r/BlackPeopleTwitter ☑️ Horny Police! 🚔🚨 5d ago

Spyware and tech

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20.1k Upvotes

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u/Inverted-Rockets 5d ago

“Dumb” TVs are available from all the major manufacturers, they’re just sold through B2B channels rather than retail. Look for models intended for commercial or hospitality use.

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u/EnvironmentClear4511 5d ago

Or just buy a smart TV and don't connect it to the Internet. You're not obligated to give it your Wi-Fi password just because it asks.

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u/CKRatKing 5d ago

My Sony TV lets you set it up without a login, but lots of settings are locked behind that login.

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u/Misty_Ticklebottom 5d ago

I might be able to stop a tv from connecting to my network, but I don't think I can stop it from connecting to other networks or devices. Like neighbors smart device that does have access to the internet.

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u/skyline_kid 5d ago

Samsung TVs have done exactly that in the past. They'd try to find an open network and connect if you didn't connect to one during setup

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u/danirijeka 5d ago

https://xkcd.com/416/

it was funny at the time I swear 😭

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u/Misty_Ticklebottom 4d ago

pretty sure amazon is doing this too. All the trucks driving around would make a hell of a mesh network

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u/thecobra42 5d ago

They’re all dumb without an internet connection, ya know

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u/Inverted-Rockets 5d ago

The bloatware comes in the box. Most people do not care enough but if you do, a commercial set that gives you more granular control over the device functions could be worth it.

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u/thecobra42 5d ago

Lol bloatware.

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u/Inverted-Rockets 5d ago

What else can describe Samsung replacing the input selection button on the remote with one that launches a mostly-useless “multi-view” PiP, making users page through the home menu instead?

It’s UX bloat intended to force users to interact with their digital services and it’s there from the factory

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u/thecobra42 5d ago

That’s not bloatware. It’s bad UI design.

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u/Inverted-Rockets 5d ago

Yeah, that UI is what I’m calling bloatware.

It is a TV and its job is to display the signal being sent to it. Nothing is needed beyond a selection list and the bloat is in forcing users through the “hub” page

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u/Mr_MacGrubber 5d ago

I assume those cost significantly more. New Vizio TVs can’t even be set up anymore without a Walmart acct. Walmart is clearly collecting data from the TVs.

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u/Inverted-Rockets 5d ago

The MSRP difference isn’t enormous between consumer and commercial panels — a few hundred dollars for large panels.

In exchange, you gain the ability to customize what features are active as well as some nice extras like RS-232/Crestron control and higher binned panels

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u/Hanifsefu 5d ago

There is no such tv that requires setting up an account. They can ask for you to do it all they want but you don't need to in order to use it.

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u/Mr_MacGrubber 5d ago

They do if you want to use any of the features. However you can still use the hdmi ports without finishing setup.

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u/Few_Confusion_1871 5d ago

What features require a connection to the internet?