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My approach to a smart TV was just to buy a PlayStation. Anything I've wanted to do on my TV was available as an app in the PlayStation store, with the excepti

My approach to a smart TV was just to buy a PlayStation. Anything I've wanted to do on my TV was available as an app in the PlayStation store, with the exception being Google Play Music. I had previously tried using a Google Chrome, but eventually got sick of its lack of local storage & native remote.

mikepurvis 7y ago
> lack of local storage Ironic, given the subject of this thread. Though obviously the point stands that there's no need for execute permissions on an area being used for config settings and media storage.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  You would need an OS and hardware that understands such protections, of course.
  - monocasa 7y ago
    These things run full Linux distros.
    - saagarjha 7y ago
      Do their processors support memory protection?
      - monocasa 7y ago
        Yep, at least an MPU is a requirement for full Linux.
bobbyi_settv 7y ago
I try to use PS4 Pro as my "smart TV", but I end up having to use the TV itself (which runs Roku) sometimes because of its larger app base. You can't watch Starz through PS4. You can watch Amazon Prime, but not in 4k.
- PopeDotNinja 7y ago
  My needs are pretty modest. I mostly just want to stream video, and play media files.
pier25 7y ago
The problem with using a console is that the energy usage is pretty high compared to ARM devices.
koboll 7y ago
Unfortunately, the options for non-smart TVs keep getting narrower. Manufacturers want to inject app access into every device they can. You can't even buy a UHD disc player without an app platform coming with it.
- pwinnski 7y ago
  My Sony has the ability to be connected to the internet, but have never been connected to the internet. Do other manufacturers force a connection in some way?
  - gboss 7y ago
    I'm pretty sure my Samsung smart TV has accessed the internet through the hdmi cable connected to a roku device. I never use the built in smart functionality but it definitely tries to insert itself whenever possible. It's very frustrating.
    - captn3m0 7y ago
      I knew HDMI over ethernet was possible, but didn't know you could do TCP over HDMI?
      - gambiting 7y ago
        Yes, ethernet over HDMI is a thing: https://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hec.aspx https://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hec.aspx
        PascLeRasc 7y ago
        It is, but it's pretty much a 0% chance that Roku's video output supports Ethernet passthrough.
  - hombre_fatal 7y ago
    Only my purist sensibilities prefer the idea of a TV that doesn't even have apps. But I know I can simply abstain from connecting the TV to the network. Seems like a non-issue. An entry-level 32" Samsung is $200. I wouldn't be surprised if having "smart" capabilities subsidized the cost because Samsung gets kickbacks from, say, new Netflix subscriptions made from the TV itself, or some services pay for inclusion. In other words I don't even think you'd be avoiding any serious $premium by finding a dumb TV.
driverdan 7y ago
You realize your gaming console is doing exactly the same tracking as a smart TV right?

mikepurvis 7y ago

> lack of local storage Ironic, given the subject of this thread. Though obviously the point stands that there's no need for execute permissions on an area being used for config settings and media storage.

saagarjha 7y ago
You would need an OS and hardware that understands such protections, of course.
- monocasa 7y ago
  These things run full Linux distros.
  - saagarjha 7y ago
    Do their processors support memory protection?
    - monocasa 7y ago
      Yep, at least an MPU is a requirement for full Linux.

bobbyi_settv 7y ago

I try to use PS4 Pro as my "smart TV", but I end up having to use the TV itself (which runs Roku) sometimes because of its larger app base. You can't watch Starz through PS4. You can watch Amazon Prime, but not in 4k.

PopeDotNinja 7y ago
My needs are pretty modest. I mostly just want to stream video, and play media files.

pier25 7y ago

The problem with using a console is that the energy usage is pretty high compared to ARM devices.

koboll 7y ago

Unfortunately, the options for non-smart TVs keep getting narrower. Manufacturers want to inject app access into every device they can. You can't even buy a UHD disc player without an app platform coming with it.

pwinnski 7y ago
My Sony has the ability to be connected to the internet, but have never been connected to the internet. Do other manufacturers force a connection in some way?
- gboss 7y ago
  I'm pretty sure my Samsung smart TV has accessed the internet through the hdmi cable connected to a roku device. I never use the built in smart functionality but it definitely tries to insert itself whenever possible. It's very frustrating.
  - captn3m0 7y ago
    I knew HDMI over ethernet was possible, but didn't know you could do TCP over HDMI?
    - gambiting 7y ago
      Yes, ethernet over HDMI is a thing: https://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hec.aspx https://www.hdmi.org/manufacturer/hdmi_1_4/hec.aspx
      - PascLeRasc 7y ago
        It is, but it's pretty much a 0% chance that Roku's video output supports Ethernet passthrough.
- hombre_fatal 7y ago
  Only my purist sensibilities prefer the idea of a TV that doesn't even have apps. But I know I can simply abstain from connecting the TV to the network. Seems like a non-issue. An entry-level 32" Samsung is $200. I wouldn't be surprised if having "smart" capabilities subsidized the cost because Samsung gets kickbacks from, say, new Netflix subscriptions made from the TV itself, or some services pay for inclusion. In other words I don't even think you'd be avoiding any serious $premium by finding a dumb TV.

driverdan 7y ago

You realize your gaming console is doing exactly the same tracking as a smart TV right?