this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2023
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Linux
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Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Unless you have the ability to root it, does it matter? It's likely a completely custom, stripped down distro anyway.
Just want to stay away from Android TV crapps and ads. ( Also, dont need root as of now - Based on forum posts, root access is not allowed )
Dumb TV+(mini)PC is the way
Is it even possible to buy a dumb TV any more?
Keep the smart TV off the network and the difference is usually minimal.
Still takes a while to boot compared to a dumb panel.
From standby isn't that noticeable. Definitely a bit of a difference in cold-boot times though.
Plenty of them will auto connect to what ever open network. So you can't guarantee that. Or various exploits that could exist in the wifi stack. It's not the same as buying a "dumb" tv.
That is what we call 'breaching hacking laws'. In other words, if you catch your TVs doing that, lawsuits can be brought against the supplier.
No it isn't, there's no hacking involved in connecting to a wifi network. Plus different jurisdictiona might see it differently anyway. And good luck with your lawsuits against mega corps.
This isn't some hypothetical, this is something smart TVs are known to be doing, right now.
Source on that? Not saying I don't believe you, but an article on the topic would help us know what behavior we're talking about here.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210601000527/https://www.reddit.com/r/security/comments/bpjky4/worried_about_your_smart_tv_listening_in_simply/
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25275753
https://web.archive.org/web/20210828035115/https://forum.developer.samsung.com/t/if-you-choose-to-not-connect-your-samsung-smart-tv-to-wifi-it-will-secretly-connect-to-your-neighbours-passwordless-wifi/7926
Most western jurisdictions define hacking as accessing computer resources without permission. So yes, at least in the west, such behaviour definitely counts as hacking. Doesn't matter if there's no encryption breaking or brute forcing going on. If it's connecting to a network that it doesn't have permission to be on, it is breaking the law.
It is possible to get entire products pulled from stores if they are breaching hacking laws.
Look at commercial monitors. They're the screen without the bloat.
I think there's a few models that are not really advertised, don't know them though.
Seems unattractive for manufacturers since apparently 50% of income on TVs is user data.
But if you don't connect your smart tv to anything how is it smart.
No.
Yes, as long as you never connect your TV to the internet, then it is for all intents and purposes a "dumb tv."
Thats what I'm currently doing but is it even possible to buy a new dumb TV nowadays?
Android TVs are also Linux TVs, in fact I have a good degree of certainty that most smart TVs are Linux, developing a whole OS from scratch is hard, much easier to use one that already exists.
Samsung uses tizen, based on linux, maemo, bada: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tizen
LG uses webos, based on linux, ~~palmos~~: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebOS
WebOS isn't based on PalmOS. PalmOS was it's own completely unique OS for PDAs and phones, WebOS was Palm's Linux-based successor to PalmOS for the Pre. Eventually LG ended up with it and turned it into a TV and watch OS.
WebOS is such a sad story. It started as a pretty innovative and interesting mobile OS at a time when phone manufacturers bothered to innovate. Then it ended up being owned by the grossest software company ever, HPE, and now it’s a pathetically crappy TV operating system. What is LG even doing?
Yeah if it could use modern cell networks and the like 3 apps I actually need I would switch from my modern android phone to a Pre in a heartbeat. It is by far my favorite mobile os
That article made me realize how old my TV is, and certainly made me appreciate WebOS compared to the previous OS I could have had if I had gotten my TV two years prior.
Even webOS is Linux-based. It just doesn't make sense to use any other kernel for such an application.
IMO LG TVs with WebOS are the best user experience right now.
But you don't have smarttubenext
This is true and something to consider. There's also no app for Crunchyroll which is personally a huge downside.
It's still the best user experience and I seriously dread having to use other people's TVs now. Even major players like Samsung are seriously lacking in comparison.
I rooted mine before the patch, and the homebrew store has an ad-free sponsor blocking yt app
stonks