4 ms·

I'm with you, and I prefer "dumb" devices, but you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet. The internet connectivity is sold

by pipeep 6y ago

I'm with you, and I prefer "dumb" devices, but you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet. The internet connectivity is sold as an additional feature so that you can use your blu-ray player to watch Netflix. I agree that I don't want logging on a device like this, but if I was going to connect one of these to the internet, I would at least want regular security updates.

RandomBacon 6y ago
Vote with your wallet. Don't buy these internet devices. All it takes is for a visiting family member or friend who wants to watch Netflix while you're in another room/asleep/etc to click okay.
- untog 6y ago
  Easier said than done. It’s increasingly difficult to find a “dumb” TV these days. Almost all have smart functionality. (and besides, most TVs have other ways of watching Netflix that ought to be more convenient for a visitor. A $30 Roku stick is all you need)
  - RandomBacon 6y ago
    Sceptre makes 4K dumb TVs (Walmart). You can also find other brand 4K dumb TVs on Amazon. A guest might not see it plugged in and not know to try all the HDMI inputs before selecting the easy, built-in option on the TV.
  - amiga-workbench 6y ago
    Don't buy a TV then, buy a monitor. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/shop/dell-55-4k-conference-room-monitor-c5519q/apd/210-arct/monitors-monitor-accessories https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/shop/dell-55-4k-conference-r...
    - RandomBacon 6y ago
      In the US, you can get a 55 inch dumb 4K TV for less than half the price. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-UHD-LED-TV-HDR-U550CV-U/46784939 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-UHD-LED-TV-HD...
    - ekianjo 6y ago
      Is there any difference in display quality between a monitor and a TV with roughly the same specs?
      - amiga-workbench 6y ago
        I really doubt it. My 2015 Sony bravia has a similar 4K VA panel that I'm largely happy with. I absolutely hate that TV for reasons besides it's panel. And I regret blowing £850 on it. You're not going to find IPS or OLED panels on those large form factor monitors for a sensible price, so do consider that. Also keep an eye open for NEC digital signage displays on eBay, they're quite common coming from liquidated businesses. I bought a few of them for the office on the cheap and they're solid as long as you avoid the really old plasma models.
      - userbinator 6y ago
        Traditionally, a computer monitor would be superior in quality since they are used at a closer distance where things like dead pixels are much more noticeable, in contrast to a TV that's mainly used for video at a longer distance. With LCD monitors being available in sizes as large as TVs and with the same resolutions, I suspect there won't be much difference but perhaps panels intended for TVs may still have more allowable defects.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]
- chrisBob 6y ago
  That’s what my in-laws did. “For some reason you hadn’t connected your smart TV to the internet; instead of using your Apple TV, we gave TCL your WiFi password. Aren’t you proud we figured it out on our own?”
  - RealStickman_ 6y ago
    Better be sure and block the TV from wifi then.
- dreamcompiler 6y ago
  Wow. I hadn't thought of this vulnerability. Time to set up MAC address blacklists on my router.
  - 13of40 6y ago
    If you're going to that sort of length, maybe just filter DNS requests from the TV to whitelist Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, etc. but block everything else. A custom router might go one step further and only whitelist outbound traffic to IP addresses that were previously resolved through DNS.
    - HelloNurse 6y ago
      Are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube etc. IP addresses stable enough to be whitelisted, er, allowlisted without frequent updates?
ptx 6y ago
If it's developed with the assumption that they can deliver rolling software updates, the software it ships with might be unusably buggy.
Merad 6y ago
> you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet. Unfortunately this is only a temporary solution IMO. Within the next decade I think you'll see these smart devices shipping with built in connectivity that's difficult or impossible to disable, especially if Starlink or other satellite based services really take off.
- wartijn_ 6y ago
  I don't think these kind ofdevices will use Starlink or an equivalent service any time soon. Starlink needs a "pizza box sized" satellite dish that constantly adjusts its position to stay in contact with the satellites. I assume they won't work inside, like other satellite based antennae. If smart devices will have build in connectivity in the next decade, I think 5g will be a more likely candidate. But I don't see that happening either. Why would a company pay for the data of its users when most people will just connect it to their wifi? I. Couldn't find a source on "pizza box sized", but I remember Elon Musk has said that. Also here is a picture of one of the antennae: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/hruzck/new_photo_of_antenna/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/hruzck/new_photo_...

