Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform • Hacker News Board

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#281

Post by bee_rider » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:02 PM UTC

matheusmoreira wrote: post #227

pmontra wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Users of TVs, wow. I remember when they were not more difficult to use than a door bell. I'm always more convinced that I'll end up with a monitor, a Raspberry, a stereo speaker and possibly a DVBT decoder.

Where can I get a monitor that's as good as consumer TVs?

You can't get a monitor that is good at being a TV, as TVs are. You also can't get a TV that is as good at being a monitor, as a monitor is. At competitive prices of course. They are designed for different things.

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#282

Post by ohazi » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:03 PM UTC

lostlogin wrote: post #150

junon wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. When I was in California I tried to find a 4k TV that was "dumb". It was impossible.

I’ve been contemplating a computer monitor and a sound bar. I would prefer to have a remote with on/off and volume but I guess I can use my phone for most of that.

Where can you get a 55 inch computer monitor?

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#283

Post by bee_rider » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:04 PM UTC

manuelabeledo wrote: post #19

I keep seeing people who argue that TVs would be notably "more expensive" if they didn't come with ads. Let's say that the average Samsung TV costs $1,000, ad revenue per person is around $30 a year, and the average lifespan of a TV is 10 years. I own a Samsung TV since 2016. I think they may have pushed 5 firmware updates since then. There is no way I can be convinced that Samsung needs to increase the price of TVs…

The ad revenue is all profit, though. I have no idea what the bill-of-materials is on a Samsung TV, but hardware generally doesn't have as good profit margins as software for obvious reasons. If they are doubling their profits, I mean, I don't like it but I see why they're doing it.

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#284

Post by pixl97 » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:08 PM UTC

ReactiveJelly wrote: post #173

stallmanite wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if I’m using a Samsung TV as a monitor and working on sensitive or classified material the damn thing is taking screenshots and uploading them? Yikes

If the user doesn't control the software, the software controls the user. Don't give them network access.

10 years from now

"All smart TVs come with a 5G network adapter built in to keep in touch with the ad networks"

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#285

Post by sunstone » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:12 PM UTC

MereInterest wrote: post #169

sunstone wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do the same except I use a small fanless NUC running Linux Mint which I control with the top of the line Logitech blue tooth "thumb ball" mouse. Aggravations vanquished.

Do you have any suggestions for a good mouse for it? I currently use a Logitech combination keyboard/track pad, but it has been connecting worse over the past few years, and I am looking for a replacement.

Yes, I recommend the Logitech MX Ergo Plus trackball mouse. It's expensive but sometimes on sale. I like it because it doesn't have to "move around" like a regular mouse, so it can just sit on the arm of the sofa (or whatever). It takes about 2-3 hours to get used to if you haven't had a "thumball" before but after that you'll totally forget what kind of mouse you're using.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-mx-ergo-plus-wireless-...

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#286

Post by CyberDildonics » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:16 PM UTC

Vrondi wrote: post #207

pbronez wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh are you telling me that these TVs are aggressively trying to find and connect to unsecured Wi-Fi to upload data I don’t want them to have over an unsecure connection I don’t control? Gross.

Time for some HN user to break one of these TVs open and physically remove the antenna or wifi card.

There is nothing difficult about this. Modern TVs can be opened from the back to be repaired and are very modular. You can disconnect wifi antennas if you need to.

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#287

Post by 12xo » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:23 PM UTC

People should know that regardless of how they consume TV, , their viewing habits are logged, tracked and ultimately sold. Cable, satellite, IPTV, web, mobile etc. Its all being gathered and parsed by dozens, if not hundreds of entities. The only exception is over the air...

So getting upset at Samsung and plugging in a Chromecast or AppleTV or ROKU or whatever, is silly. They're all tracking you everywhere.

But there isnt a lot of demand from a lot sources. So the ads are not nearly as tailored as digital. But they can be. And eventually they'll be as creepy as the banners you are served after browsing thingamajigs. For now, you'll likely just get served Direct Response scatter and the same branded ad over and over...

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#288

Post by pixl97 » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:23 PM UTC

cascom wrote: post #261

Seems to me the answer is simple, just like cigarettes, food, or credit cards, there needs to be a big disclaimer on the front of the box: Waring: This TV shows ads that can’t be turned off Warning: This TV records what you watch, when and for how long and shares that with third parties I know I wouldn’t buy a TV with that warning on the front of the box

No, not just on the box. Every time the TV boots. One person might see the box. Every person that uses the devices needs to know it is full of bees.

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#289

Post by robbiep » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:28 PM UTC

ogre_codes wrote: post #184

nostromo wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1. Turn off your Samsung TV's internet connection 2. Connect Apple TV via HDMI Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV.

> Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV. Two out of three anyhow... the Apple TV remote is pretty mediocre. Gets rid of a lot of junk I never use, and a bunch of stuff I really miss (the mute button for starters).

Using your phone as a remote is awesome. If your HDMI has CEC/ARC you can switch the TV in just by pulling down the remote widget and pressing the screen. And you can fill password and search fields. And anyone can use it once they’ve paired

Re: Samsung Ads – Demand-Side Platform

#290

Post by w0mbat » Fri, Oct 02, 2020, 10:28 PM UTC

nostromo wrote: post #163

TedDoesntTalk wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you own an Internet-connected TV, you've been seeing these for 2 years or more How to prevent all Samsung tracking and advertising: 1. Factory reset your Samsung TV. 2. When promoted to accept the Samsung EULA, select no/reject 3. Attach computer or streaming stick to Samsung HDMI port (Windows, mac, chromebook, appleTV, chromecast, Amazon Firestick, Roku stick). I use an ancient PC with Linux Mint installed. Yo…

1. Turn off your Samsung TV's internet connection 2. Connect Apple TV via HDMI Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV.

The skinny, slippery, round cornered, black AppleTV remote seems to be designed to be as easily lost as possible. Weeks often go by without finding it, during which we use other streaming devices instead.

The Amazon FireTV remote is quite easy to lose, but I stocked up on spares when it was on sale for $15.

The TiVo remote is not only too big to lose, it has a remote-finder feature where you can induce it to play a tune. Genius.