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0 pointsskocznymroczny5y ago0 comments

I don't trust most smart TVs, that's why I bought a dumb TV from TCL. If I want any fancy smart functions, I'll just connect an android box via HDMI.

0 comments

deergomoo5y ago

I would love to do this, but dumb TVs pretty much top out at the upper-mid range. If you want a high end panel you're getting all the bullshit too, unfortunately.

ta89645865y ago

Look at "digital signage" TVs built for business are available that don't have the consumer software. They are of course more expensive and optimized more for continuous usage (16hr/day 7days/week for samsung), but as of now I don't believe they get ads pushed to them.

https://www.samsung.com/us/business/products/displays/4k-uhd...

paulus_magnus25y ago

Do you actually own one? If so, can you please clarify my doubts [1] about viability of digital signage as TV?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24626743

2 more replies

deergomoo5y ago

We were actually working on writing a scheduling system for the LG webOS ones for a time, I joked about taking one home with me.

If I'm not mistaken the LG ones were significantly more expensive than their consumer counterparts, but those Samsung ones don't seem all that much more expensive.

1 more reply

skellera5y ago

You can turn off the smart features on a Vizio TV by declining the ACR terms during set up. It essentially makes it a dumb TV.

Best part is, the TVs are essentially subsidized by ACR and selling your data so you’re getting a deal by not paying the “data tax.”

systemBuilder5y ago

Roku sticks don't have much in the way of ads ...

m4635y ago

I worry that these manufacturers will collude with xfinity to do an "iot workaround" to exfiltrate "customer preferences"

joosters5y ago

But why do you think your android device will have fewer ads and spyware? Unless you rolled your own OS, it probably is infested with crud.

dan12345y ago

Presumably the Android box is cheap enough to simply swap out with competing tech, should it become annoying, so you don't need to dump the whole TV.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

deergomoo5y ago

I would love to do this, but dumb TVs pretty much top out at the upper-mid range. If you want a high end panel you're getting all the bullshit too, unfortunately.

ta89645865y ago

https://www.samsung.com/us/business/products/displays/4k-uhd...

paulus_magnus25y ago

Do you actually own one? If so, can you please clarify my doubts [1] about viability of digital signage as TV?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24626743

2 more replies

deergomoo5y ago

We were actually working on writing a scheduling system for the LG webOS ones for a time, I joked about taking one home with me.

If I'm not mistaken the LG ones were significantly more expensive than their consumer counterparts, but those Samsung ones don't seem all that much more expensive.

1 more reply

skellera5y ago

You can turn off the smart features on a Vizio TV by declining the ACR terms during set up. It essentially makes it a dumb TV.

Best part is, the TVs are essentially subsidized by ACR and selling your data so you’re getting a deal by not paying the “data tax.”

systemBuilder5y ago

Roku sticks don't have much in the way of ads ...

m4635y ago

I worry that these manufacturers will collude with xfinity to do an "iot workaround" to exfiltrate "customer preferences"

joosters5y ago

But why do you think your android device will have fewer ads and spyware? Unless you rolled your own OS, it probably is infested with crud.

dan12345y ago

Presumably the Android box is cheap enough to simply swap out with competing tech, should it become annoying, so you don't need to dump the whole TV.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse