omitted.
Awesome, just wanted to make sure you weren't fooling yourself with a security posture that was less than what it seemed you were going for. I misread x1 as only having one alternate. What is the URL for x1? I tried to check it out but am finding lots of unrelated things. Also do you have a recommendation for unique numbers? Quackr.io has bulk public ones on rotation which is okay for some needs, and private ones for…
I think Robinhood bought x1, so I think the Robinhood gold card is the same thing (citation needed). I pay something like $100/yr and the app generated numbers on demand. I made the choice that my privacy was worth something so I pay for proton , my x1 and burner.
Yup this is it, and it is incredibly cool! Thanks much