by pipeep 6y ago

RandomBacon 6y ago

Vote with your wallet. Don't buy these internet devices. All it takes is for a visiting family member or friend who wants to watch Netflix while you're in another room/asleep/etc to click okay.

untog 6y ago
Easier said than done. It’s increasingly difficult to find a “dumb” TV these days. Almost all have smart functionality. (and besides, most TVs have other ways of watching Netflix that ought to be more convenient for a visitor. A $30 Roku stick is all you need)
- RandomBacon 6y ago
  Sceptre makes 4K dumb TVs (Walmart). You can also find other brand 4K dumb TVs on Amazon. A guest might not see it plugged in and not know to try all the HDMI inputs before selecting the easy, built-in option on the TV.
- amiga-workbench 6y ago
  Don't buy a TV then, buy a monitor. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/shop/dell-55-4k-conference-room-monitor-c5519q/apd/210-arct/monitors-monitor-accessories https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/shop/dell-55-4k-conference-r...
  - RandomBacon 6y ago
    In the US, you can get a 55 inch dumb 4K TV for less than half the price. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-UHD-LED-TV-HDR-U550CV-U/46784939 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sceptre-55-Class-4K-UHD-LED-TV-HD...
  - ekianjo 6y ago
    Is there any difference in display quality between a monitor and a TV with roughly the same specs?
    - amiga-workbench 6y ago
      I really doubt it. My 2015 Sony bravia has a similar 4K VA panel that I'm largely happy with. I absolutely hate that TV for reasons besides it's panel. And I regret blowing £850 on it. You're not going to find IPS or OLED panels on those large form factor monitors for a sensible price, so do consider that. Also keep an eye open for NEC digital signage displays on eBay, they're quite common coming from liquidated businesses. I bought a few of them for the office on the cheap and they're solid as long as you avoid the really old plasma models.
    - userbinator 6y ago
      Traditionally, a computer monitor would be superior in quality since they are used at a closer distance where things like dead pixels are much more noticeable, in contrast to a TV that's mainly used for video at a longer distance. With LCD monitors being available in sizes as large as TVs and with the same resolutions, I suspect there won't be much difference but perhaps panels intended for TVs may still have more allowable defects.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
chrisBob 6y ago
That’s what my in-laws did. “For some reason you hadn’t connected your smart TV to the internet; instead of using your Apple TV, we gave TCL your WiFi password. Aren’t you proud we figured it out on our own?”
- RealStickman_ 6y ago
  Better be sure and block the TV from wifi then.
dreamcompiler 6y ago
Wow. I hadn't thought of this vulnerability. Time to set up MAC address blacklists on my router.
- 13of40 6y ago
  If you're going to that sort of length, maybe just filter DNS requests from the TV to whitelist Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, etc. but block everything else. A custom router might go one step further and only whitelist outbound traffic to IP addresses that were previously resolved through DNS.
  - HelloNurse 6y ago
    Are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube etc. IP addresses stable enough to be whitelisted, er, allowlisted without frequent updates?

ptx 6y ago

If it's developed with the assumption that they can deliver rolling software updates, the software it ships with might be unusably buggy.

Merad 6y ago

> you can still buy these blu-ray players and not connect them to the internet. Unfortunately this is only a temporary solution IMO. Within the next decade I think you'll see these smart devices shipping with built in connectivity that's difficult or impossible to disable, especially if Starlink or other satellite based services really take off.

wartijn_ 6y ago
I don't think these kind ofdevices will use Starlink or an equivalent service any time soon. Starlink needs a "pizza box sized" satellite dish that constantly adjusts its position to stay in contact with the satellites. I assume they won't work inside, like other satellite based antennae. If smart devices will have build in connectivity in the next decade, I think 5g will be a more likely candidate. But I don't see that happening either. Why would a company pay for the data of its users when most people will just connect it to their wifi? I. Couldn't find a source on "pizza box sized", but I remember Elon Musk has said that. Also here is a picture of one of the antennae: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/hruzck/new_photo_of_antenna/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/hruzck/new_photo_...