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I just bought an LG. I’m so glad I dodged this bullet. I would be furious.

by Anther 6y ago

zadler 6y ago
How do you know LG won’t update the software later to include ads?
- ocdtrekkie 6y ago
  LG's already also have ads. They're not super obtrusive though, and I'm sure I shut personalization off.
  - wokkel 6y ago
    That's who i bought a Panasonic. They cost more but don't have a shitty track record. In fact, my washing machine was the last Samsung here. It broke and got replaced by a German machine. These days I try to avoid the cheapest offering and try to buy quality instead. Upfront cost is higher but I really value my time too much to bother fighting with nonsense like ads on my tv.
    - ocdtrekkie 6y ago
      I have a Panasonic TV too. Back like 8 years ago, it had an unremoveable ad/app square in it's app menu. Of course, they let me reorganize the apps, and I put it way back on a screen I'd never see, and I haven't noticed it since. Also, as a side note, Vudu is like the one app from that era that still works.
    - 72deluxe 6y ago
      Does your Panasonic stop loading any smart apps if their servers go down too? Mine refused to load anything (eg. Netflix) if it can't get in touch with Panasonic. Check what network activity it is engaging in. You'll be disappointed, I am sure. Seems dialling home is the new thing to do on every single device these days. Data vacuuming the entire human population just because they can.
  - Anther 6y ago
    I’ve not seen any as yet. But then I disagreed with all of the tick boxes on setup. That may be why.
  - EulersBridge 6y ago
    I agree, if we have to have ads for whatever reason, do it in an unobtrusive way that the user is asked about during setup. Now the ads in lg's smart home app are a different matter...
- butterfi 6y ago
  Why would I bother updating software for a TV if the TV is already working? Whats the motivation?
  - nullgeo 6y ago
    My Samsung TV auto-updates. It's infuriating as I cannot disable it.
    - LeifCarrotson 6y ago
      Just disconnect it from your network (change the wifi password or remove the Ethernet cable) and it will be unable to auto-update. You may want to get an external device (Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, or other media server) and plug that into your HDMI if you use the network from apps on the TV.
      - lostlogin 6y ago
        But if some apps are used that isn’t possible. I’d suggest a few all rule forcing all port 53 traffic through a Pihole, then block Samsung traffic.
        Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
        Then...don't use the apps? What can the apps on your TV do that a $40 Amazon Fire stick ($50 if you want 4K) can't? I'd rather hook up an old laptop to my TV and use that to watch media than use the apps on my TV and deal with all the bullshit that TV manufacturers are doing when you connect the TV to the network.
      - myself248 6y ago
        Just wait 'til they get a blanket connection to Amazon Sidewalk for their nefarious deeds, and the only way to disable it will involve a soldering iron.
  - TwoHeadedBeast 6y ago
    Think of it as unpatched computer on your network, possibly with a built in microphone and camera.
elsonrodriguez 6y ago
LGs have ads as well. I had to add a bunch of domains to a DNS blacklist in order to get my $2000 TV to stop spamming me.
- Anther 6y ago
  Hmm. I shall keep an eye on it. I run Ubnt network gear at home, so if it needs to be taught a lesson I shall be happy to do so.
gamblor956 6y ago
While I love my LG tvs, they have had ads on their smart tvs for nearly a decade. The difference from Samsung is that the ads on the LGs are in the same place they've always been (on the smart tv menu overlay), they've never been obtrusive, and they're always in some way connected to video content (usually VOD movies that you can purchase through one of the streaming apps, or adds for streaming apps you can install on the TV).
- Anther 6y ago
  I think I can accept that. I honestly don’t use it much. It was more for my better half, as our four year old Samsung killed itself the other day. I’m more excited about the HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh for the new Nvidia cards.
bashinator 6y ago
I'm extremely happy with my HiSense - it runs Roku, so the "smart" stuff is actually maintained by a company that does a pretty good job of it. The only thing you could call ads are promos for shows. I think their revenue is kickbacks from subscriptions people get through Roku, rather than direct advertising.
72deluxe 6y ago
My old LG "smart" TV would send a web request to LG every time I pressed ANY button on the remote control. I took that stupid TV off the network as soon as I could. I think the manufacturers are all as bad as each other. My current Panasonic TV will refuse to load any of the "smart" apps (even Netflix) if it cannot reach Panasonic's servers, which means the entire TV becomes useless as an Internet device (no Netflix or ANY streaming services) if Panasonic has a server issue (which they sometimes do). Might revert to VHS at this rate.

