Samsung To Roll Out In-TV Ads To Legacy Displays Via Software Update

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Samsung To Roll Out In-TV Ads To Legacy Displays Via Software Update

Posted by msmash on Tuesday May 31, 2016 @02:45AM from the the-best-TV-experience-includes-watching-ads dept.

An anonymous reader writes: According to an insider at Samsung's growing advertising team in New York, the second-largest consumer tech manufacturer in the world is planning to retrofit older network-connected TVs to display tiled ads via a software update. The South Korean company, which has seen a 20.9% decline in television sales in Q1 of 2016 under fierce competition from China, has included 'baked' ads into the interface of its recent TV offerings, and also experimented with injecting ads into users' streamed video, transmitting voice commands to a third party -- and, ironically, battling Android over its own AdBlocking technology.

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Typical by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 02:47 · Score: 1

Seems like a move straight out of Google.
1. Re:Typical by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:09 · Score: 1
  
  Seems like a move straight out of Google.
  Not quite, when Google didn't make enough money from GoogleTV they killed it off, Samsung isn't making enough money so instead of quitting while they're behind they're making the user experience worse for everyone.
2. Re:Typical by sjames · 2016-05-31 04:21 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  They're at least one-upping Google. Samsung makes you pay for it, stuffs it full of ads anyway. They're even stuffing ads into older devices you already paid full price for fair and square.
  And to complete the idiocy, they can't figure out why sales are down.
3. Re:Typical by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:02 · Score: 2
  
  And to complete the idiocy, they can't figure out why sales are down.
  I wonder if the next owners will? I actually like the TVs if you do not connect them to the Internet.
4. Re:Typical by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:07 · Score: 2
  
  Take $100 of the price then I'll watch the ads. Advertisements are supposed to make the product cheaper, as in free television content, coupons, etc. But full price with ads, no thank you. If i'm really worth as much money when I watch ads as advertisers claim then they should be giving me some kickbacks. As much money as advertisers claim to generate you could replace welfare programs by having people watch TV all day.
  Ads coming in my snail mail cost money. So there's a weekly flier (and at election time a zillion uninformative pieces of cardboard). But it's very manageable. The cost eliminates spam. So I wish advertisers would pay when they send their ads for free through my ISP, and I wish they'd pay when they broadcast the ads my tv (over the air or via internet). Make the advertisers pay and the spam will go down, you'll get fewer irrelevant ads, and you'll prevent people like Samsung from thinking that it's cheaper to serve up ads than to improve their profit margins via manufacturing or engineering.
5. Re:Typical by ColdWetDog · 2016-05-31 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, you're so wrong. Advertisements exist to make money for the advertisers.
  Nothing else.
  
  --
  Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
6. Re:Typical by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 07:51 · Score: 1
  
  Which is why I think they're cheating their clients as well. During dotcom book the online advertisers were charging maybe ten times the amount per "impression" than radio or televison, and justified it because it was the internet. Which of course helped inflate the bubble and made the pop so much bigger. So today we're in the spot that the top industrial sector appears to be advertising and advertising services.
7. Re:Typical by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:03 · Score: 0
  
  I used to love Samsung. I would buy Samsung first for everything. Now they can fuck off. Started with my phone where a lot of features were disabled at requerst of the carrier so they can fuck me ad spy on me better. I have been using a 40 inch TV for years and I can't even bother to look for a better one that isn't internet connected. I guess I'll just stick with it.
8. Re:Typical by brantondaveperson · 2016-05-31 10:00 · Score: 2
  
  Advertisements are supposed to make the product cheaper,
  Interesting perspective. Someone pays for the ads to be made, which is paid for through the retail price of whatever was being advertised, which means you end up paying for the content one way or another. Unless you refuse to purchase anything that's advertised, in which case you'll probably have to live in the mountains and eat only what you can kill.
9. Re:Typical by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 10:44 · Score: 0
  
  So today we're in the spot that the top industrial sector appears to be advertising and advertising services.
  This is because in the torrent of companies and brands out there, businesses are being coached by MBAs to get while the getting is good.
  AFAIKT, the brain-dead way to grow a business favored by MBAs is to use the gameplan where to run a brand until the "customer acquisition cost" is greater than the net present value of a new customer and pull the escape lever (ipo, acquisition, reorg, bk, whatever).
  A traditional way might be to run a business is to increase the net present value of each new customer, but that takes time and patience or even a new business plan (esp if pre-revenue or freemium) and might not pan out. The other way is to show really low CAC. If you happen to be trending, you can "cheat" the CAC metric this by spending a little bit more on advertising as you are running promotions to gain new customers and claim this advertising is helping you to acquire new customers with the implication that more advert spending will gain you more customers with low advertising costs but don't impact the net present value of these customers (ignoring the fact that raw advertising conversion ratio is probably low).
  This is the game plan that Groupon used to prey upon many businesses until they wised up, because the net present value of the customers acquired this way often zero (or even negative if they turned off current customers).
  It goes to show that during a gold rush, you should not be panning for gold, but you should be selling shovels.
  -slew
10. Re:Typical by Rakarra · 2016-05-31 13:01 · Score: 2
  
  This is because in the torrent of companies and brands out there, businesses are being coached by MBAs to get while the getting is good.
  Probably because in the dot-com days you had a number of businesses with half-way decent ideas but pushed the "bring the revenue in" phase too far out into the future to help the company.
  One company I was at back in the 90s did some of the first online hosting of newscasts. That is, TV news stations would partner with my company who would install internet connections and a few of our boxes at the station. Those boxes would convert the newscast into video clips which we hosted and bolstered with additional content, like web site links, followup interviews, and more context. The news stations loved it.
  My company paid for Internet connection (either T-1 or ISDN lines) and the hosting and those boxes. The news stations reciprocated by mentioning their news space on our servers; free advertising, basically. Free advertising is great, but you need something besides other people mentioning your name to bring in the revenue to pay for salaries, bandwidth, and equipment. A year later, the first advertising server was installed. Later in the day, 50% of the work force was laid off, and most of the rest 3 weeks later.
  You get while the getting is good, because if you don't, there might not BE a tomorrow. That applies to regular employees as well -- I'm glad I was paid in cash instead of paid in stock options.
11. Re:Typical by Rakarra · 2016-05-31 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  I like Samsung TVs as a pure front-end. IE, it receives video and sound through HDMI. No network-connected bullshit.
12. Re: Typical by mianne · 2016-05-31 13:17 · Score: 1
  
  I'm pretty certain that the advertisersame are paying for the ads, regardless of the medium by which you receive them.
  
  --
  Javascript, cookies, flash, and ActiveX must be enabled in order to view this sig.
13. Re: Typical by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 14:18 · Score: 1
  
  This was not the case in the past at least, as there were reports of this in the news as evidence that the dotcom economy was insane.
14. Re:Typical by cthulhu11 · 2016-06-01 04:50 · Score: 1
  
  Except that nobody will actually update firmware on their TV. Even those of us who would do such a thing are so used to the manufacturers not bothering to provide updates that we've stopped looking for them. Samsung specifically lost my business when they refused to honor a settlement for repairing a design flaw in a set I paid a lot of $ for. My current Sharp has a flaky Netflix client, but they will never update the firmware because they've already made the sale and unlike Tesla don't give a shit about post-sales.
15. Re:Typical by sjames · 2016-06-01 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  The user doesn't necessarily get a choice. The vendors don't bother to produce updates that benefit the consumer, but they won't hesitate to produce and force one that benefits them. If a corporation could be sent to kindergarten, they would flunk.
  Personally, I won't have a TV that requires an internet connection. I get a dumb TV and use my own hardware/software for anything over the network. A TV should have a tuner and a good set of aux inputs ONLY.
16. Re:Typical by cthulhu11 · 2016-06-01 07:15 · Score: 1
  
  The user does get a choice, the choice to not go looking for and initiate a firmware update.
17. Re:Typical by sjames · 2016-06-01 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps for Samsung (I don't have one). Some vendors do not offer the choice. Even if firmware must be manually updated, sometimes you get sturk with either leaving features broken by server side changes or do the upgrade warts and all. Either way, you end up with less than you paid for.
18. Re:Typical by farble1670 · 2016-06-01 12:41 · Score: 1
  
  Seems like a move straight out of Google.
  You mean the Google that is moving to a Chromecast model where the TV has no real Smart OS* and instead relies on smartphone apps to direct it to content? 2016 Vizio and Sharp TVs have this model (and others Android TV based TVs such as Sony have Google Cast of course but also the whole Android TV enchilada).
  P.S., Google Cast doesn't inject any ads.
  * Of course there's an OS, but the user-facing smarts aren't on the TV.
Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 02:47 · Score: 1

I hope Samsung have got good medical cover. If this isn't a great example of "employing the foot gun" I don't know what is !
1. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by courteaudotbiz · 2016-05-31 03:04 · Score: 2
  
  Depends what they do with it. If they sell ads to sell you a less expensive TV, maybe a lot of people could jump in. If they sell me a 60" LCD 3DTV for 199$, I could accept the ads.
  
  But the retrofit to older models is a plain annoyance that should not happen.
2. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by JaredOfEuropa · 2016-05-31 03:29 · Score: 1
  
  Depends... It'll probably be too tempting to do this:
  Current ad free TV: $599
  Future ad-supported TV: $499
  Future ad-free TV: $799
  Margins on TVs are pretty thin, so they'd have to make a LOT of money from the ads to be able to offer the equipment at a meaningful discount. And the best way to ensure more ad revenue is to entice more people to get the ad-supported version. So increasing the price of the regular equipment gives them a higher profit margin on that equipment, it makes the ad laden version that much more attractive, and it increases overall ad revenue.
  
