4 ms·

The most frustrating part is that the last time I was able to buy a "regular" tv was 2020 EVERYTHING is a damn smart tv now

gruez 2y ago
Just buy a smart tv but don't connect to wifi?
- saurik 2y ago
  I'm sure this will soon be solved using the hack of accessing shared Wi-Fi fabrics that some ISPs now offer (as in, the thing where the router will offer a generic network such as CoxWiFi, and allow random people to pay to use your WiFi; even if you don't have it, maybe your neighbor does)... and even then, new IoT longer-range WiFi services can act as a backstop.
  - J_Shelby_J 2y ago
    Or inexpensive cellular modems. Someone in the future will make decent money converting smart tvs to dumb tvs.
  - trod123 2y ago
    Its already happening with Amazon Sidewalk and LoRa bands. Some of the larger ISPs are also piping cell phone communications to VOIP at the edge using built-in features in the modems, and these are hopelessly insecure by regulatory action. Take a look at the Cypher-Con talk on cable modems. Pretty damning. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hk2DsCWGXs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hk2DsCWGXs)
- amiga 2y ago
  The last smart TV I had flashed an annoying light if there were no wifi connection. Cover the light, I thought! ...the annoying light is adjacent to the IR receiver. Cover the light, no remote. Is this intentional?
  - tmerc 2y ago
    Probably not international in context. Most IR receivers go behind a special semi-transparent plastic. That's also the cheapest place to put an LED. I think there are films you can get to block non IR light. Some tvs also have a connection to add an external ir receiver.
- bmitc 2y ago
  How do you use it then? A Roku is more secure?
  - notyourwork 2y ago
    Nvidia shield is what I use on all my TVs.
    - horsawlarway 2y ago
      Same here. Nvidia shield with FDroid sideloaded and a custom launcher is pretty solid. No Ads with the custom launcher. I don't have to be logged into anything I don't want to be, the devices are... not excellent but probably the best you can get right now for the price range. Media format compatibility is good. Bluetooth connectivity exists for peripherals (incl audio bars and headphones). It has USB ports to take a thumbdrive or other android support peripherals (incl USB audio DACs). Good support for CEC and the remote has IR support for controlling other hardware (ex - I can make it work with my Epson projector just fine). I don't really like the toblerone remote form factor - and it should be against the law into include dedicated streaming service buttons (netflix... blegh), plus every now and then I have to reboot the device. But generally speaking... if one died I'd probably buy another as the replacement.
  - tmerc 2y ago
    Roku TVs "phone home" a lot. I had one with pihole blocking it's collection, but they still updated my menus to suggest garbage for me. I wasn't willing to let the device go un-patched and still be on my networks, so there was probably still data getting back to them. A computer is easier to secure but still has all the same issues by default. The difference is that a computer isn't designed to spy on you. Netflix in a browser is still going to tell Netflix about your viewing habits, but at least it doesn't tell Roku via screen scraping as well.
- retrochameleon 2y ago
  It literally isn't good enough anymore. Smart TVs try to phone home in many ways. Thanks to things like Amazon Sidewalk, they can jump on that network for connectivity without your knowledge if it's available nearby.
  - stuckkeys 2y ago
    Some TVs have modular pcie devices in them. You could probably just take the off but with my guess, it would send the TV into panic mode and not boot-up without the device.
- meowster 2y ago
  Just don't have any visitors in your house either, as they might connect it to their cell phone hot spot to watch one of their Netflix shows or similar when you're not looking. As much as you think this scenario is paranoia, your visitors will think you not connecting your TV is just as paranoid.
20after4 2y ago
You can get a large monitor with no smart tv features and just use it like a tv, however those are also starting to disappear and be replaced by “smart monitors”
sickofparadox 2y ago
Sceptre sells 4k tvs that are not smart, though they have been hard to find as of late. [1] [1]https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...
- retrochameleon 2y ago
  Thank you. I've been looking for a link to TVs that are still dumb.
mgh2 2y ago
What about smart monitors?

gruez 2y ago

Just buy a smart tv but don't connect to wifi?

saurik 2y ago
I'm sure this will soon be solved using the hack of accessing shared Wi-Fi fabrics that some ISPs now offer (as in, the thing where the router will offer a generic network such as CoxWiFi, and allow random people to pay to use your WiFi; even if you don't have it, maybe your neighbor does)... and even then, new IoT longer-range WiFi services can act as a backstop.
- J_Shelby_J 2y ago
  Or inexpensive cellular modems. Someone in the future will make decent money converting smart tvs to dumb tvs.
- trod123 2y ago
  Its already happening with Amazon Sidewalk and LoRa bands. Some of the larger ISPs are also piping cell phone communications to VOIP at the edge using built-in features in the modems, and these are hopelessly insecure by regulatory action. Take a look at the Cypher-Con talk on cable modems. Pretty damning. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hk2DsCWGXs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hk2DsCWGXs)
amiga 2y ago
The last smart TV I had flashed an annoying light if there were no wifi connection. Cover the light, I thought! ...the annoying light is adjacent to the IR receiver. Cover the light, no remote. Is this intentional?
- tmerc 2y ago
  Probably not international in context. Most IR receivers go behind a special semi-transparent plastic. That's also the cheapest place to put an LED. I think there are films you can get to block non IR light. Some tvs also have a connection to add an external ir receiver.
bmitc 2y ago
How do you use it then? A Roku is more secure?
- notyourwork 2y ago
  Nvidia shield is what I use on all my TVs.
  - horsawlarway 2y ago
    Same here. Nvidia shield with FDroid sideloaded and a custom launcher is pretty solid. No Ads with the custom launcher. I don't have to be logged into anything I don't want to be, the devices are... not excellent but probably the best you can get right now for the price range. Media format compatibility is good. Bluetooth connectivity exists for peripherals (incl audio bars and headphones). It has USB ports to take a thumbdrive or other android support peripherals (incl USB audio DACs). Good support for CEC and the remote has IR support for controlling other hardware (ex - I can make it work with my Epson projector just fine). I don't really like the toblerone remote form factor - and it should be against the law into include dedicated streaming service buttons (netflix... blegh), plus every now and then I have to reboot the device. But generally speaking... if one died I'd probably buy another as the replacement.
- tmerc 2y ago
  Roku TVs "phone home" a lot. I had one with pihole blocking it's collection, but they still updated my menus to suggest garbage for me. I wasn't willing to let the device go un-patched and still be on my networks, so there was probably still data getting back to them. A computer is easier to secure but still has all the same issues by default. The difference is that a computer isn't designed to spy on you. Netflix in a browser is still going to tell Netflix about your viewing habits, but at least it doesn't tell Roku via screen scraping as well.
retrochameleon 2y ago
It literally isn't good enough anymore. Smart TVs try to phone home in many ways. Thanks to things like Amazon Sidewalk, they can jump on that network for connectivity without your knowledge if it's available nearby.
- stuckkeys 2y ago
  Some TVs have modular pcie devices in them. You could probably just take the off but with my guess, it would send the TV into panic mode and not boot-up without the device.
meowster 2y ago
Just don't have any visitors in your house either, as they might connect it to their cell phone hot spot to watch one of their Netflix shows or similar when you're not looking. As much as you think this scenario is paranoia, your visitors will think you not connecting your TV is just as paranoid.

20after4 2y ago

You can get a large monitor with no smart tv features and just use it like a tv, however those are also starting to disappear and be replaced by “smart monitors”

sickofparadox 2y ago

Sceptre sells 4k tvs that are not smart, though they have been hard to find as of late. [1] [1]https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.html https://www.sceptre.com/TV/4K-UHD-TV-category1category73.htm...

retrochameleon 2y ago
Thank you. I've been looking for a link to TVs that are still dumb.

mgh2 2y ago

What about smart monitors?