This is part of why I recently upgraded my TV: seems like we might be at the end of the window where you can get one without this crap. (There were other reasons, but this affected the timeframe.) Installed the immediate software updates (because I was pretty sure it was still safe), then unplugged the network cable. (Never set up wifi.) It's a year-old model & I don't use the built-in streaming apps; I doubt there will be another software update I’d consider important.
https://beige.party/@TwoClownsEating/114060963160890242
@andrewabernathy Ugh. Between this and tariffs I should probably replace my inherited tv with something soon
@amcvittie @andrewabernathy Counter-intuitively, *especially* if you don’t watch a lot of TV, but do enjoy films… buy the biggest OLED TV you can fit in the space. You’ll enjoy the cinema experience, vs having it just be “content” at a small scale.
Also, obvs, never let it on the internet. Pop an AppleTV on it and you’re good to go.
@octothorpe @andrewabernathy I’m a Roku fan in general so I was eyeing their TVs. I don’t love that you have to have a microphone in their new remotes though…
@amcvittie @octothorpe Personally, unless their TV is independently compelling I would get the separate Roku box rather than their TV: Can switch to something other than Roku if they become less compelling in the future; can upgrade the device without having to swap the TV if they add great new features or if they stop supporting old TVs that still work fine. (All the services long ago dropped support for the 13 year-old "smart" TV I just replaced.)
@amcvittie @octothorpe Not an expert, but feel the same about the OLED. Love my new LG C3. That seems to be the generation where OLED overcame the brightness concerns. (Another of my reasons for upgrading now: it finally has everything I want at a price I was willing to pay. By virtue of being last year's model which has both been lowered in price and has been going on sale. Not as inexpensive as other TVs that I'm sure would have been upgrades from my old TV. But the lack of bloom... so nice.)
@jackbrewster @octothorpe @andrewabernathy heeeey nice! Didn’t occur to me.