  Besides, what kind of ads would you expect and tolerate? The little popovers that some thrice-cursed studios already ad to their programming? Interstitials in streaming content (sending a Pause command to Netflix while shoving an ad down your throat)?. Popups that have to be clicked off? Once very hour? Twice? 6 times? Just look at the current state of the web and of network television, and you can see how advertisers will turn ANY channel to shit if you let them.
  
  --
  If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
3. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Jason+Levine · 2016-05-31 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  And what would happen if you kept your TV off the network and used something like a Roku to display Netflix and other online content? Would the ads not display? Would they display some default "No Ads Found" message? Would the TV refuse to work unless you hooked it up online? Would someone be able to get the discounted "give me ads" rate, not hook their TV to their network, and then get the no ads experience while saving money?
  If the last one is true, then I'll gladly opt in to ads for a reduced price.
  
  --
  My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
4. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by disposable60 · 2016-05-31 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  Only if there's 60" of TV left over once the adspace is deducted.
  / not even then
  
  --
  You're looking for quotes? See my journal.
5. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:55 · Score: 0
  
  Reintroducing ads via network update to future ad-free TV: priceless
6. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by perotbot · 2016-05-31 03:57 · Score: 1
  
  and if it looks like something from idiocracy or the 90's news app "Pointcast" , where the viewable area of the screen is surrounded by blocks of ads with only a small window in the middle with actual content? no thanks, and good day Sir,....I said GOOD DAY SIR!
  
  --
  ~corporate tool, but employed~
7. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by CanadianMacFan · 2016-05-31 04:00 · Score: 3
  
  Until they decide they need more money then your future ad-free TV becomes a TV showing ads and you spent an extra $300 for nothing.
8. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by JaredOfEuropa · 2016-05-31 04:05 · Score: 1
  
  If they offer it at a lower price with ads, they probably require a network connection. Maybe with a provision to let you disconnect it for a certain period of time so you can continue to view if your network is out... but in that case they'll probably just cache the ads and still show them.
  
  --
  If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
9. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by allo · 2016-05-31 04:10 · Score: 1
  
  Future ad supported tv: 599
10. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:12 · Score: 0
  
  The guy on his lazyboy toilet recliner, watching "Ow, my balls!" was exactly what I was picturing when I read TFS.
11. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by TheCastro1689 · 2016-05-31 04:20 · Score: 1
  
  But they're doing it to TVs people already bought.
12. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by macs4all · 2016-05-31 04:21 · Score: 2
  
  and if it looks like something from idiocracy or the 90's news app "Pointcast" , where the viewable area of the screen is surrounded by blocks of ads with only a small window in the middle with actual content? no thanks, and good day Sir,....I said GOOD DAY SIR!
  I'm always reminded of the (then) hilarious SNL sketch "Newsforce", fake news broadcast, where Chyrons progressively take over the screen, until the announcers are eventually completely squeezed (squozen?) out of the picture entirely.
13. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by sjames · 2016-05-31 04:23 · Score: 1
  
  You won't get much of a bargain on that considering how much of that 60 inches will be consumed by commercials.
14. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by WaffleMonster · 2016-05-31 04:46 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Depends what they do with it. If they sell ads to sell you a less expensive TV, maybe a lot of people could jump in. If they sell me a 60" LCD 3DTV for 199$, I could accept the ads.
  All this does is fuel a death spiral to the bottom. Before you know it every TV is $199 and buying a display that does not demand an Internet connection, constant data collection (e.g. cyber stalking) and ad pushing are no longer for sale at any price.
  This very same thing that happened with the app stores. Everything must be free or token cost because that's what people expect. Before you know it the entirety of the business model for software is indistinguishable from spy/mal/ad ware. Those left willing to pay cost are then summarily ignored by the market.
15. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by HornWumpus · 2016-05-31 04:58 · Score: 2
  
  Exposed as a 720p device over HDMI. The borders are for ads. Idiocracy style.
  If they really get desperate, they degrade your device further and show more ads.
  
  --
  John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
16. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by HornWumpus · 2016-05-31 05:05 · Score: 1
  
  Ad data could be broadcast. It would less targeted, but they could make it work, degraded video over HDMI, border for ads the TV finds itself. Edge would be more than fast enough, considering how repetitive ads are.
  It could still be targeted. TV knows what you are watching and can pick an ad or 20.
  
  --
  John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
17. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:10 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  If you haven't seen it yet, see the "15 Million Merits" episode of "Black Mirror". (ad-free from Netflix, if you're not on a Samsung TV)
18. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:15 · Score: 1
  
  Will factory resets revert this? Sort of hard to make checkpoint backups of televisions...
  That's why I went with a dumb TV. The cost of Roku is offset by not paying the smart tv premium. Smart TVs become obsolete very quickly, whereas if the Roku becomes obsolete you can get a new one. Personally I'd avoid the TVs with Roku built in for that reason. Samsung won't easily be able to shove in ads on a Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, or other media player, and if they manage it somehow you just use a different player.
19. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:17 · Score: 2
  
  Oh, the irony! I can not watch the skit because my add blocker blocks the add in front of it! Hahahahah!
20. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:18 · Score: 1
  
  Disconnect the internet? Why does a TV need internet anyway as long as you're not dumb enough to jump on the smart tv bandwagon. Get an external media player and hook that to the internet instead. If those go bust, then the easy solution is to just stop watching tv. It's not mandatory.
21. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by TroII · 2016-05-31 07:17 · Score: 1
  
  Why does a TV need internet anyway as long as you're not dumb enough to jump on the smart tv bandwagon.
  In 5 years you may not be able to buy a dumb TV anymore, as manufacturers are shifting away from them. It's rather onerous to buy a dumb TV now, unless you want to order one online and deal with returning the first couple that show up broken. Go to any big box store and look at the big screen display televisions they have hooked up. Almost every one of them is internet enabled and some of them are internet required. As in, if you turn on your TV and it can't phone home to the mother ship, you aren't watching anything today. Not even from your DVD player.
  A TV is no longer an appliance that you buy, own, and use as you see fit. Having a TV in your home is quickly becoming a "service" that you must license and rent from a company like Samsung. Of course Samsung won't send you a monthly bill like the cable company does; they'll get their cut through the device itself, with always-on microphones, viewer analysis that would make the Neilsen ratings people cream their pants, unskippable advertising, and constant spying on your household to monetize you. This isn't tinfoil hat stuff, it's been evolving for a few years already.
  The masses will accept these Telescreen devices because the price goes down a couple hundred dollars. And the manufacturers will stop making televisions that don't do this shit. Give it a few years and trying to buy a dumb TV that doesn't require internet access will get you blank stares or laughed out of the store like you'd get if you tried to buy a CRT television today. You and I, who want to buy a TV without any of these "features," will be relegated to poking around at garage sales hoping to find one that still works.
  
  --
  "If there was a gay Afro-Puertorican Linux distribution, I'd give it a try" ~lucm
22. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by hesiod · 2016-05-31 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  if you tried to buy a CRT television today
  CRT TV? It's darn-near impossible to even find a 4:3 monitor these days. Get your stinking hippy widescreens off my lawn, you darn kids! I use my TV for movies, I don't need that on my PC!
23. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  I got my dumb tv at Sears. It was not one up on the display for eveyone because stores at the time were all big on the smart tv and 3d tv crap. They put up the tvs with the most features on display. But walk through them all and you find the ones that aren't premium, probably half of them. And everyone was cheaper than those with more features.
  And since you'll keep that tv for at least a decade, it's worth the effort to shop around.
24. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by macs4all · 2016-05-31 08:26 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, the irony! I can not watch the skit because my add blocker blocks the add in front of it! Hahahahah!
  That IS funny!
25. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by radarskiy · 2016-05-31 16:28 · Score: 1
  
  "to sell you a less expensive TV"
  -1, irrelevant
  They are putting ads on *already sold units*.
26. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Gussington · 2016-05-31 18:48 · Score: 1
  
  In 5 years you may not be able to buy a dumb TV anymore,
  You mean like a computer monitor?
27. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 19:36 · Score: 0
  
  Samsung are in no danger. They are a huge corporation that makes much more than just consumer electronics.
28. Re:Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 08:41 · Score: 0
  
  Worked for amazon kindle...
29. Re: Samsung employs the footgun ! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 13:33 · Score: 0
  
  Even better. Intel NUC with Linux Mint connected to my Samsung flat screen. Netflix and Amazon Prime through chrome browser and a large collection of ISOs on VLC media player. Haven't seen an ad in ages and the kids are puzzled when they happen to see one when we are in a hotel while traveling.
  Xbox controller and steam for games.
Let me get this straight... by ChodaBoyUSA · 2016-05-31 02:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

"The South Korean company, which has seen a 20.9% decline in television sales in Q1 of 2016 under fierce competition from China..." So they give consumers MORE reasons NOT to buy their TVs?!!!
1. Re:Let me get this straight... by geekmux · 2016-05-31 02:53 · Score: 1
  
  "The South Korean company, which has seen a 20.9% decline in television sales in Q1 of 2016 under fierce competition from China..." So they give consumers MORE reasons NOT to buy their TVs?!!!
  Yes, of course. Doesn't this make sense? If it doesn't, I'm sure they have an app you can download that will explain it, with pretty ads...
2. Re:Let me get this straight... by AmiMoJo · 2016-05-31 03:02 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Of course, that's how short term bonuses work. My local council did the same thing. Revenue from parking was declining because the city is a shitty and no-one wants to visit it, so the jacked up the prices to above the level of much more attractive destinations. For a few months it worked and the consultant justified his fees and buggered off.
  Once people had been stung once or revenues declined even further, naturally. But who cares, the guy got his bonus, another great success to put on his CV. Next quarter is someone else's problem.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
3. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:04 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  I'm a long time Samsung customer: Samsung TVs, fridge, dishwasher, multiple phones, and probably a few other things. I'm telling you right now - if they start injecting ads into my products I will NEVER buy from them again.
4. Re:Let me get this straight... by DigitalSorceress · 2016-05-31 03:07 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  100% agree.
  Samsung used to be my go-to for monitors and TVs and such, but if they're going to start injecting ads on my TV, I will remove them from consideration next time I need to update.
  I will remove any TV from consideration that exhibits this behavior. I will vote with my wallet.
  
