311–320 of 327 posts
Thankfully I've yet to see a 'smart projector.' Highly recommend as a replacement for a standard TV; much bigger screen size, more portable, more 'cinema feel,' plus it can't connect to WiFi even if you wanted it to.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I see that we have already entered the post-apocalyptic scavenging stage?
On the contrary, new stuff is cheap and abundant, it’s just optimized for price and quality at the expense of UX. 20 years ago setting up a new TV required plugging in wires and shit. Now it just means installing the walled garden OS, logging in, and handing over your data for collection. Based on the number of people who are OK with this, it’s hard to imagine it changing without people choosing something else.
Actually if it was "just" cheap and junky that would probably be fine with a lot of people here. Yes shrinkinflation is a problem but technology doesn't seem to have that problem, prices genuinely do keep coming down. The problem is what companies add on top of the cheap junk in order to obtain an extra revenue stream while also still selling cheap junk. In fact I think I would rather take cheap dumb junk than high-quality but spying on me.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Mini pc + HDMI. Oh look, everything is free and no ads
I’ve thought about doing this, what kind of device do you use for input? I have a Logitech K400 Plus portable keyboard and it works great for general use, but I end up using my Apple TV on the couch instead since I prefer using a TV remote / gamepad to navigate.
Thankfully I've yet to see a 'smart projector.' Highly recommend as a replacement for a standard TV; much bigger screen size, more portable, more 'cinema feel,' plus it can't connect to WiFi even if you wanted it to.
Until you've had the experience of a large (>77" WOLED Panel). They are just great.
My rule for modern TVs: 1. Never connect the TV panel itself to the internet. Keep it air-gapped. Treat it solely as a dumb monitor. 2. Use an Apple TV for the "smart" features. 3. Avoid Fire TV, Chromecast, or Roku. The logic is simple, Google (Chromecast) and Amazon (Fire TV) operate on the same business model as the TV manufacturers subsidized hardware in exchange for user data and ad inventory. Apple is the only…
My rule for modern TVs: 1. Never connect the TV panel itself to the internet. Keep it air-gapped. Treat it solely as a dumb monitor. 2. Use an Apple TV for the "smart" features. 3. Avoid Fire TV, Chromecast, or Roku. The logic is simple, Google (Chromecast) and Amazon (Fire TV) operate on the same business model as the TV manufacturers subsidized hardware in exchange for user data and ad inventory. Apple is the only…
It frustrates me that this is where we have come too. I refuse to connect any of my TV's to the internet but I have to wonder how long until a few different things happen: - The TV's just connect to unsecure Wifi and collect the data anyways (I think there were reports of at least one manufacture already doing this at one point?). Or just make a deal with xfinity to use their mesh network that seems to be everywhere.…
It's kind of funny, we bought these TVs because they were "smart" (when they first came out) but they were so clunky and unreliable we disconnected them and used either PS or Apple TV for other things. Now we wouldn't connect our TVs to the internet for anything, and only use PS5s for specific things. We mostly just use our Apple TV.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Mini pc + HDMI. Oh look, everything is free and no ads
I’ve thought about doing this, what kind of device do you use for input? I have a Logitech K400 Plus portable keyboard and it works great for general use, but I end up using my Apple TV on the couch instead since I prefer using a TV remote / gamepad to navigate.
Imo you only need remote like hardware if you’re planning to scroll through Netflix style walls of content.
Thankfully I've yet to see a 'smart projector.' Highly recommend as a replacement for a standard TV; much bigger screen size, more portable, more 'cinema feel,' plus it can't connect to WiFi even if you wanted it to.
LG and BENQ has quite some smart ones. They have a custom OS called WebOS. Actually you can only get non-smart ones only if you buy commercial projectors. https://www.lg.com/us/projectors
Earlier quoted context omitted.
A cheap used mini desktop with a linux install on it is also a good way to go. Throw in a wireless mouse and keyboard and you can do not only what an AppleTV or Android box does but also everything a cheap used mini pc can do. Even something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/127547167640 Would be a media powerhouse compared to almost any set top box you can buy. Throw OpenElec or OSMC on it for simple media setup o…
I'm a Linux user myself, and into hardware and self-hosting, so I have hardware coming out of my ears, but I wouldn't dare try and use a Linux box in the living room. My wife and kids use the living room TV most, I barely use it, and only then if I'm watching with them, they use all of the streaming services so they want it to play in 4K and "just work", for which Linux is unfortunately not the solution.
But I understand that when you have to account for the other people you live with and their comfort.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why are people still connecting their TVs to the internet? I thought this is already common wisdom for people in tech for decades to NEVER connect your TV to the internet, not even once.
How is this my fault as customer? This a predatory practice in tech. I work in automotive, the hoops you have to jump through in order to push a SW update are enormous. One of the first rules is: if the owner of the vehicle does not consent to an OTA update, you're out of luck. The industry is obviously unable to self-regulate, so it is time for an external regulator, e.g. the EU, to jump in and mandate that SW updat…
I don't want this "predatory practice" to end, because that's how i get my dirt cheap massive screens.
And all you have to do is to stop connecting them darned things to the internet.
It's not that hard, i'm telling you!