It's not just ads though. It's about control and trust.
Even if I don't connect the TV to the internet, I'll still be subjected to their rules. Who knows what this proprietary software is programmed to do? Maybe they wrote it so the TV will connect itself to the first available network it finds, with or without my consent. Maybe it's programmed to punish me for not giving them data by withholding features that don't require internet connection. This software is gonna do whatever is best for the corporation, my interests be damned.
I want software that does what I want without concern about some corporation's bottom line. Software I can trust.
It's not just the ads, control, and trust though. It's also about software performance. Holy mackerel my TCL Roku-infested TV is slow. I just want it to turn on and switch to HDMI input. The software apparently feels a strong need to remind me that it exists.
Me too. Unfortunately, the bottom line is - if you didn't write it yourself, you can't trust it. That goes right down to the firmware/compiler level.
I would love to see open-source TV firmware. Or at the very least, some kind of certification that devices are not consumer-hostile.
For most of us, just blocking it from the internet is enough. If you're still worried, you could remove the antenna or wifi module, as some people are forced to with their cars now.
I think the only real solution to consumer-hostile devices is legislation, but that of course comes with it's own myriad problems.
There were a few TV models a couple of years ago that would stop working after enough time without a network connection. When they reconnect, they're clearly going to download a new cache of ads and transmit their existing tracking data.
It's easy to assume that they'll eventually require an unabridged connection to their own servers for updates, and they will simply send all ad data through the same routes such that you can't block one without blocking the other.
This is too lucrative for manufacturers to pass up. The added complexity also ads more points of failure and drives faster industry-wide consumer upgrade cycles. This is not something that will be fixed in the market alone.
There were a few TV models a couple of years ago that would stop working after enough time without a network connection. When they reconnect, they're clearly going to download a new cache of ads and transmit their existing tracking data.
Not quite as bad as that, but since I took my Sony TV offline it regularly reboots itself (when "off") and sometimes needs a "hard" start via the physical power button as the remote on has become unresponsive. I strongly suspect that it's just badly coded, going mad trying to connect to resources that don't exist, filling logs, etc. then failing over.
I so want tracked advertising in all of its forms to be outlawed.
I can see manufacturers embedding a LTE radio/lorawan/whatever into the devices. Not connecting the device to the internet wont be an option in the future for most consumers.
It’ll just share ads over Bluetooth with your refrigerator that won’t turn the compressor on unless it has a connection to the server, so it can determine your cooling subscription is still up to date.
You could do it with the helium network now. That's a specific reason to avoid helium - it's the closest to a ubiquitous network that will let people spy on your use of ordinary electrical appliances. Unlike TVs, your next fridge won't need an internet connection to spy on your use.
Not a TV, but someone recently reported a GE oven that would not let you use a particular feature (convection cooking, IIRC) until you connected it to WiFi.
The coffee machine at work begs and pleads to be connected so it can use “enhanced” coffee recipes. My new clothes washer at home also tries to convince me it’s crucial it gets a Wi-Fi password.
Ive connected mine time to time because Amazon won't stream HD to my GPU/TV combo (rx590/LG), but will happily stream 4k via the TV's app. Not a great solution, but its nice to have the option when a friend comes over; otherwise it stays unplugged
> It still boggles my mind that people connect these things to the Internet
Not particularly surprising, given that cable is dying and most content is delivered over the Internet nowadays. Sure, you can use something like an Apple TV, a Roku, or Fire TV, but most people prefer the convenience of a single device rather than having to buy a second device. In fact, LG TVs come preinstalled with almost all the streaming apps: Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, HBO Max, YouTube, Hulu, Plex, etc etc.
The point is don't connect the tv to the internet, connect with a cheap streaming device you bought where you control what comes through it. You can also replace that device that just plugs in via hdmi with another one if some company goes bad and spams you with ads.
I connect my (non-smart) TV to my Roku, which is connected to the Internet. I suspect I'll do the same when I get a smart TV. There are minor ads on the Roku home screen.
Current version (v2) of "slide-to-root" might not work on a TV from the store. But there are alternative exploits which involve a bit of manual work (not much). One currently in the wild is the "crashd exploit".
You can join the OpenLGTV Discord for more information:
Is there a list of LG TVs this works on? If I buy an LG C1 today, will this allow me to root it?