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This is both true and not true — yes, a great many apps have been abandoned, but the big ones (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, premium sports apps, etc.) are w

This is both true and not true — yes, a great many apps have been abandoned, but the big ones (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, premium sports apps, etc.) are well maintained. The built-in apps are by far the easiest way to watch 4K HDR video (which Amazon has lots of). But yeah, all that said, the “smart TV” functionality would be better off in an external box. I trust that Netflix will update its app because I pay them every month. I don’t trust Samsung will update the TV software for the 10-year life of the TV because I paid them all up front. Such is life in the modern world :)

gbear605 7y ago
That only works so long as Samsung (or whoever) keeps the update mechanism continuing to work.
darrenf 7y ago
> I trust that Netflix will update its app because I pay them every month I pay each month for the WWE Network, yet last week the app stopped working, with a "no longer supported" message, on my 2013 Samsung TV.
- wayoutthere 7y ago
  Oh, I totally agree that a lot of smaller services (including most of the cable / TV companies) stopped building apps. IMO it’s only worth it for global services because smart TV apps are far more heavily used in Asia and Europe. The client I worked for (a big US cable provider) killed all their smart TV apps when they realized they were spending ~$500k a year on a bunch of apps that were being used by maybe 3,000 people a month. They do continue to support apps for external devices like Roku and Fire TV.
- TheHypnotist 7y ago
  Hulu didn't work on my Samsung for the first 3-4 months. One day they updated and it did. I started using FireTV because of it. There are so many better options than built in smart options.
- codedokode 7y ago
  TV software developers are probably learning from HTML/JS developers who support only whatever version of Safari they have on their macbook. Their sites also don't work in browsers released in 2013.

gbear605 7y ago

That only works so long as Samsung (or whoever) keeps the update mechanism continuing to work.

darrenf 7y ago

> I trust that Netflix will update its app because I pay them every month I pay each month for the WWE Network, yet last week the app stopped working, with a "no longer supported" message, on my 2013 Samsung TV.

wayoutthere 7y ago
Oh, I totally agree that a lot of smaller services (including most of the cable / TV companies) stopped building apps. IMO it’s only worth it for global services because smart TV apps are far more heavily used in Asia and Europe. The client I worked for (a big US cable provider) killed all their smart TV apps when they realized they were spending ~$500k a year on a bunch of apps that were being used by maybe 3,000 people a month. They do continue to support apps for external devices like Roku and Fire TV.
TheHypnotist 7y ago
Hulu didn't work on my Samsung for the first 3-4 months. One day they updated and it did. I started using FireTV because of it. There are so many better options than built in smart options.
codedokode 7y ago
TV software developers are probably learning from HTML/JS developers who support only whatever version of Safari they have on their macbook. Their sites also don't work in browsers released in 2013.