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Roku TV bricked until agreeing to new terms of service (programming.dev)

submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by DaleGribble88@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world

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See title - very frustrating. There is no way to continue to use the TV without agreeing to the terms. I couldn't use different inputs, or even go to settings from the home screen and disconnect from the internet to disable their services. If I don't agree to their terms, then I don't get access to their new products. That sucks, but fine - I don't use their services except for the TV itself, and honestly, I'd rather by a dumb TV with a streaming box anyway, but I can't find those anymore.

Anyway, the new terms are about waiving your right to a class action lawsuit. It's weird to me because I'd never considered filing a class action lawsuit against Roku until this. They shouldn't be able to hold my physical device hostage until I agree to new terms that I didn't agree at the time of purchase or initial setup.

I wish Roku TVs weren't cheap walmart brand sh*t. Someone with some actual money might sue them and sort this out...

EDIT: Shout out to @testfactor@lemmy.world for recommending the brand "Sceptre" when buying my next (dumb) TV.

EDIT2: Shout out to @0110010001100010@lemmy.world for recommending LG smart TVs as a dumb-TV stand in. They apparently do require an agreement at startup, which is certainly NOT ideal, but the setup can be completed without an internet connection and it remembers input selection on powerup. So, once you have it setup, you're good to rock and roll.

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[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 90 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (51 children)

Sucks this happened to you. If it is still under warranty, you should return it for a replacement or store credit. Complain that it has ceased to function.

A good set of advice is to never connect your TV to the internet. A cheap streaming box or HTPC does the same function, and doesn't open you up to issues like this. Your TV is also almost certainly selling your viewing data if you have it connected to the internet.

[–] DaleGribble88@programming.dev 18 points 8 months ago (41 children)

Almost certainly - but that is what I agreed to when I bought the TV.

Like I said in the post, I'd much prefer dumb TVs, but they I can't really find them anymore. Best I can do is buy a smart TV that'd won't let you do anything (including selecting inputs) until you connect it to the internet, agree to their horrible anti-consumer licensing agreement. Only then to open up a different smart device product that will still steal my data and force me to give up my legal right to a class action? The current system is scam.

Do you have any recommendations for dumb TVs?

[–] 0110010001100010@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago (6 children)

I've had LGs for years (just got a new C3 OLED) and they don't require internet access to function. My current OLED isn't connected and works perfectly fine. I use a standalone Roku for streaming.

[–] DaleGribble88@programming.dev 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I think that I'm about to sold on LG TVs. Do you need to agree to any terms of service for initial setup? Additionally, do you have to navigate menus on startup to get to the streaming device? If so, that is ok, but very annoying if I can't set it up to start on a particular input on power up.

[–] 0110010001100010@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I did have to agree to the terms during setup. You do NOT have to navigate menus on startup. It remembers the last input and defaults there. You can then easily change the input via the remote if needed.

[–] DaleGribble88@programming.dev 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

This is really good/useful info - thank you!

[–] jadedwench@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

They also have a list of items you can and cannot agree to, instead of just 1. So agree to 1, and say no to the rest sort of deal. You can also set the TV to non-US and get a little less bullshit.

[–] bleistift2@feddit.de 1 points 8 months ago

It remembers the last input and defaults there.

It never occurred to me that TVs might not do that.

[–] zod000@lemmy.ml 1 points 8 months ago

LG have started sending some bullshit major updates to both of my TVs recently. The whole "home" interface is now sluggish and full of video heavy garbage I don't want to see. They are still better than some smart platforms (looking at you Vizio, Samsung, and Roku), but I am far less pleased with them than I used to be.

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