I just bought an LG. I’m so glad I dodged this bullet. I would be furious.

by Anther 6y ago

I just bought an LG. I’m so glad I dodged this bullet. I would be furious.

zadler 6y ago

How do you know LG won’t update the software later to include ads?

ocdtrekkie 6y ago
LG's already also have ads. They're not super obtrusive though, and I'm sure I shut personalization off.
- wokkel 6y ago
  That's who i bought a Panasonic. They cost more but don't have a shitty track record. In fact, my washing machine was the last Samsung here. It broke and got replaced by a German machine. These days I try to avoid the cheapest offering and try to buy quality instead. Upfront cost is higher but I really value my time too much to bother fighting with nonsense like ads on my tv.
  - ocdtrekkie 6y ago
    I have a Panasonic TV too. Back like 8 years ago, it had an unremoveable ad/app square in it's app menu. Of course, they let me reorganize the apps, and I put it way back on a screen I'd never see, and I haven't noticed it since. Also, as a side note, Vudu is like the one app from that era that still works.
  - 72deluxe 6y ago
    Does your Panasonic stop loading any smart apps if their servers go down too? Mine refused to load anything (eg. Netflix) if it can't get in touch with Panasonic. Check what network activity it is engaging in. You'll be disappointed, I am sure. Seems dialling home is the new thing to do on every single device these days. Data vacuuming the entire human population just because they can.
- Anther 6y ago
  I’ve not seen any as yet. But then I disagreed with all of the tick boxes on setup. That may be why.
- EulersBridge 6y ago
  I agree, if we have to have ads for whatever reason, do it in an unobtrusive way that the user is asked about during setup. Now the ads in lg's smart home app are a different matter...
butterfi 6y ago
Why would I bother updating software for a TV if the TV is already working? Whats the motivation?
- nullgeo 6y ago
  My Samsung TV auto-updates. It's infuriating as I cannot disable it.
  - LeifCarrotson 6y ago
    Just disconnect it from your network (change the wifi password or remove the Ethernet cable) and it will be unable to auto-update. You may want to get an external device (Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, or other media server) and plug that into your HDMI if you use the network from apps on the TV.
    - lostlogin 6y ago
      But if some apps are used that isn’t possible. I’d suggest a few all rule forcing all port 53 traffic through a Pihole, then block Samsung traffic.
      - Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
        Then...don't use the apps? What can the apps on your TV do that a $40 Amazon Fire stick ($50 if you want 4K) can't? I'd rather hook up an old laptop to my TV and use that to watch media than use the apps on my TV and deal with all the bullshit that TV manufacturers are doing when you connect the TV to the network.
    - myself248 6y ago
      Just wait 'til they get a blanket connection to Amazon Sidewalk for their nefarious deeds, and the only way to disable it will involve a soldering iron.
- TwoHeadedBeast 6y ago
  Think of it as unpatched computer on your network, possibly with a built in microphone and camera.

elsonrodriguez 6y ago

LGs have ads as well. I had to add a bunch of domains to a DNS blacklist in order to get my $2000 TV to stop spamming me.

Anther 6y ago
Hmm. I shall keep an eye on it. I run Ubnt network gear at home, so if it needs to be taught a lesson I shall be happy to do so.

gamblor956 6y ago

While I love my LG tvs, they have had ads on their smart tvs for nearly a decade. The difference from Samsung is that the ads on the LGs are in the same place they've always been (on the smart tv menu overlay), they've never been obtrusive, and they're always in some way connected to video content (usually VOD movies that you can purchase through one of the streaming apps, or adds for streaming apps you can install on the TV).

Anther 6y ago
I think I can accept that. I honestly don’t use it much. It was more for my better half, as our four year old Samsung killed itself the other day. I’m more excited about the HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh for the new Nvidia cards.

bashinator 6y ago

I'm extremely happy with my HiSense - it runs Roku, so the "smart" stuff is actually maintained by a company that does a pretty good job of it. The only thing you could call ads are promos for shows. I think their revenue is kickbacks from subscriptions people get through Roku, rather than direct advertising.

72deluxe 6y ago

My old LG "smart" TV would send a web request to LG every time I pressed ANY button on the remote control. I took that stupid TV off the network as soon as I could. I think the manufacturers are all as bad as each other. My current Panasonic TV will refuse to load any of the "smart" apps (even Netflix) if it cannot reach Panasonic's servers, which means the entire TV becomes useless as an Internet device (no Netflix or ANY streaming services) if Panasonic has a server issue (which they sometimes do). Might revert to VHS at this rate.