  --
  
  The Digital Sorceress
5. Re:Let me get this straight... by mlts · 2016-05-31 03:26 · Score: 1
  
  I used to respect Samsung, but if they keep doing that, I will just buy my next TV from their Chinese competitors, which won't have that issue.
  I'm content with TVs being TVs... no WAN connection needed. Plus, there are many devices which do the job better than "smart" TVs. A Roku model, Chromecast, AppleTV, or a HTPC is a lot more useful.
6. Re:Let me get this straight... by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · 2016-05-31 03:36 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Roku/Chromecast/AppleTV/HTPC + dumb computer monitor.
  Sure, you won't be able to find a 60" display but at least you'll be 100% sure that your display won't start spying on you or display unwanted things.
7. Re:Let me get this straight... by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 03:39 · Score: 1
  
  I wouldn't buy a Samsung TV anyway: they're all "smart TVs" now so naturally they're going to be prone to this kind of crap. Stick with the dumb TVs. I'm pretty sure Seiki still sells good-quality dumb TVs, maybe Vizio too.
8. Re:Let me get this straight... by CanadianMacFan · 2016-05-31 03:52 · Score: 1
  
  Don't just stop buying from them. They've noticed a drop in sales and are doing these stupid things in response. Send them an email explaining why you won't buy their products until they change their ways. They probably won't even respond let alone change their ways. But at the very least how can you expect them to change if you don't inform them. Maybe if enough people did this then they would change. Perhaps they aren't getting hit by the Chinese manufacturers but it's just many people not buying their TVs and not letting Samsung know why.
9. Re:Let me get this straight... by BarbaraHudson · 2016-05-31 03:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  They're just copying the new microsoft windows model.
  
  --
  "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
10. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:55 · Score: 0
  
  Didn't they ever play Sim City 2000?
11. Re:Let me get this straight... by steveg · 2016-05-31 04:02 · Score: 2
  
  I thought about doing something like this, but when I went looking for a "dumb computer monitor" of appropriate size, it turned out it was *much* more expensive than any TV.
  
  --
  Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
12. Re:Let me get this straight... by pr0fessor · 2016-05-31 04:09 · Score: 1
  
  lovely let's start an annoying ad campaign to get people to sign a petition against annoying ads
13. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:11 · Score: 0
  
  professional digital signage displays, cheaper than tvs
14. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:14 · Score: 0
  
  not to mention all the spying features built into 'smart' tv's - you think they'd learn something!
15. Re:Let me get this straight... by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2016-05-31 04:44 · Score: 2
  
  Even better: Tweet them, let the rest of the world see your complaint.
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
16. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:48 · Score: 0
  
  I am so glad I just repaired my Panasonic plasma TV. Hopefully, it will be a few years before I need to buy a TV.
17. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:51 · Score: 0
  
  I'm pretty sure your wacky off-brands don't sell watchable TVs at all. I buy Samsung TVs, because they have the best picture in the showroom for a reasonable price. I'd have to move up to an OLED for a better picture.
18. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:57 · Score: 0
  
  If ads work for Samsung, you can bet all the nice Chinese manufacturers will do likewise.
19. Re:Let me get this straight... by IMightB · 2016-05-31 04:58 · Score: 1
  
  No kidding, my first reaction was "Guess who I won't be buying my next TV from"
20. Re:Let me get this straight... by CanadianMacFan · 2016-05-31 05:01 · Score: 1
  
  Where did I say start an ad campaign? I just said to write a letter. I didn't say anything about trying to get other people to write letters.
21. Re:Let me get this straight... by ripvlan · 2016-05-31 05:03 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds like Color Printers. Buy them cheap and then pay a lot of money on the consumables. But wait - I spent $2,000 buying my fancy TV and now they want to "inject" ads into it?
  My problems with this ad model is that I can't opt out. Think of regular TV - I can watch network TV "for free" and view ads.... or purchase HBO/Netflix/etc for the ad-free experience. How will I opt out in this model?
  Spending $2,000 apparently wasn't enough.
22. Re:Let me get this straight... by pr0fessor · 2016-05-31 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry, I just thought that's where it would have to go before it would do any good.
23. Re:Let me get this straight... by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 05:13 · Score: 1
  
  Can you give examples? The only examples I found were large-format displays that were incredibly low resolution. Like a 1/10th scale jumbotron (which you can already see the individual pixels on from 100m away), not a large TV. They are usually focused on being too bright, so you can have them in a store-front with sunlight on them, and still be usable. I like a TV in a cave, with good color rendering and crisp picture.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
24. Re:Let me get this straight... by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 05:21 · Score: 1
  
  The problem is that today, people have 5-10 devices attached to their TV. in the '70s, you had maybe one VCR. In the '80s, you had a VCR and a game-console (often such that they both ran on channel 3, and you could only have one on at a time). Now, you have 2-3 consoles, a DVD player you don't use (because all the game consoles play DVDs and 2/3 of the big-3 play Blu-Ray), plus one or more media players (some prefer the HD-based off-line players with piles of ripped DVDs on them, others prefer the online Roku/Chromecast/AppleTV based online content streamers).
  
  So obviously, the TV makers tried to make our lives easier by including as much as possible. Playing disks is hard, and takes additional hardware. Including storage takes hardware. So the easy target is to have some manner of media-streamer. And that requires being connected. So, if you have to be connected, what else can they do? Ads? Great, lets serve ads. Now the bonus feature is a liability. A Smart TV is an annoyance, not a desireable thing.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
25. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:24 · Score: 0
  
  unfortunaly no... we order straight from catalogs from samsung, the only downside is most of them don't have sound, on the other hand most are 1080p, anti reflex, extra bright (configurable), extra long mtbf, videowall ready
26. Re:Let me get this straight... by CanadianMacFan · 2016-05-31 05:33 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, in order for it to do any good many people would have to do this. I don't know how to achieve this. It's just something that I do when I take my business elsewhere because a company can't change if they don't know why I'm moving. It's also handy when dealing with the new business if they make me unhappy because I can remind them that they only have my business as I switched to them. They normally shape up pretty quick.
  I stopped buying from Adidas because they continued supporting FIFA. I wrote them but they never replied so I sent a tweet to their account about it but didn't get a reply there too. So I won't be buying their shoes again. When dealing with larger companies maybe writing a letter and sending a tweet to try and build a viral campaign might be required. But I wouldn't start spamming everyone about it. Just one tweet to say what I did and why.
27. Re:Let me get this straight... by sexconker · 2016-05-31 05:37 · Score: 2
  
  2016 Vizios beat the pants off of 2016 Samsungs in terms of quality. At half the price. (I couldn't believe it either. I read all about it on AVS forum then I schlepped out to a Best Buy to see it for myself. 2016 Vizio P series.)
  If ads are their response, then it's over.
28. Re:Let me get this straight... by Rob+Y. · 2016-05-31 06:12 · Score: 1
  
  Has Samsung started making their stuff in China - just like all the American companies do? If so, they're being undercut by the same model they used to undercut their competition before they all started doing it too. If not, I kind of feel their pain - but this is still a lousy way to compensate.
  At some point companies or governments are going to have to do something about the race to the bottom in manufacturing. Either China remains 3rd world (if they still are...), and goes back to making dumb trinkets, or they nurture a real (i.e. well-payed) middle class that's able to buy stuff as well as produce it. In either case, free trade is supposed to be about actual trade - as in I buy what you make and you buy what I make. But it's become I buy what you make and you make what I pretend to 'make'. That's not trade - it's exploitation, circumvention of labor and environmental laws, etc. In a way, it's good that this is coming back to bite big companies like Samsung and Apple. Maybe they have the clout to change it.
  
  --
  Posted from my Android phone. Oh, I can change this? There, that's better...
29. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  You can get the 60" display, just don't connect it to the internet. Get the dumb-tv variant, which is always a better idea than paying a premium for an inferior media service.
30. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  However dumb televisions are still cheaper than smart televisions.
31. Re:Let me get this straight... by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:27 · Score: 1
  
  I used to respect Samsung, but if they keep doing that, I will just buy my next TV from their Chinese competitors, which won't have that issue.
  I'm content with TVs being TVs... no WAN connection needed. Plus, there are many devices which do the job better than "smart" TVs. A Roku model, Chromecast, AppleTV, or a HTPC is a lot more useful.
  I guess you never had one of their crapware loaded phones or tablets, or this would not surprise you.
32. Re:Let me get this straight... by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:29 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  not to mention all the spying features built into 'smart' tv's - you think they'd learn something!
  They did... That most people are fucking idiots that will trade their privacy for a $5 off coupon.
33. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:32 · Score: 1
  
  I've got a dumb Seiki. A good decision on my part, and I don't have many of those. If Samsung doesn't sell dumb TVs then that's another reason to avoid them completely. If someone is buying a television to last for a decade or two (and that's not a stretch goal) then the hardware that makes the tv "smart" is going to be the first thing to become obsolete; it's as dumb as buying an automobile with internet upgradeable features.
34. Re:Let me get this straight... by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  Plasma TVs suck: they consume a huge amount of power, and they're prone to burn-in and fading, so if for example you watch narrow-width programs on a wide-screen plasma TV, this will show up on the screen over time. Also, plasmas have a limited lifespan; the screen gets dimmer as it ages.
  It'd be better for you to pick up a good LED-backlit LCD "dumb TV" while you still can, because these avoid these problems. Pretty soon, you'll only be able to buy a "smart TV" which not only shows you ads, but actually requires an internet connection to work at all.
35. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  Seiki is not an off-brand. Probably has most of the hardware identical to Samsung. But if you're so intent on the best picture in the showroom, then you're probably buying a new TV every year.
36. Re:Let me get this straight... by bzipitidoo · 2016-05-31 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not that impressed with the small Vizio smart TV I got a couple of years ago. (24 inch, the smallest, cheapest model they offered.) It's got a lot of capabilities, but it could have a lot more if it wasn't intentionally crippled with corporate style restrictions. There's no reason whatsoever it can't surf to any web site on the Internet, but they omitted such capability. You can only access a very small set of approved sites: Youtube, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, and about a dozen others. Use it for Youtube, and it subjects you to ads, because it doesn't do ad blocking of course. The interface is miserably slow, have to use arrow buttons on the remote to walk a cursor over an alphabet to type in words. Would it really be so hard to put an alphabetic keyboard on the remote control?. Compared to an old PC, the smart TV stinks at accessing the Internet.
  I'm guessing other brands of so called smart TVs are no better. Meh, I very rarely watch TV anyway.
  
  --
  Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
37. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  Sounds like a family that needs to start a budget and start saying "no" to the kids. One console, one media player, one DVD or blu-ray player (optional), and nothing built-in to the TV since that costs extra. When the kids complain that they don't have the best console then take it away and give them a book. Stop buying things with all the features because money is plentiful and start buying by assuming you might be unemployed someday or have unexpected medical bills.
38. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  You absolutely CAN opt out. Disconnect the TV from the internet. Then start streaming using Roku, AppleTV, Chromecast, or whatever. If they TV refuses to show a picture without being on the internet, then that's a valuable lesson learned about the low correlation of price to quality.
39. Re:Let me get this straight... by sexconker · 2016-05-31 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  All "Smart" TVs are trash. Just use a dedicated PC and hook it up to the TV. You can get a tiny PC for super cheap now. The only thing you lose out on is extra DRMd shit like surround sound on Netflix because they don't feed that through to a standard browser. Personally, I use a PS3 (soon to be PS4 once they reveal the revision) for Netflix.
40. Re:Let me get this straight... by amRadioHed · 2016-05-31 06:56 · Score: 1
  
  The ones I've seen online had no tuner and no speakers plus were more expensive than an ordinary smart tv. Real bargain for sure.
  
  --
  We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
41. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 09:06 · Score: 0
  
  Will you also stop using their RAM, SSDs, processors, phones, etc?
  Fighting with your wallet is great and encouraged, but we need a better and more global way of expressing our issues to these global companies... No I do not have a solution.
42. Re:Let me get this straight... by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 09:58 · Score: 1
  
  This is a Tech site. I imagine more are like me than the average. I don't use a tuner or sound in my TV. The tuner is a separate box, and the sound is from a "real" system. So getting a 50% discount on a TV because it comes with a single HDMI, no tuner, no sound, and no remote (or ability to use one) would be fine with lots of geeks, but the companies see people like me as the high value customers, so make it hard (to impossible) to get the high-end displays in a non-TV configuration. In practice, it's more expensive for me to buy the displays than a TV.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
43. Re:Let me get this straight... by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 10:00 · Score: 1
  
  The kids read much more than "average" (and average is quite poor). And play outside much more than average as well. All your assumptions are wrong, but we all appreciate you judging anyone that doesn't live exactly the way you think we should.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
44. Re: Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 10:03 · Score: 0
  
  Cost was cheaper for smart with faster processor at 4K. The issue for us was up scaling 1080p to 4K with smoothing so wife can sit 3-4ft away and read the screen
45. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 10:27 · Score: 0
  
  Unless the TV is network connected over DP ... my Samsung won't ever send a byte of data anywhere. Or upgrade firmware, or show live ads.
46. Re:Let me get this straight... by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 11:24 · Score: 1
  
  I'm not that impressed with the small Vizio smart TV I got a couple of years ago.
  Is that Vizio any worse at these things than the competition? I'm pretty sure the answer is "no". All those "smart TVs" suck in the ways you complain about.
  What's important is how the Vizio compares to its competitors like Samsung: how much does it cost, and how good is the picture? That's it. (Maybe: how good are the built-in speakers) If you like the old PC for accessing the internet, then plug that into the TV instead. If you don't like the PC's user interface while you're on the couch, then please show me a better alternative; if there isn't one on the market, then your complaints don't make sense, unless you're just complaining about smart TVs in general. It's not fair to pick on one brand when they're all bad in the same way.
47. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 11:33 · Score: 0
  
  Projector...current size: 72" but once I get around to converting my basement into a media room it should 120"+
48. Re:Let me get this straight... by Rakarra · 2016-05-31 13:42 · Score: 1
  
  because all the game consoles play DVDs and 2/3 of the big-3 play Blu-Ray
  Many of my co-workers bought Playstation 3s close to the launch date because they're good-quality Blu-Ray players while being much cheaper than a good-quality standalone player.
49. Re:Let me get this straight... by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 15:38 · Score: 1
  
  And the PS3 was first to 3D (one of the few non-3D Blu-Ray that was upgraded to play 3D once the standard was done). And always plays the newest disks without error, something most others don't do. And, it's faster to boot and start playing than many players of a similar price. Though the price of players has dropped greatly since introduction, but for a long while the best blu-ray player was the PS3. That's my PS3's main use in our house.
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
50. Re:Let me get this straight... by sad_ · 2016-05-31 22:56 · Score: 1
  
  What the? just don't connect your TV to a network.
  Mine isn't, works just fine without it too!
  
  --
  On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
51. Re:Let me get this straight... by Cederic · 2016-06-01 00:18 · Score: 1
  
  Stop buying? I just emailed them telling them that if they impose ads then they owe me two new TVs, and if necessarily I'll take court action to reclaim the cost.
  I did also mention the number of Samsung electronic devices I own, and that they'll lose future custom.
  Problem is that I'm running of out TV suppliers. Sony are obviously banned, LG were using their TVs to spy on customers and now Samsung.. looks like it'll be Panasonic next.
52. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 01:08 · Score: 0
  
  That's exactly what I look for when buying a TV. Sure it has a 65' screen and high refresh rate, but can it spam me?
53. Re:Let me get this straight... by ripvlan · 2016-06-01 01:35 · Score: 1
  
  Very true. ...do we trust Roku/AppleTV/Chromecast to maintain the clean UI we all want? They have access to an ad network behind the scenes and silently suck up the data and put it to use. The world is tipping in the direction of non-stop advertising. There have been lots of crystal-ball fortunes told that ads will be everywhere - on walls, floors, your cellphone will popup locality based ads etc.
  We've seen the movies and read the books - will our future really be this abysmal?
  I use cash once in awhile hoping to stick it to the man.
54. Re:Let me get this straight... by cthulhu11 · 2016-06-01 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  .. or 60% of wanted things, given the very incomplete set of shows available on such devices.
55. Re:Let me get this straight... by Cederic · 2016-06-01 05:16 · Score: 1
  
  Samsungs reply (excerpt):
  
  In regards to your query, we will not be releasing a software update for advertisements. Please be informed that Samsung TV owners will not get advertisements that are installed on the TV. If you have questions, please contact us and we will be more than happy to assist you.
  So there you have it. International press misunderstanding, or someone lying?
56. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 05:16 · Score: 0
  
  Harrisburg, PA? Could be any smaller-sized city I suppose consider they are grasping at straws to keep themselves afloat.
57. Re:Let me get this straight... by Darinbob · 2016-06-01 06:16 · Score: 1
  
  The thing is, if Roku changes, you dump it and get Chromecast. If that changes you dump it and get AppleTV. Etc. Those devices are cheap. Someone else will come along and make yet another competitor to them. Dumping an expensive smart tv is a lot harder and wasteful.
58. Re:Let me get this straight... by bzipitidoo · 2016-06-01 06:54 · Score: 1
  
  Let me amend what I said. Actually, I am impressed by what smart TVs could do. But I am disgusted at the intentional crippling. No, I don't think Vizio is alone, I think the whole smart TV market is corporate Internet. Alternatives? Since the market isn't for whatever reason finding it profitable to give consumers more, only real alternative at this time is to use a computer. Include a video card with a TV tuner, and hardware to receive signals from universal remote controls. I know there are some nice programs that basically turn a PC with such equipment into a TV and a DVR, though I can't name any offhand.
  That said, a remote with a full keyboard would be nice. But if that's too many buttons, why not at least employ the numeric keypad? Could type 2 digits for each letter, 01 for 'a', 20 for 't', and so on.
  
  --
  Intellectual Property is a monopolistic, selfish, and defective concept. It is "tyranny over the mind of man"
59. Re:Let me get this straight... by cwsumner · 2016-06-01 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  The ones I've seen online had no tuner and no speakers plus were more expensive than an ordinary smart tv. Real bargain for sure.
  Well, of course you have to pay more to avoid the adds. But if you don't buy it, the money will be gone anyway in a week.
  On the other hand, if you buy the add supported TV, the adds will be there every day -forever-.
60. Re: Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 13:35 · Score: 0
  
  This 10 times.
61. Re: Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 13:45 · Score: 0
  
  Netflix through chrome on Linux Mint works fine.
62. Re:Let me get this straight... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 19:09 · Score: 0
  
  https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/jvc-65-inches165cm-uhd-led-lcd-tv-lt-65nu50a
  I've got one of these plugged into my HTPC.
  It's a tv, not a smart tv.
  Rocket League is rather awesome on it, as is The Witcher 3!
  And since I can get this in Australia, in December last year, I'm sure the USA has bigger, cheaper 4K tvs (having no "Australia tax").
63. Re:Let me get this straight... by Chrontius · 2016-06-01 22:32 · Score: 1
  
  ... Not lately. The only 1080p set I found in 32" or smaller was a $200 smart TV.
64. Re:Let me get this straight... by toddestan · 2016-06-04 11:37 · Score: 1
  
  Given the quality of TVs nowadays, it's a crapshoot whether a new LED-backlit LCD will outlast the plasma. Sure, the LCD should, in theory, last a very long time but in reality the power supply board will probably crap out in a few years. Even more so if it's a Samsung as that's the one place they really cheap out.
65. Re: Let me get this straight... by toddestan · 2016-06-04 11:38 · Score: 1
  
  Because Chrome has DRM in it, duh.
What the fing f ?! by dywolf · 2016-05-31 02:48 · Score: 2

Seriously what the hell!

--
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
1. Re:What the fing f ?! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2016-05-31 03:08 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  The nasty thing about upgradeable firmware is that it effectively means that hardware is governed by all the various nasty terms, conditions, EULAs, licensed-not-solds, and subject-to-change-without-notice that software is.
  
  It's times like this when Stallman's vociferous demand for nothing less than fully free software as a necessary condition of user control looks more like lucid foresight and less like blinkered monomania. The issue was largely dormant back when firmware upgrades were hard and internet connections were the exception rather than the rule; but now it is eminently practical for a vendor to extend their control over something they supposedly sold to you more or less in perpetuity.
2. Re:What the fing f ?! by AmiMoJo · 2016-05-31 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  What happens if you decline the new EULA?
  If my TV did this I'd return it to the shop for a refund. I bought it to avoid ads (that's what the smart features are for, watching media without ads) and now it's not fit for purpose.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
3. Re:What the fing f ?! by msauve · 2016-05-31 03:42 · Score: 1
  
  There's no need for a EULA. You're not making a copy of anything, the firmware comes pre-installed on the device. So, there's no need for the end user to agree to any sort of EULA in order to use the device. Even for a firmware upgrade, there's no need for a license, the consumer isn't copying the firmware, the manufacturer is, by pushing it to the device.
  
  --
  "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
4. Re:What the fing f ?! by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 04:26 · Score: 2
  
  Exactly: people laughed and mocked Stallman for his principles and advocacy of Free software, and now look at how things are turning out: he's been proven right. But people made their choice, and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Part of me is laughing my ass off about a lot of stuff going on these days like this, or like Windows 10 and all the stuff people complain about there, because people have done it to themselves. I think the future is likely to turn out like a hellish cross between 1984 and Minority Report, and I have a weird feeling I'm going to be gleefully watching my fellow humans suffer in misery in my old age, and I won't have any sympathy whatsoever.
5. Re:What the fing f ?! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2016-05-31 05:29 · Score: 1
  
  Hey, be fair. In 1984 The Party provided telescreens to the masses. We have to buy ours.
6. Re:What the fing f ?! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 06:10 · Score: 0
  
  That's not what the smart features are for.
  The smart features are for Samsung being able to insert themselves as a middleman and channel for advertisement, without interference from the networks or content providers.
7. Re:What the fing f ?! by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:39 · Score: 1
  
  Yep, 1984 wasn't that bad that way. In the near future, not only will they make sure our telescreens spy on us, they'll require us to have them, and we'll be required to buy them, since ObamaCare already established the precedent that the government can force you to pay for something, from a private party, that it thinks you need.
  (And just to be clear, I do believe people should have health care and coverage for it, but not from private insurance companies; if the government thinks we need it, it should provide it directly in the form of universal healthcare, just like it already does with Medicare.)
8. Re:What the fing f ?! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:15 · Score: 0
  
  Weren't those telescreens only given to party members so the state could keep tabs? The proletariat normally never had them and I suspect the one that catches Winston at the end was installed to catch them in the act when someone tipped the state off.
9. Re:What the fing f ?! by Agronomist+Cowherd · 2016-06-01 06:09 · Score: 1
  
  But that's SOCIALISM!!!!11!bang!!
  I was all for single-payer. So were most Democrats, but the theory was that single-payer wouldn't fly with the Republicans, so we got Romney-care relabelled as Obama-care to get it to pass. In hindsight, as I recall, they couldn't get any Republicans to vote for it anyway, so the pandering to delicate Republican sensibilities (probably also pandering to DINOs) was useless. Should have had the single-payer, government option in there as well.
  
  --
  -DwS
10. Re:What the fing f ?! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 07:08 · Score: 0
  
  Right, no need to return the TV. Just write them a letter and tell them you don't agree.
11. Re:What the fing f ?! by Grishnakh · 2016-06-01 15:38 · Score: 1
  
  Nope, you got the whitewashed story there.
  The real story is that the "single payer won't fly with Republicans" idea was made up to sell to the Democratic voters as an excuse as to why they couldn't do it. In reality, the Democrats never had any intention of pursuing single-payer, because the Democratic Party is a actually right-wing party that is in the pocket of the health insurance industry, and single-payer would put that whole industry out of business.
  This is why we're seeing a huge nasty fight between the Bernie and Hillary sides of the party now. Bernie represents the left-wing side that wants stuff like single-payer, while Hillary represents the right-wing side (which is the dominant side by far) that wants stuff like more private prisons, more payday loan stores, more IP laws, and more wars in the middle east.
12. Re:What the fing f ?! by toddestan · 2016-06-04 11:53 · Score: 1
  
  That doesn't mean that they won't try to stick a EULA on there anyway in a further attempt to further restrict what you can do with your television. It would almost certainly be completely unenforceable though.
Oh Hell No by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 02:49 · Score: 0

Lawsuit incoming I'm sure.
So if I want more ads by rossdee · 2016-05-31 02:49 · Score: 1

I should buy a Samsung TV
But what if I don't want ads?
1. Re:So if I want more ads by whitelabrat · 2016-05-31 02:52 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Don't connect the TV to the internet. No internet, no ads. Use an external device for providing content.
2. Re:So if I want more ads by lobiusmoop · 2016-05-31 02:59 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Get used to it, it's the inevitable future of TV.
  
  --
  "I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
3. Re:So if I want more ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:23 · Score: 0
  
  Came to post that, first thing I thought of.
4. Re:So if I want more ads by SumDog · 2016-05-31 03:26 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  That's what I did years ago when I had a Samsung TV. I never connected it to my network and just played torrented content.
5. Re:So if I want more ads by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 03:27 · Score: 1
  
  But what if I don't want ads?
  Then don't watch TV. You may have to wear a blindfold and earplugs if you need to avoid ads entirely in this world.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
6. Re:So if I want more ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 07:59 · Score: 0
  
  Except the firmware that comes with the TV is usually buggy and needs update to function properly. It is shitty by design so you have to update.
7. Re:So if I want more ads by cobogeri · 2016-05-31 12:24 · Score: 1
  
  It is shitty by design so you have to update.
  Initial power on didn't look bad on a 2015 Samsung. Did not connect it to the internet. HAD the firmware not displayed the content from my Roku box, or had it asked for an UPDATE in the first 89.421 days, it would have GONE BACK to big box store.
8. Re:So if I want more ads by Gussington · 2016-05-31 18:54 · Score: 1
  
  That's what I did years ago when I had a Samsung TV. I never connected it to my network and just played torrented content.
  I have a Samsung Smart TV but don't use the Smart part because it's such a piece of shit.
  Get yourself any of the numerous streaming media boxes and a computer with Bittorrent and no more problems.
9. Re:So if I want more ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 23:29 · Score: 0
  
  just wait until the "analytics" and injected ads are worth enough to warrant baking a 3/4g radio into every television. then it won't matter if you connect to the internets yourself or not, the television will have its own connection to upload metrics and download new ads and nothing short of living in the absolute most remote corners of the country or inside a faraday cage will stop it. that time is coming -- and sooner than one might think.
10. Re:So if I want more ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 08:38 · Score: 0
  
  The ads are already there, static from factory.
  Internet connection just refreshes them.
Lawyer-bait! by haemish · 2016-05-31 02:50 · Score: 2

A key success metric will be milliseconds-to-first-lawsuit. 4 digits? 5? It'll sure be a non-Samsung shopping opportunity for me if my TV starts exhibiting this behavior.
1. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  What are you going to sue for? You agree to this when you agreed to the EULA. Have fun with all your ads, suckers!
2. Re:Lawyer-bait! by sexconker · 2016-05-31 05:41 · Score: 1
  
  I didn't agree to any EULA or ToS. Even if I did click an "agree" button or some shit, neither are valid contracts.
3. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:36 · Score: 1
  
  While I personally agree with you, the court system does not. EULAs (including "click-wrap" licenses) have been upheld in court. And good luck financing a legal case against one of these companies.
4. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 11:35 · Score: 0
  
  If the advertisements for the old TVs made no mention of ads, and all the ads for the TV showed an ad-free experience, you could try to sue them for false advertising, since the product has ads now.
5. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 11:43 · Score: 1
  
  The advertisements probably made no mention of every single app or web service the TV was capable of either.
  Besides, how much is it going to cost you to sue them for a $500 TV, and to give them proper service of process?
6. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 18:15 · Score: 0
  
  Maybe in the US... Not where i live. Contracts cannot be forced upon a customer after the time of purchase.
  If not presented and signed before the purchase it is invalid.
7. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Cederic · 2016-06-01 00:24 · Score: 1
  
  Â£35, and I can add that fee to the claim, since you ask.
  https://www.gov.uk/make-court-...
8. Re:Lawyer-bait! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 07:03 · Score: 0
  
  In a US court, they will argue that you did agree, and offer as evidence the fact that since you clicked some thing, you probably agreed. That's all it is: evidence. Whereas if you now write them a letter saying "I don't agree", that would be evidence to the contrary. Is it fair? No, but that's the way it is.
used to be a huge samsung fan by Idimmu+Xul · 2016-05-31 02:50 · Score: 1

they can now go and fuck themselves

--
The problem with slashdot is that most of its users were bullied and stuffed into lockers as kids!
1. Re:used to be a huge samsung fan by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:08 · Score: 0
  
  I also used to be a big Samsung fan but they'll not get another penny out of my again. Between this and the apps that Samsung shoves onto your phone without your permission. Are they trying to drive themselves out of business? Let me guess a new marketing VP that is soooo excited about the new advertising revenue stream.
2. Re:used to be a huge samsung fan by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:18 · Score: 0
  
  Oh please, almost no one's going to stop buying Samsung TVs because of this. People just aren't that smart. Samsung's TV revenues have fallen because there's cheaper competition that looks just as good. So they're going to make more money on their remaining loyal customers by showing them ads. Many people are going to continue to buy Samsung just because the price is higher and they're seen as more prestigious, so just like lots of people happily buy BMWs and then pay small fortunes to repair them, lots of people will continue to buy Samsungs and then happily watch the ads because they'll convince themselves that after paying all that money for something that's no better than a cheaper alternative, that the ads are part of the wonderful experience.
Never a single useful update by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 02:58 · Score: 0

I love how they don't provide any useful updates to the software at all ever, just more measures to try and stop SamyGO and now adding in ads. I have auto updates turned off and any access to the Internet from the TV blocked at my router. They can go fuck themselves.
1. Re:Never a single useful update by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:08 · Score: 1
  
  I've got a probably 5 year old LG "Smart TV". Once in a while it pops up a message saying it wants to download and install a 400 MB software update. Stupidly, it does this when you turn it on to watch something. Sure, I have 22 minutes to watch the Big Bang Theory that I recorded on TiVo. Let's spend that time updating the damn TV. Not. The first few times, I let it do that - hoping beyond hope that it would fix the god damned thing. You see, it takes 30 seconds to switch inputs on this terrible TV. Press the menu button, wait while it loads, choose input select, wait while that loads and finds any DLNA sources, etc. Realize that "HDMI 1" is conveniently on screen two. Switch to screen two. Select the input and press it. Select it again because it didn't "highlight" the first time. It finally changes. But their software updates are more designed to spy on you than fix issues. It turns out it is better to not connect the damn thing to your network at all.
  
  Looks like Samsung is now another that just won't get connected to a network. There is no point in connecting these anyway. Their apps are all terrible junk that is beaten all to hell by Roku, Chromecast, etc.
2. Re:Never a single useful update by macs4all · 2016-05-31 04:44 · Score: 1
  
  I've got a probably 5 year old LG "Smart TV". Once in a while it pops up a message saying it wants to download and install a 400 MB software update. Stupidly, it does this when you turn it on to watch something. Sure, I have 22 minutes to watch the Big Bang Theory that I recorded on TiVo. Let's spend that time updating the damn TV. Not. The first few times, I let it do that - hoping beyond hope that it would fix the god damned thing. You see, it takes 30 seconds to switch inputs on this terrible TV. Press the menu button, wait while it loads, choose input select, wait while that loads and finds any DLNA sources, etc. Realize that "HDMI 1" is conveniently on screen two. Switch to screen two. Select the input and press it. Select it again because it didn't "highlight" the first time. It finally changes. But their software updates are more designed to spy on you than fix issues. It turns out it is better to not connect the damn thing to your network at all. Looks like Samsung is now another that just won't get connected to a network. There is no point in connecting these anyway. Their apps are all terrible junk that is beaten all to hell by Roku, Chromecast, etc.
  I have an LG "Smart TV" from about 4 years ago (that came with a DAMNABLE, hard-to-use, Wii-like Remote. But my TV has the same terrible menu structure as what you described.
  
  However, because the TV actually DOES support both IR and WiFi commands to do many of the menu'ed things with a single command, there are two ways around it:
  
  1. Get one of the free LG "controller" Apps for your favorite Mobile Device. I know of at least two on the iOS App Store. I assume that there is at least one on Google Play. At least one of those has a "one-click" Input Selector.
  2. Get a Logitech Harmony Remote. Not shilling; but the people who put together the Control Definitions must have super-secret knowledge; because not only do they have VERY useful remote commands, like a SEPARATE "Power On" and "Power Off" (not just "Power Toggle"), but also the ability to do nice things like "One-Command" Input Selection.
  
  I used to use the controller App on my iPad; but since I got the Harmony Remote, life with my LG TV is GREAT! Best $50 I ever spent ($52 on Amazon to be precise).
3. Re:Never a single useful update by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:40 · Score: 1
  
  Looks like Samsung is now another that just won't get connected to a network. There is no point in connecting these anyway.
  Wrong. There's already TVs that you have to connect to the internet or they won't work at all. Surely Samsung will just do this (if they haven't already).
  Personally, I think this stuff is great. It's fun to see how much crap consumers will put up with.
Cool! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:05 · Score: 1

This means Samsung is going to refund me part of the cost of the TV, right? Because I sure as hell didn't pay full price only to help them to subsidize their poor business with additional ad revenue.
1. Re:Cool! by TheCastro1689 · 2016-05-31 04:23 · Score: 1
  
  Don't know why you are down voted, I agree with this completely.
2. Re:Cool! by Cederic · 2016-06-01 00:28 · Score: 1
  
  "part" of the cost? No. I bought a TV for use with no ads, I want a TV I can use with no ads.
  If Samsung prevent me using the TV they made with no ads then they owe me a new fucking TV.
Fuck All Ads. by zenlessyank · 2016-05-31 03:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

I'm done with ads. I will pirate ad free. Forever and ever. You can't make me like your ads. I am not watching nor participating. Arrest me now fuckheads. I hope all ad companies die and I hope all companies who support ads die. Find another way to make money or fuck off forever.
1. Re:Fuck All Ads. by CanadianMacFan · 2016-05-31 03:56 · Score: 1
  
  Yes but this TV will show you ads with your pirated content. The ads are separate from what is being shown so it doesn't matter if you are watching a DVD, cable, streaming content, or something you downloaded.
2. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:15 · Score: 0
  
  I hope all companies who support ads die.
  That set includes companies that produce content. You might want to revise that "forever and ever" statement.
3. Re:Fuck All Ads. by WaffleMonster · 2016-05-31 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  I'm done with ads. I will pirate ad free. Forever and ever. You can't make me like your ads. I am not watching nor participating.
  Find another way to make money or fuck off forever.
  They already have.
  http://www.consumerreports.org...
4. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  I've got my firewall set up to let my TV's IP reach out to Netflix, but pretty much nowhere else. Can't talk to the ad server, can't show ads.
5. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:12 · Score: 0
  
  The next step of that tech is to automatically sue you when it detects something it thinks you don't have a license for. This is also coming to a mobile phone near you.
6. Re:Fuck All Ads. by zenlessyank · 2016-05-31 05:18 · Score: 1
  
  Then it is time to start killing fuckers. Sign me up.
7. Re:Fuck All Ads. by BitZtream · 2016-05-31 06:51 · Score: 0
  
  So ... You steal all your content instead.
  Pot, here's a kettle, your both black as fucking midnight.
  If you want to protest, DONT WATCH TV.
  NOT WANTING TO WATCH ADS DOES NOT JUSTIFY BEING A THEIF AND TAKING WHEN YOU CLEARLY DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION, you immature selfish fucking asshole.
  I don't watch ads either, I pay directly for my content via Netflix and iTunes. No ads, and not a thief.
  Your just a pathetic thief using this bullshit as an excuse. Not liking a service doesn't justify stealing that service.
  
  --
  Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
8. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  Oh look, it's bitztream, the autism-hating Slashdot troll.
9. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  So ... You steal all your content instead.
  So, you're happy with paying for something (a TV), and it spying on you and presenting you with something you didn't pay for/want (ads).
  You must love getting raped in the ass. The rest of us don't, dumbass.
10. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:51 · Score: 0
  
  Hmm.... Excessive, pointless use of all-caps. That's a clear sign of autism.
11. Re:Fuck All Ads. by Cederic · 2016-06-01 00:30 · Score: 1
  
  I bought a fucking TV from Samsung, I did not buy a media service, a content service or a fucking ad delivery platform.
  How is expecting my television to show me television content and provide the internet enabled capabilities I paid for without adding ads that weren't mentioned when I bought it theft?
  Are you really that fucking stupid?
12. Re:Fuck All Ads. by mink · 2016-06-01 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  What ports do I block in my firewall?
  
  --
  Well I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years doctor, and I'm happy to say I finally won out over it.
no ads on Apple TV by Brannon · 2016-05-31 03:07 · Score: 2

just saying...
1. Re:no ads on Apple TV by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:19 · Score: 0
  
  Does someone really need to explain to you the difference between "a Samsung TV" and "Apple TV"?
2. Re:no ads on Apple TV by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:31 · Score: 0
  
  No TV either.
3. Re:no ads on Apple TV by Whatanut · 2016-05-31 04:00 · Score: 1
  
  Does someone really need to explain to you the underlying concept of using "Apple TV" features rather than the built-in "Samsung TV" features?
  Just means still get a smart TV but use the smarts from some other device or get a dumb TV and do the same.
  
  --
  
  yvan eht nioj
4. Re:no ads on Apple TV by houghi · 2016-05-31 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  ... yet.
  
  --
  Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
5. Re:no ads on Apple TV by Whatanut · 2016-05-31 04:18 · Score: 1
  
  To be honest, there are some ads creeping up over there. Was watching a show on the history channel app via apple TV the other day. Showtime add about every three minutes. Same one every time. Was annoying as hell.
  More of a history channel app issue than an Apple TV issue. But it's still there.
  
  --
  
  yvan eht nioj
6. Re:no ads on Apple TV by macs4all · 2016-05-31 04:33 · Score: 1
  
  ... yet.
  Nor likely ever.
  
  Afterall, Apple just DISMANTLED its foray into the Banner-Ad space ("iAd"); and considering the time and effort that went into creating that infrastructure having to be taken as a loss on their next Quarter's statement, I doubt seriously if their Board is going to want to venture back into those waters again anytime soon.
  
  Plus, iAd was definitely outside of what Apple considers their most important and main profit-center: Hardware sales.
7. Re:no ads on Apple TV by pr0fessor · 2016-05-31 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  Why am I under the impression that it still has advertising only it's more subtle than new cars and feminine hygiene products because it's top movies, shows, and new releases.
8. Re:no ads on Apple TV by AK+Marc · 2016-05-31 05:25 · Score: 0
  
  By that logic, Supermarkets are full of "ads" because they display products in a visible manner. Paid placement of product in a marketplace isn't considered an "ad" in meatspace, why would it be considered an ad online
  
  --
  Learn to love Alaska
9. Re:no ads on Apple TV by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:44 · Score: 0
  
  Where do I buy a 65" Apple TV?
10. Re:no ads on Apple TV by pr0fessor · 2016-05-31 05:46 · Score: 1
  
  This is more like a convenience store when a vendor pays for prominent placement of their product or the store places higher margin products in better locations. It's not an ad on a web page or in the news paper but there is still a big sign.
  The roku shows new and top movies for amazon prime and showtime on the right hand side of the home screen only I haven't purchased either, now if it showed new on netflix at least it would be for a service I purchased. I'm not really sure if apple tv does that but I'm sure they have some agreements with content providers.
  I would consider both of those advertising although less annoying than a giant popup ad for hemorrhoid cream or mind altering anti-depressants. {in rare cases some people using (insert dug) have experienced sudden death}
Out of the box by fluffernutter · 2016-05-31 03:14 · Score: 1

The next TV I buy will have to work out of the box because anyone is clearly nuts to plug one of these things into the internet.

--
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
1. Re:Out of the box by ultranova · 2016-05-31 03:33 · Score: 1
  
  The next TV I buy will have to work out of the box because anyone is clearly nuts to plug one of these things into the internet.
  
  If the TV can't connect to the DRM server to check whether it has been reported as stolen, it must assume it is, to prevent a thief from using it. It is for your own protection, honored customer. It's because Samsung cares about you.
  
  --
  Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.
2. Re:Out of the box by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  Nope, you'll have to connect it to the internet for it to even work. There's already some TVs like this.
3. Re:Out of the box by fluffernutter · 2016-05-31 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  Isn't capitalism wonderful. So much freedom we have as consumers.
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
4. Re:Out of the box by fluffernutter · 2016-05-31 06:36 · Score: 1
  
  Interested.. So what happens if I am buying the TV for my house in the woods that has no internet?
  
  --
  Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
5. Re:Out of the box by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  Then it goes back in the box and back to the store. Because I do not care about Samsung.
6. Re:Out of the box by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 11:07 · Score: 1
  
  You have the freedom (for now) of not buying such a device, and buying one which doesn't treat you this way. But if almost everyone is dumb enough to buy into this crap, then the free-er devices won't be sold any more and you'll have a choice between buying the spying TV, not buying a TV at all, or trying to find a used one that doesn't spy on you and show you ads.
7. Re:Out of the box by Grishnakh · 2016-05-31 11:12 · Score: 1
  
  Simple: you have to install satellite internet so the TV can phone home and download ads to show you, or your TV won't work.
  Don't like it? Don't buy it.
  But if 95% of consumers all buy into this crap, then no one's going to make TVs that aren't like this, so at that point unless you're willing to subscribe to expensive satellite internet service just so you can see ads, then your choices will be either go without TV, or buy a used TV that predates this stuff.
8. Re:Out of the box by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 12:45 · Score: 1
  
  In the future you probably won't be allowed to be off the grid and own a working TV at the same time.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Kick the TV off the Network by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:19 · Score: 0

Here's the thing. "Smart TV's" have slow clunky interfaces that are junky enough with their bundled apps that you can't get rid of. Just kick the TV off the network and it can't possibly get ads injected into it's interface.
What's even more nasty is many of the Samsung TV's have microphones and cameras that allow them to listen to the room (for the audio of the show you are watching) and detect how many people are watching. They do this for ad tracking and to bypass the traditional ratings companies.
Kill their ability to phone home and you completely disable their ability to track and bug you with ads.
1. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 03:24 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Just kick the TV off the network and it can't possibly get ads injected into it's interface.
  Most of these things default to ads for their own products if they aren't able to find the network or ad hosts. That's how they've been dealing with people who put DNS-based ad blocking on their networks.
  I remember the old days, when a TV was just a TV. About all you could do with it was use an antenna or attach it to a cable service. But even cable ended up being a scam, it originally was not supposed to have ads. As the subscriptions were supposed to be split between the carrier and the networks, but I guess businesses figured out they could change the deal on us and we weren't going to do anything to stop them.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
2. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-31 03:37 · Score: 1
  
  Most of these things default to ads for their own products if they aren't able to find the network or ad hosts.
  Or it'll be made so it "needs" to be connected to the internet to "validate" something or other and won't work unless it gets to phone home once a minute or so.
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
3. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 04:11 · Score: 1
  
  These companies really suck.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
4. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:17 · Score: 0
  
  You can still get a TV like that - it's just called a "monitor", and you need to hook it up to something else, like a Roku/AppleTV/Xbox/PS4/Media PC/etc.
5. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by Sloppy · 2016-05-31 04:17 · Score: 2
  
  Smart TVs are a decent idea but like everything else related to communication or multimedia, it needs to run Free Software. We have all already been given tons of proof that nearly anything that you use to interface with the rest of the world (even if the user is just a "consumer" but moreso when they're not) is too easy to abuse if it can be made to primarily serve the interests of anyone else.
  The user needs to be the top, final authority and master, and Free Software is the only way anyone has come up with so far, to make that be the case. Every other approach keeps failing, with apologists ending up using hilarious phrases like "strike a balance."
  There is nothing wrong with it being networked; running proprietary software is its problem. If it's your machine, then the more powerful it is, the more powerful you are so the more it's worth. Or to put it another way: it's ok to phone home, if its home happens to be your home.
  
  --
  As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
6. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-31 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  These companies really suck.
  It's worse than that. To them, advertising is the Holy Grail and nothing but nothing is more important.
  Customers? Fuck 'em!
  User experience? Who gives a shit?
  
  --
  Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
7. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:24 · Score: 0
  
  I bought 2 (two) full HD 42" dumb monitors. Cheaper than a TV with a digital receiver, no fuss. I plug whatever I want on it. Problem solved.
8. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by sims+2 · 2016-05-31 05:24 · Score: 2
  
  Doesn't roku still have ads on its main screen?
  Or did they change their mind on that?
  
  --
  Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
9. Re:Kick the TV off the Network by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 08:43 · Score: 1
  
  I don't really buy things that are advertised. Eventually I hope that for the vast majority of people, individual reviews and word of mouth drives sales and not slick advertising campaigns.
  In practice it will probably be a hybrid of both, but I can dream. Hopefully fake reviews and sites that take bribes for good reviews are called out for their bullshit. It was definitely really shitty in the 1990's when most Gaming magazines became fronts for studio funded "reviews" that amounted to an advertising service. I hated paying a premium for a gaming magazine only to have a significant number of the reviews turn out to be bullshit. This really did harm the game review industry in the long run, and gamers have been skeptical of pretty much every review for the last decade or two because of it.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
Why do I get ads by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 03:20 · Score: 3, Insightful

On something that I paid full price for?
This seems like bait-and-switch to me, and potentially actionable fraud.

--
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
1. Re:Why do I get ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:15 · Score: 1
  
  Agreed, but Samsung has more money to BRIBE... I mean "contribute" to those in power that allow this nonsense to proliferate...
2. Re:Why do I get ads by sl3xd · 2016-05-31 07:37 · Score: 1
  
  It's been said that the South Korean government is really just corporate-owned subsidiary of Samsung.
  
  --
  -- Sometimes you have to turn the lights off in order to see.
3. Re:Why do I get ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:18 · Score: 0
  
  On something that I paid full price for?
  Have you ever purchased a magazine or newspaper? What about a DVD? Watched something on Hulu+? Cable? Ate at a diner in New Jersey (I don't know why, but NJ diners always seem to have ads on their tables, I've never seen it anywhere else)
  Paying for something and the thing having ads was never an either/or situation. The price of pay media, with a few exceptions (notably, Adbusters and Consumer Reports in the print realm, HBO/Showtime/Cinemax/etc. in the video realm, NPR in radio), has historically almost always been supplemented by ad revenue.
4. Re:Why do I get ads by OrangeTide · 2016-05-31 08:47 · Score: 1
  
  Samsung has supplied the community of Marshall, TX with various facilities and donations in the hopes that future patent lawsuits that are frequently held there go down more favorably with juries. It's a very indirect bribe, but probably creates a statistically significant shift in the outcome of Samsung's patent lawsuits.
  
  --
  “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
5. Re:Why do I get ads by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 09:05 · Score: 0
  
  The ads in newspaper thing is known upfront at time of purchase. You don't buy one with no ads only to find the ads appearing later when you're reading the tech section.
  There was a significant amount of anger when DVDs started including ads, especially as the price did n noticeably drop when this happened.
  Cable/pay TV is, again, a known when it comes to ads. Which is why I don't bother with them.
  And no, I have never eaten at a diner in New Jersey.
  I agree that ads have always been a thing. Then difference here is that there was never any indication that ads (of this sort) were part of the deal when people bought their samsung TV. They were retrofitted later without consent. That is the problem.
Finally! New Functionality! by nick_davison · 2016-05-31 03:21 · Score: 5, Funny

I've got a few years old Samsung Smart TV.
Every month or two, I get a notice about another service being discontinued. I think I'm down to maybe three whole apps that still work on it.
Sure, these are invasive ads that weren't a part of the product I bought. But at least Samsung is finally adding in place of their constant stripping of functionality.
When you're a Smart TV owner, you take victories where you can find them.
1. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:18 · Score: 0
  
  Bend over sheep, they're coming for you again...
2. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by ripvlan · 2016-05-31 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  I'm having similar experiences with my 5 year old Sony. The Netflix app is lame & slow by today's standards. These days my TV is just a monitor with an AppleTV/Amazon-thingy plugged into it. I'd be pissed if the TV suddenly started showing ads.
  I learned this back in the 1970's as a kid watching the Betamax vs VHS wars. Betamax was sweet sounding. But it lost out. Instead buy everything as components (at least things that might last)... and if not a component buy it cheap so it isn't so painful when you throw it away.
  Today my Sony has a single HDMI port in use -- all fed from a Cinema system which handles the video inputs from multiple sources. The Sony is used only to watch Rabbit Ear TV (OTA). Plus I've pulled out the USB Wifi adapter so I can use the Port to power the antenna. It hasn't connected to the internet in a year.
3. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:23 · Score: 0
  
  When you buy a smart tv...you probably arent smart.
4. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by GWBasic · 2016-05-31 05:24 · Score: 2
  
  That's why I bought a dumb TV, and then the smart dongle of the day. (HTPC, then a Chromecast, now an NVidea Shield.) Honestly, the Chromecast is so cheap, and Android TV on the up-and-up, that I see no reason to buy a smart TV.
  
  --
  No, I will not work for your startup
5. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by o_ferguson · 2016-05-31 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  Sheep are already on all fours.
  
  --
  - In Soviet Korea, only old people loose all their bases to Natalie Portman's petrified hot grits overlords.
6. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by CAIMLAS · 2016-05-31 06:22 · Score: 1
  
  Won't be long before they ship the TV with a cellular modem you can't disable, usable only for the purposes of the manufacturer...
  
  --
  ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
7. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:42 · Score: 0
  
  I have a Samsung 7-series from 2009. The first firmware update was the last firmware update, and it blew all of the soft-fuses and locked out both future firmware updates and any use of the maintenance USB interface. It has very rudimentary DLNA support. It was "smart" (-ish) back when it was new, but it's basically a dumb TV now.
  See? Early adopters don't always get screwed!
8. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by kheldan · 2016-05-31 09:28 · Score: 1
  
  Can I ask you, why you even want an Internet-connected TV to start with? Can't you connect a media center PC to it instead? Or a DVR, like I do? Just use it as a monitor?
  
  --
  Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
9. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 23:12 · Score: 0
  
  Same thing happened to my Panasonic TV. My Samsung "Smart" BluRay player managed to disable the "Smart" features during a forced firmware update.
  All the apps sucked anyway.
10. Re:Finally! New Functionality! by ripvlan · 2016-06-01 01:37 · Score: 1
  
  oh good - my Tinfoil hat will have a future use !!!!
  and my wife keeps telling me to throw it out. I keep saying, "someday you'll see - you'll see I was right!!!"
Soon... by Thud457 · 2016-05-31 03:29 · Score: 4, Funny

pretty soon we're going to reach the advertising event horizon.
In the aftermath of which, humans will evolve wings and curse the ground.

--
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
1. Re:Soon... by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · 2016-05-31 03:34 · Score: 1
  
  In the meantime, I'll go buy myself a new pair of shoes.
2. Re:Soon... by SScorpio · 2016-05-31 03:38 · Score: 1
  
  Could we stop for ice cream on the way back?
3. Re:Soon... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:39 · Score: 0
  
  I am certain that someone will invent flying ads.
4. Re:Soon... by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:01 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Passed it a while ago. Replaced Addblock+ with Pi-hole to catch my droids at home. My Samsung TV is connected to a computer, not the Internet. I run no Windows outside occasional VMs. My Ubuntu has Gnome Panel, and scopes purged. And I no longer watch any broadcast TV or listen to radio.
  
  But lowering my exposure has also lowered my tolerance to almost nothing. I can not watch TV when it is on at a friends house at all. And telemarketers get a rapid "fuckoff" in the first three words.
  
  I am the future advertising has made.
5. Re:Soon... by Scottingham · 2016-05-31 07:03 · Score: 2
  
  I'm with you on the lost tolerance for ads. Whenever I go to my parent's house they all they a kick out of how repulsed I am at the TV commercials.
  As for telemarketers, especially for Time Warner who try ever few months to sell me a cable package I love pointing out how much of a ripoff it is. 'So you're telling me for $100 dollars a month I get to watch TV with 5 minute commercial breaks every 15 minutes? If I watch an 'hour long' TV show 15 minutes of my life was wasted on ads. And I have to pay for that?' I'm usually met with 'wow, yeah when you put it that way...um....have a nice day'
6. Re:Soon... by caseih · 2016-05-31 07:26 · Score: 2
  
  Leela: Didn't you have ads in the 21st century?"
  Fry: Well sure, but not in our dreams. Only on TV and radio, and in magazines, and movies, and at ball games... and on buses and milk cartons and t-shirts, and bananas and written on the sky. But not in dreams, no siree.
7. Re:Soon... by Rakarra · 2016-05-31 12:49 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I'm with you on the lost tolerance for ads. Whenever I go to my parent's house they all they a kick out of how repulsed I am at the TV commercials.
  As for telemarketers, especially for Time Warner who try ever few months to sell me a cable package I love pointing out how much of a ripoff it is. 'So you're telling me for $100 dollars a month I get to watch TV with 5 minute commercial breaks every 15 minutes? If I watch an 'hour long' TV show 15 minutes of my life was wasted on ads. And I have to pay for that?' I'm usually met with 'wow, yeah when you put it that way...um....have a nice day'
  I'm old enough to remember when cable TV came around, TV you had to pay for instead of getting it free over the air. And I thought that it seemed like an ok tradeoff if we were going to be able to watch TV without ads. Seriously, I thought originally that was the whole point of cable TV. Somehow it slipped in that we were going to pay for the channels, and there would be JUST as much advertising as their was before, or even more.
8. Re:Soon... by daddywoj · 2016-06-01 23:19 · Score: 1
  
  Everything changes everyday so we just need to accept the speed of technology. :)
Dear Samsung by JustAnotherOldGuy · 2016-05-31 03:33 · