I absolutely hate “smart” TVs! You can’t even buy a quality “dumb” panel anymore. I can’t convince the rest of my family and friends that the only things those smarts bring are built-in obsolescence, ads, and privacy issues.
I make it a point to NEVER connect my new 2022 LG C2 to the Internet, as any possible improvements from firmware updates will be overshadowed by garbage like ads in the UI, removal of existing features (warning: reddit link), privacy violations, possible attack vectors, non-existent security, and constant data breaches of the manufacturers that threaten to expose every bit of personal data that they suck up. Not to mention increased sluggishness after tons of unwanted “improvements” are stuffed into it over the years, as the chipset ages and can no longer cope.
I’d much rather spend a tenth of the price of my TV on a streaming box (Roku, Shield TV, etc.) and replace those after similar things happen to them in a few years. For example, the display of my OG 32-inch Sony Google TV from 2010 ($500) still works fine, but the OS has long been abandoned by both Sony and Google, and since 2015-16 even the basic things like YouTube and Chrome apps don’t work anymore. Thank goodness I can set the HDMI port as default start-up, so I don’t ever need to see the TV’s native UI, and a new Roku Streaming Stick ($45) does just fine on this 720p panel. Plus, I’m not locked into the Roku ecosystem. If they begin (continue?) enshitifying their products, there are tons of other options available at similar price.
Most people don’t replace their TVs every couple of years. Hell, my decade old 60-inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD TV that I bought for $2200 back in 2011 still works fine, and I only had to replace the streamer that’s been driving it twice during all this time. Sony Google TV Box -> Nvidia Shield TV 2015 -> Nvidia Shield TV 2019. I plan to keep it in my basement until it dies completely before replacing it. The Shield TV goes to the LG C2 so that I never have to see LG’s craptastic UI.
Sorry, just felt the need to vent. Would be very interested in reading community’s opinions on this topic.
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I’ll probably need to buy a new TV in a year or two. I read there are some ways to flash custom firmware on it.
Just get a monitor. The only real difference between a monitor and a TV these says is the lack of a speaker, and “smart” stuff. But TV speakers suck anyways so you’d be better off using a soundbar regardless.
Can you get monitors in 50 inch these days though? Then this would be my route as well once my current dumb TV dies
Yes, Viewsonic for instance is one company that makes them. Although, they’re typically advertised as a “commercial LED display” or something like that. Basically look for “display” instead of “TV”.
I haven’t seen >40" monitors at a reasonable price though compared to TVs
Edit: also, there’s usually not any audio output to an amplifier on monitors.
As I mentioned earlier, use a soundbar or dedicated speakers (most TV speakers suck anyways). Also, for a reasonably priced monitors, look for monitors marketed as “commercial displays” - they’re generally the same price or even cheaper than a similar spec’d TV.
As I mentioned earlier, use a soundbar or dedicated speakers (most TV speakers suck anyways).
Yes, but there is no audio output (as in a RCA, Optical etc., not built-in speaker) to get the audio from the monitor to the amplifier.
??? The output is provided by whatever box you’re connecting to the monitor - set-top box, Android TV, Apple TV etc.
Not true at all…e.g. Chromecast doesn’t have a dedicated audio output and neither does the apple TV, they only have HDMI output. Now the HDMI does also carry audio, but many amps and especially sound bars, do not have HDMI to pass through and rely on getting the audio signal from the TV/monitor if you’re using those devices.
There are plenty of HDMI switches or splitters out there that support audio extraction, just use one of them to sit between your monitor. Like this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00XJITK7E
Depends on the monitor, my one has a 3.5mm jack to get analogue audio out of the HDMI input which I use to get audio from my Xbox to the rest of my setup.
None of the >40" monitors I’ve looked at today had any audio outputs. But finding one that isn’t an ultrawide format for gaming is probably the bigger issues it seems.
And big monitors come with TV software nowadays…
So my wife uses some niche TV apps like weverse, which is available on Samsung TVs. Which of the media players (chromecast, appletv, roku, firestick etc.) have the most number of apps covered?
I have a Chromecast (/Google TV, their branding is a mess) and Apple TV, and have used Rokus family members have. In my experience chromecast has the best app selection, it’s just running a modified version of android. It does require specific tv versions of apps, but the standards are as low as the rest of the google play store for better and worse, so anything you can get on an android phone that you’d want on a tv is probably on there. It also (with a bit of trouble) allows sideloading, and I’ve put some github projects on there like SmartTubeNext (ad-free youtube with a better UI).
An android based device does makes sense. Thanks! I’ll look into getting a chromecast.
