Am I the only one who thinks connecting a TV to the wider internet is crazy
Its sole function should be to display video and play audio
Just hook up the TV to a pc, raspberry pi, chromcast etc something that you have more control over and don’t allow the TV connect to the internet.
Now having said that, given theres been more awareness about Right to repair lately, maybe there’s an argument to be made for introducing legislation to ban TV makers from forcing users to connect to the internet, as well as being able to repair our TVs too
xD yeah I got a new TV but I checked there was no camera and microphone, that’s stupid. On PC there is better solutions like a switch thing so you can still do meetings with webcam.
It’s a cool solution tho, the problems is that I don’t want to have my living room without any sun light in order to see my tv. But in the future I think is a cool solution.
Someone else posted both of these, separately, but I’m going to put them together, as they are my solution of choice:
Don’t let the TV itself connect to the internet. If it can’t connect, it can’t do anything to you.
Get a Raspberry Pi, and put LibreELEC with Kodi on it, for a fully FOSS smart TV interface. This is what I do and with addons you have access to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Crunchyroll, Jellyfin, Pandora, etc etc, anything you could use on a Smart TV, but also with a great interface for watching your own videos etc. I swear by Kodi.
I have a 4K tv and some TV shows I watch come out on Amazon Video first. I’d love a recommendation for an alternative which doesn’t involve me trying ten torrents until I finally find one that works and has a good quality.
Yes, but my requirements currently (sadly) include 4K Netflix and Amazon Prime. Privacy is not an ultimate state, it’s a spectrum. Better privacy doesn’t mean you can achieve complete privacy.
If you need complete privacy, don’t buy a TV at all. Buy a huge screen, e.g. from a signage company like SwedX. Add a Raspi to it. Be done.
Serious question: How are you supposed to control Kodi? I tried to install it, but I realized I had to use the mouse/keyboard to do basically everything. Can I control it through a remote or my phone at least?
There are countless 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and even Zigbee remotes which you can use directly or through Home Assistant or another home automation solution.
It may sound a bit hacky, but there’s a web interface that you can use to control kodi from any other device on your network. Just enter the address and a logon that you set up and presto. There’s a default interface, but you can download some custom ones through the add-ons browser. It functions as a remote, plus you can scroll through your collection on your tablet/phone/laptop while watching/listening to something else on your tv. The main advantage over an app is that it will work on all of your devices through a web browser.
If you have a TV/receiver that supports CEC you can use your regular remote. For Android there is also the Kore app to remotely control Kodi. See Kodi’s wiki page on remote controls for more options.
I use a cheap ‘air mouse’ current one has been going 5+ years but went through about 10 before that but I started using Kodi yeah I don’t remember 2005?? UGH…
I recently searched and found a used but pretty decent Sony flatscreen TV that was made just before SmartTVs became a thing. Pretty happy with it as I think 1080p is sufficient… cheap too ;)
I have a Smart TV, but instead of having it connected to the WiFi directly, I have linked it with my PC and it receives the content through it. With this I avoid ads and I do not have these privacy problems.
Not mine, I have a scansoft on my network and I notice it right away if there is something connected to my WiFi that should not be there.
If it’s my neighbor’s WiFi, I don’t care.
I just buy the TV for it’s image quality, and never even setup the TV OS to connect to the Internet. I rely on a dedicated dongle or PC and let the TV be a display.
Just use a dumb TV flat-screen and an HTPC. Saves money and you have full control plus no ads.
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Am I the only one who thinks connecting a TV to the wider internet is crazy
Its sole function should be to display video and play audio
Just hook up the TV to a pc, raspberry pi, chromcast etc something that you have more control over and don’t allow the TV connect to the internet.
Now having said that, given theres been more awareness about Right to repair lately, maybe there’s an argument to be made for introducing legislation to ban TV makers from forcing users to connect to the internet, as well as being able to repair our TVs too
Just a thought
Yeah also we could force them to have it say on the packaging if a product contains advertising.
Avoid LG
At this point I would just get a really big monitor.
You should look into Hospitality TVs, mostly stripped down for business use https://www.cdw.com/search/?key=hospitality tv
https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/7/14841556/wikileaks-cia-hacking-documents-ios-android-samsung
There’s a KDE spinoff for TVs: https://plasma-bigscreen.org/
There are some Smart TVs that even have a camera on the front…
No problem, also compatible with PC
xD yeah I got a new TV but I checked there was no camera and microphone, that’s stupid. On PC there is better solutions like a switch thing so you can still do meetings with webcam.
