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Wait, wait, wait. Samsung? I do own a Samsung 'Smart' TV. I connected it once to the network and won't ever do that again. That leads to - a forced software u

Wait, wait, wait. Samsung? I do own a Samsung 'Smart' TV. I connected it once to the network and won't ever do that again. That leads to - a forced software update - gazillion 'apps' being forcefully installed All of these - aren't on the machine when you buy it - cannot be removed without a firmware reset after a disconnect [1] - are SO. CRAPPY. Really. Like the scum of the web. The worst of the worst. Think yellow press newspaper app, but lower - are prominently displayed on your TV, even if you choose to install 'other things' (YouTube? Yeah, less important than, say, BILD. A despicable and ugly illusion of a newspaper in Germany). You cannot even _hide_ the crap. So .. anyone copying Samsung for TVs is a moron in my world. There's no worse way that first 'smart TV' experience could've gone that I could imagine. You cannot, even if you try, make that experience worse. (Don't buy Samsung Smart TVs, unless you don't plan to use the so-called Smart feature. They suck [2]) 1: As confirmed by their customer service. That's "by design" and there's nothing you can do about it. I learned that from the hotline and unfortunately too late to return the TV (I .. didn't connect it for the first 3 weeks due to cable issues/a lack of a wifi adapter) 2: Disclaimer: Lots of the "I force shit down your throat" behavior seems localized. So .. that I can actually enjoy the crappiest content that the German language can offer in this particular case. Maybe it's a little better elsewhere, but the attitude still supports that Samsung, as a TV manufacturer, sucks balls. That is all.

malkia 12y ago
I'm on one of these Samsung LED 3D blah blah Smart Apps TV. Often our kid would ask me: "Daddy when is this (update) going to finish? I'm gonna miss..." Oh, and I'm still waiting for Netflix / captions on it. For now the workaround for us, either the PS3 (noise & heat) or the ChromeCast (much easier to control from the phone). ....
- darklajid 12y ago
  My solution was a Pi with OpenElec. That's all I use right now, connected via HDMI. The TV is unaware that a network exists. I bought 'Yatse' on Android and I can only recommend it (if you're into xbmc). I can not only remotely control the xbmc stuff, I can stream a lot of content (video, pictures, music) to the xbmc/TV as well.
- therealmarv 12y ago
  Totally agree. I have a Sony but I'm also happy I've bought a cheap Chromecast which really makes the TV "smart"(er). Best (and cheapest) thing I bought for my TV.
x0x0 12y ago
And everybody pretends to not understand why apple's customers are as loyal as they are. Why yes, I did want the shitty antivirus software whose vendor placed the highest bid to be so tightly pseudo-integrated with windows that it gives you free file corruption and nearly requires a re-install to remove! What other things could you shovel into my new laptop?
pjc50 12y ago
I'm trying to popularise the term "value-subtracted software" for this kind of bloatware. The dead giveaway is that it can't be removed; that means a third party paid the manufacturer to put it there, and it reduces the value of your television. In your case to the point of near uselessness.
onli 12y ago
Just so you know, you could've still returned the television. If a software update changes functionality to the worse, the product is no longer as advertised, and you are free to return it - after you have given them a chance to correct the faults (following german laws). Restoring to the old firmware and thus not having updates does not count, as that lowers the quality as well (as compared to the advertized state). We had that discussion with the PS3 Linux removal feature. Besides, showing BILD in a prominent place and making that unchangeable shows that they really have not the slightest idea of german society. You can do that with the three million (normally uneducated) people who can stand this crap, but for everyone else that will cause an allergic reaction -> they did not even bother to do the slightest user acceptance study.

malkia 12y ago

I'm on one of these Samsung LED 3D blah blah Smart Apps TV. Often our kid would ask me: "Daddy when is this (update) going to finish? I'm gonna miss..." Oh, and I'm still waiting for Netflix / captions on it. For now the workaround for us, either the PS3 (noise & heat) or the ChromeCast (much easier to control from the phone). ....

darklajid 12y ago
My solution was a Pi with OpenElec. That's all I use right now, connected via HDMI. The TV is unaware that a network exists. I bought 'Yatse' on Android and I can only recommend it (if you're into xbmc). I can not only remotely control the xbmc stuff, I can stream a lot of content (video, pictures, music) to the xbmc/TV as well.
therealmarv 12y ago
Totally agree. I have a Sony but I'm also happy I've bought a cheap Chromecast which really makes the TV "smart"(er). Best (and cheapest) thing I bought for my TV.

x0x0 12y ago

And everybody pretends to not understand why apple's customers are as loyal as they are. Why yes, I did want the shitty antivirus software whose vendor placed the highest bid to be so tightly pseudo-integrated with windows that it gives you free file corruption and nearly requires a re-install to remove! What other things could you shovel into my new laptop?

pjc50 12y ago

I'm trying to popularise the term "value-subtracted software" for this kind of bloatware. The dead giveaway is that it can't be removed; that means a third party paid the manufacturer to put it there, and it reduces the value of your television. In your case to the point of near uselessness.

onli 12y ago

Just so you know, you could've still returned the television. If a software update changes functionality to the worse, the product is no longer as advertised, and you are free to return it - after you have given them a chance to correct the faults (following german laws). Restoring to the old firmware and thus not having updates does not count, as that lowers the quality as well (as compared to the advertized state). We had that discussion with the PS3 Linux removal feature. Besides, showing BILD in a prominent place and making that unchangeable shows that they really have not the slightest idea of german society. You can do that with the three million (normally uneducated) people who can stand this crap, but for everyone else that will cause an allergic reaction -> they did not even bother to do the slightest user acceptance study.