I run a DNS server on a raspberry pi and block only those domains where LG gets ads and promoted content from. I can then have a clean and responsive interface while services like Netflix still work.
I recommend you to also make sure to configure your router so no other device but your pihole can make DNS requests. some devices bypass your DHCP settings and use custom DNS servers.
This was already done. The only device able to make outbound DNS connections is the raspberry pi. For IPv4 and IPv6.
My Samsung Tv from 2013 appreciates this post.
I unfortunately am using a firetv 2nd gen with it and it’s horrendous. I also use a xiomi mi stick,which is also horrendous (shitty hardware).
I want dumb but good panels,no smart features please. Does anything like this even exist anymore?
It does, but they’re mostly computer monitors. You can use a computer monitor as a TV for streaming media; the catch is most of them don’t have internal speakers or ATSC/DVB/etc. tuners for over-the-air TV.
Also, have you tried the Apple TV? It’s a set-top box that isn’t horrendous, and it only phones home for software updates + optional integration with Apple’s cloud services (iCloud). It doesn’t spy on its users.
So buying a smart TV and connecting it with streaming box/stick for accessing streaming services does seem to be the best solution.
Smart TVs in general suck but I’m getting a lot of mileage of my TCL Google TV, firmly in spite of what is intended, by sideloading apps.
Privacy and security-wise it’s probably terrible but I’m just tired of having to think about it.
I am using a Sony TV that is not connected to the Internet and i stream stuff using a PS4. TV does not complain. Does anyone know if PlayStation is analyzing the data the same way Samsung does for example? So far there is no adds in PlayStation.
If they can, they probably are.
Not anymore. The PS3 would tell everyone on the PSN what you were doing at the time, including running streaming apps. They put a stop to that, and improved the PSN ID privacy settings, on the PS4 and PS5.
I just never entered my Wifi details into my smart TV. I only use the HDMI inputs on it anyway, so it behaves like a dumb one. It’s a RCA TV from Walmart, if anyone is wondering.
You can’t find a decent quality standard TV? Why?
Have you tried in the past few years? They basically don’t exist anymore in the consumer space.
Yes I have and I can go to my local supermarket and get a conventional LCD with no “smart” function.
I won’t be buying a brand name most probably but I can buy a conventional LCD tv.
You can find fairly large computer monitors, and some monitors have built in speakers. That’s about the best you can do.
Smart devices are basically data sniffers scooping up any info about you and your family, your habits,. They watch network traffic, listen to your conversations, and record video,. I’ll stick to dumb devices thanks.
My smart refridgerator said you’re a lying sack of shit
Oh yeah I put my meat in your fridges mom
I know. Your smart fleshlight posted about it on Facebook
Same here. I use my TV as a glorified monitor with a ton of HDMI ports. All smart features are basically non-existant to me. I disable all picture “quality improvement” shit (that typically introduces latency). Everything else is then handled by the attached smart devices that I can exchange or upgrade however I want.
When I look for a new TV, I actually still prefer going to the store, because the one most important aspect for me is input latency. I absolutely hate hitting a button on the remote and then having a delay of a second or so until it actually reacts to it. So this is something I need to try in person: if I hit a button, how fast do I get feedback? If it’s not instant, the TV is out of the question.
I am using my TV as a monitor, it starts on HDMI1, my Chromecast. I never use the remote of the TV, it’s plugged on my good old 5.1 setup for sound. You are using the TV remote for what?
For picture options and to switch between inputs.
Actually I think a lot of people do upgrade their TVs somewhat often, as stupid as that is. I will be clinging to my dumb TV for dear life as long as possible, but I feel like people are very consumerist these days. TVs have gotten cheap enough that they feel able to.
It goes without saying that no one should have to buy a new TV because there is a bunch of trashy software on it, but I’m sure it’s already happened enough to incentivise these assholes’ bad behavior
I have an LG c1 and the apps and start page dont bother me too much. The remote gives you easy quick launch options and I just immediately boot into my PC anyway and then use the remotes quick launch features to hop into the streaming apps I used to use(because DRM makes browser streaming a hassle especially on linux).
My beef with my smart tv is that basic settings are not hidden behind sub menus under submenus under submenus. Want to blank my screen? Adjust some picture settings a smidge? Audio stuff? Best to google it cause stuff that used to be front and center on my old tvs is either missing or buried deep down.
I dont think they charge extra for the smartness either. A 55 inch 4k tcl tv can be had for under $500, and those have roku cooked in. MY c1 was all about the hardware as well.
Most digital signage displays are ‘dumb’ tvs
yes, but they also tend to have crappy specs compared to ‘good’ TVs.
I was never so glad I’d bought a normal telly as the week I spent in a rental with a “smart” one.
