this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023

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Technology

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551

The smart(shit)ification of TVs pisses me off. (beehaw.org)

submitted 1 year ago by chahk@beehaw.org to c/technology@beehaw.org

241 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I absolutely hate "smart" TVs! You can't even buy a quality "dumb" panel anymore. I can't convince the rest of my family and friends that the only things those smarts bring are built-in obsolescence, ads, and privacy issues.

I make it a point to NEVER connect my new 2022 LG C2 to the Internet, as any possible improvements from firmware updates will be overshadowed by garbage like ads in the UI, removal of existing features (warning: reddit link), privacy violations, possible attack vectors, non-existent security, and constant data breaches of the manufacturers that threaten to expose every bit of personal data that they suck up. Not to mention increased sluggishness after tons of unwanted "improvements" are stuffed into it over the years, as the chipset ages and can no longer cope.

I'd much rather spend a tenth of the price of my TV on a streaming box (Roku, Shield TV, etc.) and replace those after similar things happen to them in a few years. For example, the display of my OG 32-inch Sony Google TV from 2010 ($500) still works fine, but the OS has long been abandoned by both Sony and Google, and since 2015-16 even the basic things like YouTube and Chrome apps don't work anymore. Thank goodness I can set the HDMI port as default start-up, so I don't ever need to see the TV's native UI, and a new Roku Streaming Stick ($45) does just fine on this 720p panel. Plus, I'm not locked into the Roku ecosystem. If they begin (continue?) enshitifying their products, there are tons of other options available at similar price.

Most people don't replace their TVs every couple of years. Hell, my decade old 60-inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD TV that I bought for $2200 back in 2011 still works fine, and I only had to replace the streamer that's been driving it twice during all this time. Sony Google TV Box -> Nvidia Shield TV 2015 -> Nvidia Shield TV 2019. I plan to keep it in my basement until it dies completely before replacing it. The Shield TV goes to the LG C2 so that I never have to see LG's craptastic UI.

Sorry, just felt the need to vent. Would be very interested in reading community's opinions on this topic.

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[–] Bebo@sffa.community 4 points 1 year ago

So buying a smart TV and connecting it with streaming box/stick for accessing streaming services does seem to be the best solution.

[–] krolden@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most digital signage displays are 'dumb' tvs

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[–] MrBusinessMan@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s all about supply and demand, and the customers have demanded smarter TVs. In this way capitalism drives innovation. Who knows, a couple years from now TVs will likely be twice or three times as smart as they are now!

[–] chahk@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Who knows, a couple years from now TVs will likely be twice or three times as smart as they are now!

Don't scare me like that!

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[–] hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My Samsung Tv from 2013 appreciates this post.

I unfortunately am using a firetv 2nd gen with it and it's horrendous. I also use a xiomi mi stick,which is also horrendous (shitty hardware).

I want dumb but good panels,no smart features please. Does anything like this even exist anymore?

[–] OfficialThunderbolt@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

It does, but they're mostly computer monitors. You can use a computer monitor as a TV for streaming media; the catch is most of them don't have internal speakers or ATSC/DVB/etc. tuners for over-the-air TV.

Also, have you tried the Apple TV? It's a set-top box that isn't horrendous, and it only phones home for software updates + optional integration with Apple's cloud services (iCloud). It doesn't spy on its users.

[–] Jah348@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

I get the concern with bloatwear but it's never been a concern for me with a TV. I simply use Roku and it's functioned extremely well. I also don't connect my TV to the internet for the most part. It's literally as simple as that. It's not like my TV is running out of storage.

[–] lemillionsocks@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

I have an LG c1 and the apps and start page dont bother me too much. The remote gives you easy quick launch options and I just immediately boot into my PC anyway and then use the remotes quick launch features to hop into the streaming apps I used to use(because DRM makes browser streaming a hassle especially on linux).

My beef with my smart tv is that basic settings are not hidden behind sub menus under submenus under submenus. Want to blank my screen? Adjust some picture settings a smidge? Audio stuff? Best to google it cause stuff that used to be front and center on my old tvs is either missing or buried deep down.

I dont think they charge extra for the smartness either. A 55 inch 4k tcl tv can be had for under $500, and those have roku cooked in. MY c1 was all about the hardware as well.

[–] aksdb@feddit.de 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Same here. I use my TV as a glorified monitor with a ton of HDMI ports. All smart features are basically non-existant to me. I disable all picture "quality improvement" shit (that typically introduces latency). Everything else is then handled by the attached smart devices that I can exchange or upgrade however I want.

When I look for a new TV, I actually still prefer going to the store, because the one most important aspect for me is input latency. I absolutely hate hitting a button on the remote and then having a delay of a second or so until it actually reacts to it. So this is something I need to try in person: if I hit a button, how fast do I get feedback? If it's not instant, the TV is out of the question.

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