5 ms·

If you don’t want the “smart” features, just never enter your WiFi password.

mopsi 7y ago
Sadly, this will only push TV manufacturers harder to implement built-in always-on 5G connectivity that completely bypasses the end user.
- gdulli 7y ago
  Would the TV still be harmlessly anonymous, though? If you never logged into anything? Would there be any vectors to tying usage to you?
  - banana_giraffe 7y ago
    Probably. Though, it's only a small step for it to report home which WiFi network is the strongest, even if it never connects, for a Google App on the TV to know who I am. Not that it matters a ton to me. I just don't want another vector for ads, and you can bet that an always on connection will be used to tell me what streaming services the TV can offer me this week if I'd only feed it my WiFi password.
- detaro 7y ago
  Making devices that just don't work without a connection home seems a lot easier.
  - mopsi 7y ago
    How? Bricking a device on purpose is a huge liability. Much easier to install a cheap 5G modem and keep it on as long as data collected is worth more than the peanuts 5G connection will cost to bulk buyers.
    - detaro 7y ago
      "Doesn't work without a connection" is not bricking, and even actual bricking through shutdown of related cloud services happens all the time and doesn't seem to cause that much trouble for companies.
- eumenides1 7y ago
  That sounds amazing, a free 5g connection with every tv! cellular connection is still prohibitively expensive in many parts of the world.
  - mopsi 7y ago
    Why should the device share its connection with you? As to the cost, one of the main selling points of 5G networks is their suitability for large-scale low-bandwidth uses (IoT), usage tracking among them. Samsung and others will be able to collect data from millions of devices at a very modest cost. Ericsson etc expect billions of new devices on 5G networks in the next five years. Networks are being designed for a minimum of one million devices per square km (0.39 sq mi), what do you think they will be? We've already seen built-in connectivity. Some Amazon Kindles used to have free Amazon-provided 3G connection that worked in most of North America, Europe and other more developed parts of the world. It's only a matter of time before it becomes universal. Samsung is launching their first 5G-enabled TV this year. 5G is there for 8K over-the-air streaming service, but can (and I am certain that will) be used for tracking purposes too, even if not subscribed to anything. The hardware is there and the cost is minimal - so why not?
  - codedokode 7y ago
    Yes, but this connection will be restricted to connect only to Google's cloud.
    - bartvanH 7y ago
      then you just run one of their cheapest vms as a proxy/router?
egdod 7y ago
And when the smart TV gets a little smarter and starts using DoH?
- trianglem 7y ago
  How would this work if it can’t connect to your router?
  - brynjolf 7y ago
    Neighbours open WiFi

Sadly, this will only push TV manufacturers harder to implement built-in always-on 5G connectivity that completely bypasses the end user.

gdulli 7y ago
Would the TV still be harmlessly anonymous, though? If you never logged into anything? Would there be any vectors to tying usage to you?
- banana_giraffe 7y ago
  Probably. Though, it's only a small step for it to report home which WiFi network is the strongest, even if it never connects, for a Google App on the TV to know who I am. Not that it matters a ton to me. I just don't want another vector for ads, and you can bet that an always on connection will be used to tell me what streaming services the TV can offer me this week if I'd only feed it my WiFi password.
detaro 7y ago
Making devices that just don't work without a connection home seems a lot easier.
- mopsi 7y ago
  How? Bricking a device on purpose is a huge liability. Much easier to install a cheap 5G modem and keep it on as long as data collected is worth more than the peanuts 5G connection will cost to bulk buyers.
  - detaro 7y ago
    "Doesn't work without a connection" is not bricking, and even actual bricking through shutdown of related cloud services happens all the time and doesn't seem to cause that much trouble for companies.
eumenides1 7y ago
That sounds amazing, a free 5g connection with every tv! cellular connection is still prohibitively expensive in many parts of the world.
- mopsi 7y ago
  Why should the device share its connection with you? As to the cost, one of the main selling points of 5G networks is their suitability for large-scale low-bandwidth uses (IoT), usage tracking among them. Samsung and others will be able to collect data from millions of devices at a very modest cost. Ericsson etc expect billions of new devices on 5G networks in the next five years. Networks are being designed for a minimum of one million devices per square km (0.39 sq mi), what do you think they will be? We've already seen built-in connectivity. Some Amazon Kindles used to have free Amazon-provided 3G connection that worked in most of North America, Europe and other more developed parts of the world. It's only a matter of time before it becomes universal. Samsung is launching their first 5G-enabled TV this year. 5G is there for 8K over-the-air streaming service, but can (and I am certain that will) be used for tracking purposes too, even if not subscribed to anything. The hardware is there and the cost is minimal - so why not?
- codedokode 7y ago
  Yes, but this connection will be restricted to connect only to Google's cloud.
  - bartvanH 7y ago
    then you just run one of their cheapest vms as a proxy/router?

egdod 7y ago

And when the smart TV gets a little smarter and starts using DoH?

trianglem 7y ago
How would this work if it can’t connect to your router?
- brynjolf 7y ago
  Neighbours open WiFi