czim

joined 1 year ago
[–] czim@feddit.nl 4 points 3 weeks ago

I currently have a similar setup, but with a very old TV (that served me well for 16 years). Not easy to find good dumb TVs these days though.

[–] czim@feddit.nl 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I hear you, but I'm not an example of this. I have a Pi-hole set up, firewalled my phone, happily use LibreWolf, etc.

Besides that, I also want to do the research on what screen to get. If a worse screen (small one, monitor or digital signage) is the only acceptable solution, then that's what I'll pick -- but having some idea of what it would mean to pick a typical smart TV and try to limit the consequences is also something I want to consider. The only frustrating thing to me is that it's hard to find out details about this (and that includes details about digital signage screen quality, for instance, since businesses don't seem to care all that much).

[–] czim@feddit.nl 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks, very helpful! I'm dubious about Samsung because of robolemmy's experiences (https://feddit.nl/post/22838850/13086582), perhaps that differs per TV.

[–] czim@feddit.nl 10 points 3 weeks ago

I get what you're saying. What I'm running into is that there is little information on what happens if you 'dont connect it to the internet at all'. I would happily do that, but as another comment notes, some devices keep whining until you do connect them, while others don't. I can also easily set up a separate 'fake' network to black-hole all the communication attempts of the TV, but I have no idea whether that would stop the nagging -- or the attempts for it to connect to public WiFi access points.

It would be really cool if people experimenting with this kind of thing could pool their findings, that's all.

[–] czim@feddit.nl 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks! See, that distinction is super helpful. I've found (old) lists of Smart TV OSes and how their privacy settings work (or don't), with some details on what happens when you decline EULA's, but not many and not very useful ones.

The answer may well be that anyone that actually cares about this stuff just doesn't buy any smart TV (or otherwise hasn't had to in the last few years). Still, with the answer 'just don't connect it to the internet' being the most common, I'd expected to see a bit more information like you've given.

So the Samsung keeps nagging even when you're watching direct HDMI input? And does the LG need to boot up the entire (Web)OS to view HDMI input?

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submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by czim@feddit.nl to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
 

I'm considering buying a new TV. There's plenty of posts about trying to find dumb TVs, comments like 'just don't connect it to the internet/network'.

What surprises me is that there isn't a good overview of (popular) TVs or brands with basic information, answering for each TV:

  • Can you use it as a basic TV by choosing not to enable smart features during setup?
  • Can you opt out by just not accepting a bunch of agreements?
  • Does it have a camera and/or microphone? Where in the device are these? Is there a physical disable switch for microphone?
  • Does it nag when not connected to any network?
  • Does it have higher than normal power usage when not able to phone home?
  • Has it been discovered to connect to public WiFi networks? Does it have the (theoretical) ability to connect to 5G mobile networks?

And similar.

There are extensive lists with a lot of detail about VPN services but nothing like that for TVs. Am I ignorant of a good source, or does this just not exist (yet)?