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Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

arstechnica.com

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Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#51

Post by plagiarist »

freedomben wrote: post #26
sjsdaiuasgdia wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This presumes that, now or later, there won't be an on-screen message that can't be dismissed saying "Sign in to a Walmart account to enable all TV features." There's plenty of ways they can interfere with attempts to use the TV in "dumb" mode. Heck it could refuse to show any video at all til you've signed in.

Yep. I bought a Samsung TV that I never even put online. It pops up with a half-screen display that lasts for 2 minutes every time I turn it on . Never again.

Samsung is top of my list of companies to never buy from.

Except SSDs, I guess. Would be nice if I could meaningfully reject all products from a given company. I'm sure they'll someday cram ads and spyware into those also.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#52

Post by bob1029 »

My solution to this problem has been to stop using TVs.

The last TV I actually enjoyed more than a PC/Mac display was a monster Panasonic plasma that had some serious practicality issues. I'd use it maybe 2-3 hours per week.

None of the other display technologies are that interesting to me. OLED gets close sometimes, but nothing matches the visceral urgency of a plasma panel clocked at 600hz. The noises it would make in bright scenes was crazy. You had to have a powerful sound system to cover up the semiconductor switching. And, that's kind of the entire point for me with a television. Go big or go home. Exhibition. If I just want to consume content without pissing off the neighbors, my MacBook/PC tends to provide a much better experience.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#53

Post by plagiarist »

shermantanktop wrote: post #4

2040: 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.

If the neural interface can filter other ads, that frequency would be a reduction for many people.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#54

Post by jMyles »

shermantanktop wrote: post #4

2040: 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 would never force a user to watch a 15-second ad every 5 minutes.

We simply augment their content with a 15-second fully-immersive aesthetic and psychological experience which highlights the quality of our sponsor's product.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#55

Post by ge96 »

Reminds me of the insta go 360 3s cam I bought recently, have to install a mobile app on your phone to activate it. At least you can uninstall the app after.

The hardware is amazing, the software could improve in terms of how it deals with motion blur and surfaces like gravel.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#56

Post by close04 »

embedding-shape wrote: post #37
close04 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most are also larger, heavier, with higher power consumption, and sometimes uncomfortably high minimum brightness. They rarely use the same panels as retail models because they have to support different operating conditions like extreme temperatures and 24/7 operation.

And the worst part, usually way more expensive too, seen some panels where the cost was double because the target market is "ad agencies" or whatever.

> the cost was double because the target market is "ad agencies" or whatever.

A TV capable of operating in those conditions has to be more expensive or else it'll need replacing twice as often and cost even more long term. Remember when Tesla used bog standard laptop screens in their dash because they were cheaper than automotive grade, leading to high failure rate?

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#57

Post by beardyw »

interloxia wrote: post #20
pavel_lishin wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google and Amazon make smart TVs?

TV/streaming devices. Amazon's launched in 2014 and GoogleTV in 2010 according to wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV_(2010%E2%80%932014)

I still use a Chromecast 2 on my non connected TV. Works well.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#58

Post by waltwalther »

RiverCrochet wrote: post #27

A lot of people do their grocery shopping at Walmart (even if you don't). This positions Walmart as being able to offer discounts for food and other daily necessities to people right on their TV. People are going to like this-especially the cohort that would buy a cheap TV at Walmart. They're going to really like saving a few dollars on groceries or gas. Not to mention Walmart can now offer perks through the TV to it…

Great point! My knee-jerk reaction was that this is an intrusion and the enduser would be held hostage unless he/she gives up personal information to Walmart...and maybe that is the case for some, but some will surely benefit from the personal advertising and discounts. I do believe there should be a large, bright, unavoidable notice on the outside of the TV packaging stating that a Walmart account is required to use the TV.

Re: Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features

#60

Post by jonpurdy »

ge96 wrote: post #55

Reminds me of the insta go 360 3s cam I bought recently, have to install a mobile app on your phone to activate it. At least you can uninstall the app after. The hardware is amazing, the software could improve in terms of how it deals with motion blur and surfaces like gravel.

Now that you mention it, DJI action cameras required the same thing (installing an app to activate the camera). I bought one, discovered this during setup, and promptly returned it and got a GoPro instead.
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