Wanna buy a non-smart TV????
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@matrixes you should return that for a full refund - it sounds broken.
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@GreenSysAdmin sure, but buy a dumb TV from Vestel and you'll have the same experience.
The speed isn't related to it being smart or not.
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@lopta you should move somewhere better?
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@Edent my TV apologises to me constantly because it can't do the smart stuff. I wish there were a way to say, no, it's OK, I'm depriving you of your lifeblood (network connection) on purpose!
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@skylar I have a soldering iron you can borrow
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@Edent Sony, Samsung, LG with its "air remote" - all as bad. This is not a "crap brand" disease...
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@GreenSysAdmin don't know what to tell you, mate. Literally all my smart TVs (Toshiba, Panasonic, Hisense) react quickly to their IR remotes.
If you've bought something slow, return it for a better model.
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@Edent I've tested a lot of TVs at a charity shop and I can say the only thing that matters to me is how long it takes from pressing a button to something happening
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@Edent We live in town. OTA just isn't ubiquitous since the transition to DTV halved the range. #television
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Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦replied to Terence Eden last edited by
@Edent first of all, in some cases the "smart" devices won't allow you to start using it without it being connected:
https://www.coolblue.nl/en/product/877354/tado-smart-radiator-thermostat-starter-duo-pack.html#product-specificationsTrue, this particular one is not a TV, but there is nothing stopping manufacturers to make that kind of requirement obligatory. Some Sony TVs already requires agreeing to Google's ToS before any functionality can be used at all:
https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/articles/00114157Easy step from this to "you need to be connected for compliance reasons" or whatever.
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Terence Edenreplied to Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦 last edited by
@rysiek you've sent me a link to a thermostat…
Did your smart TV intercept the connection and send me some subtle advertising
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@Edent our antenna was too sketchy, ditto my M-i-Ls
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Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦replied to Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦 last edited by
@Edent secondly, open WiFi networks exist, and I have zero reason to trust the "smart TV" manufacturers *not* to try to connect to those when available, as they are making money hand over fist from usage data.
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Terence Edenreplied to Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦 last edited by
@rysiek if you can find me a war-driving TV, I'll buy you a beer when we next meet.
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Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦replied to Terence Eden last edited by
@Edent that's why I said "smart devices" and "True, this particular one is not a TV, but…"
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@mia in which case, you *do* want a smart tv? I'm confused.
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Terence Edenreplied to Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦 last edited by
@rysiek I've got a Tado. It is specifically sold as a connected Thermostat. It is brilliant. It even works if it only has a local connection.
Why would you buy anything like it if you didn't want a smart thermostat?
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Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦replied to Terence Eden last edited by
@Edent thanks, I'd much rather you engaged honestly with the concerns about these devices. There is a difference between "wardriving" and "auto-connecting to available open networks", and you know that as well as I do.
You asked what the big deal is, I am providing an honest answer from my perspective.
I have no reason to trust these device manufacturers to *not* ignore my choices if the opportunity presents itself.
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Terence Edenreplied to Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦 last edited by
@rysiek there's a fine line between being cautious and being paranoid.
Right now there are loads of models of non-smart TVs. But they can receive firmware updates OTA. Do you run a firewall on your antenna?
There are hundreds of smart TVs which work even if they're not connected. You can de-solder their WiFi if you're worried.
If a thing you buy doesn't work - take it back. If it stops working, complain.
Finally, if you're that concerned, build your own.
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@Edent Our LG smart TV, which was never connected to any network, shows up as a Bluetooth device whenever it's turned on. I've read somewhere that anyone attempting to connect to that device will cause it to pop up a dialog box on top of whatever we're watching. So yeah, there can be other annoyances to a smart TV even when you deny it a network connection.