And about mics. I think that you can always git some wires…
Another option that I do, is to go with a projector. They’re rarely smart, are just as cheap as tvs, and more portable.
The thing with projectors is that they make quite a bit of noise, which is rather distracting imo. Apart from that, they are indeed neat.
It’s a cool solution tho, the problems is that I don’t want to have my living room without any sun light in order to see my tv. But in the future I think is a cool solution.
It used to be a problem, but even the cheaper ones are so bright now that you can still watch even with sunlight.
True… and an “ultra short throw” projector actually fits pretty much in the same space as a regular TV. Still a bit expensive though.
Had never heard of those, they sound very cool! Will have to look more on them :)
Someone else posted both of these, separately, but I’m going to put them together, as they are my solution of choice:
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Return it for a full refund and find one that doesn’t?
Then you throw it out.
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Hmmm it’s also a really good solution
You can’t watch 4k Netflix or Amazon Prime with that setup, or can you?
I use a Pi-Hole and a firewall to block ads and didn’t opt in to their smart features, so my LG TV somewhat works.
…people actually care about 4K or amazon prime video?
I have a 4K tv and some TV shows I watch come out on Amazon Video first. I’d love a recommendation for an alternative which doesn’t involve me trying ten torrents until I finally find one that works and has a good quality.
The post was about bringing freedom and privacy to smart TV’s, those services are opposed to both.
Yes, but my requirements currently (sadly) include 4K Netflix and Amazon Prime. Privacy is not an ultimate state, it’s a spectrum. Better privacy doesn’t mean you can achieve complete privacy.
If you need complete privacy, don’t buy a TV at all. Buy a huge screen, e.g. from a signage company like SwedX. Add a Raspi to it. Be done.
Serious question: How are you supposed to control Kodi? I tried to install it, but I realized I had to use the mouse/keyboard to do basically everything. Can I control it through a remote or my phone at least?
There are countless 2.4GHz, Bluetooth and even Zigbee remotes which you can use directly or through Home Assistant or another home automation solution.
I use a little wireless USB remote control designed for controlling TV interfaces. It works beautifully.
It may sound a bit hacky, but there’s a web interface that you can use to control kodi from any other device on your network. Just enter the address and a logon that you set up and presto. There’s a default interface, but you can download some custom ones through the add-ons browser. It functions as a remote, plus you can scroll through your collection on your tablet/phone/laptop while watching/listening to something else on your tv. The main advantage over an app is that it will work on all of your devices through a web browser.
When I ran it I used an old wireless xbox controller.
I use this remote. specifically made for Kodi https://osmc.tv/store/product/osmc-remote-control/
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If you have a TV/receiver that supports CEC you can use your regular remote. For Android there is also the Kore app to remotely control Kodi. See Kodi’s wiki page on remote controls for more options.
I use a cheap ‘air mouse’ current one has been going 5+ years but went through about 10 before that but I started using Kodi yeah I don’t remember 2005?? UGH…
I recently searched and found a used but pretty decent Sony flatscreen TV that was made just before SmartTVs became a thing. Pretty happy with it as I think 1080p is sufficient… cheap too ;)
https://hackaday.com/2021/10/22/vizio-in-hot-water-over-smart-tv-gpl-violations/
I have a Smart TV, but instead of having it connected to the WiFi directly, I have linked it with my PC and it receives the content through it. With this I avoid ads and I do not have these privacy problems.
Some secretly scan for open wifi networks and connect to them without any user interaction though.
Not mine, I have a scansoft on my network and I notice it right away if there is something connected to my WiFi that should not be there. If it’s my neighbor’s WiFi, I don’t care.
It could still exfiltrate you viewing habits and other personal data through your neighbour’s wifi.
Yes, but only if it knows that it isn’t MY WiFi. Apart need also the Password to conect.
Dude if they’re willing to go that far, you’re already fucked and nothing you do will stop it.
I don’t think so. One can always destroy the WiFi card of the TV.
In many cases it’s enough to just disconnect it, e.g. with carefully applying an exacto knife.
I just buy the TV for it’s image quality, and never even setup the TV OS to connect to the Internet. I rely on a dedicated dongle or PC and let the TV be a display.
Yup, same here. It’s annoying to have the prompt permanently in the menu, but you kinda get used to it.
This is the only way.