4 ms·

> I suppose that the smart part's hardware is below $10, it's not much more advanced than a RPi. OK, $20 if it includes a decent camera for video calls. Citati

by tw04 5y ago

> I suppose that the smart part's hardware is below $10, it's not much more advanced than a RPi. OK, $20 if it includes a decent camera for video calls. Citation? Because I find that assumption outlandish. I've watched them replace the control board in my 7 year old Vizio TV, the hardware is significantly better than anything but the highest end current RPi. Dual core cpu, quad core gpu, AC wifi, 8gb of memory, and the ability to push 4k HDR video at 120hz. You keep saying they're all selling personal data for hundreds of dollars, citation?

nine_k 5y ago
My idea is that chips themselves, sold in bulk, are but a fraction of the cost of the complete control board. Assembly and testing easily double the cost. For a consumer device like RPi, also shipping, packaging, and markup add, say, 50% on top. For a TV manufacturer, most of these costs don't appear because they just need to add a few components to an existing PCB, and add more tests for them. The other part of costs is licensing and/or development of software, its ongoing maintenance, extended tech support (online, phone), maybe sometimes content deals (a free month of Netflix, or something).
travisporter 5y ago
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2017/02/...
- alisonkisk 5y ago
  Must be nice to be a corporation so when 6o7 hack into people's computers and wiretap their homes you only pay a fine of $1 per victim.
djrogers 5y ago
> You keep saying they're all selling personal data for hundreds of dollars, citation? Since you are talking about a Vizio tv, here's some straight from their CTO's mouth: https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019 https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit... "So look, it’s not just about data collection. It’s about post-purchase monetization of the TV. This is a cutthroat industry. It’s a 6-percent margin industry, right? I mean, you know it’s pretty ruthless. You could say it’s self-inflicted, or you could say there’s a greater strategy going on here, and there is. The greater strategy is I really don’t need to make money off of the TV. I need to cover my cost."

by tw04 5y ago

nine_k 5y ago

My idea is that chips themselves, sold in bulk, are but a fraction of the cost of the complete control board. Assembly and testing easily double the cost. For a consumer device like RPi, also shipping, packaging, and markup add, say, 50% on top. For a TV manufacturer, most of these costs don't appear because they just need to add a few components to an existing PCB, and add more tests for them. The other part of costs is licensing and/or development of software, its ongoing maintenance, extended tech support (online, phone), maybe sometimes content deals (a free month of Netflix, or something).

travisporter 5y ago

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2017/02/what-vizio-was-doing-behind-tv-screen https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/blogs/business-blog/2017/02/...

alisonkisk 5y ago
Must be nice to be a corporation so when 6o7 hack into people's computers and wiretap their homes you only pay a fine of $1 per victim.

djrogers 5y ago

> You keep saying they're all selling personal data for hundreds of dollars, citation? Since you are talking about a Vizio tv, here's some straight from their CTO's mouth: https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit-vizio-tv-bill-baxter-interview-vergecast-ces-2019 https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/7/18172397/airplay-2-homekit... "So look, it’s not just about data collection. It’s about post-purchase monetization of the TV. This is a cutthroat industry. It’s a 6-percent margin industry, right? I mean, you know it’s pretty ruthless. You could say it’s self-inflicted, or you could say there’s a greater strategy going on here, and there is. The greater strategy is I really don’t need to make money off of the TV. I need to cover my cost."