this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
55 points (92.3% liked)

Technology

59708 readers
2105 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

There are lots of things you need to know before buying a smart TV & the OS on your smart TV will define its interface and software capabilities

top 39 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago

The dumbest one

[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Or you get a set top box and don’t worry about the trash software that comes with the tv.

I really like my newish sony tv that has a basic mode. Disables all the smart BS so it functions just as a screen. I use an Apple TV or ps5 for all content.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

Fiercely agree. I have Samsung “smart” TV that I use as a dumb screen for my Apple TV and PS5.

Samsung’s software manages to bug out even without using it. The TV remote would randomly disconnect, screen would respring, randomly adjust contrast etc. It’s like “the printer of TVs”.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Couldn’t agree more with this. I just use a Roku set top box with all my TVs and never even connect the TVs to the internet.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 year ago (3 children)

That's like asking 'what's the best nut to get kicked in?'

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

the coconut.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

"What's the best company to give control of my thermostat to?"

[–] Immersive_Matthew 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I just use a PC as then you are more in control.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I came here to say "none of them" because they all suck gigantic balls and I just use a NUC instead. I also just use unified remote on my phone to control it with a track pad keyboard as a back up.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Buy them fast, cause they're discontinued!

[–] Immersive_Matthew 2 points 1 year ago

Asus bought the NUC brand

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Ive been doing the same for decades and I don't think I'll ever go back

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

I still just want a nice dumb tv with the latest panel tech. Or a nice CRT in good condition for retro gaming.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

None. Any "smart" TV won't be upgradable. It might get a few software updates but it will eventually be incapable of being updated enough to function as it used to with changes in services and codecs.

I have Roku and Fire devices, even on the "smart" TV. When the device isn't enough anymore I can just replace the device for like 20 bucks, not so for the built-in software on the TV.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

And the TV itself doesn't get Internet. Shouldn't need a direct connection.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

NEC makes some TVs where you can slot in a pi as the host OS, so i'd say that's probably the best "smart" TV as it has an OS of your choosing.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

wow, that's actually sounds nice

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

A TV with a good panel and a Shield

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Idk Hisense recently updated their TVs and it's been fucking with my Shields pretty bad. Going to try downgrading to the oldest, dumbest OS the TV will allow and keeping it disconnected from the internet. Still love the Shield

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Another thing that seems overlooked is that these smart tvs spy on your activities very much. Try installing pihole and you will see your TV chatting constantly and calling home.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It has to be android for me as it the only one that allows for an ad free YouTube solution via sideloading. Preferably via an external box though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would you mind explaining what sideloading is? I'd be interested in ad-free YT

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Sideloading is installing an app through means other than the official storefront provided by an OS. Android has always let you do that, and Android TV is no exception.

As for the ad-free YT experience? Look up SmartTubeNext.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Anything that can load videos from my NAS. Preferably with software like Kodi. Streaming services come and go but my media library has been growing for years.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No words on ads displayed.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Nothing a good instance of PiHole or Adguard Home can't deal with

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How is Apple TV not on this list? It’s miles ahead of the competition in every way

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

This is only going through TV OSs, not stand alone hardware.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I own Philips TV with their own OS which is semi-smart and kinda sucks. I hooked it up to Xiaomi Mi Box and enjoy Android on it.

[–] neomis 3 points 1 year ago

A dumb tv with an external box.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Cathode Ray.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

They all suck, but I've always found myself going back to Roku when I try any of the others. Still selling my data, but at least 99% of apps work.

[–] Dups 1 points 1 year ago

It doesn't say

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm a fan of Android TV / Google TV. The Android TV we bought didn't have enough memory and had problems catching up but we stuck with the brand and bought a Chromecast with Google TV. It was a good decision.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The built-in TV software may be trash, but there is no way I can convince my dad that another device that does the exact same thing is worth it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I use Google Chromecast with remote so I don't fuck with Roku's smart TV software anymore.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have a raspberry pi 4 hooked up to a projector with Kodi. Replaced my Chinese android tv box, which is reportedly stuffed full of spyware these days. It was an easy setup once I had an SD card writer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I just plug my laptop into the TV. Works and looks great.

load more comments
view more: next ›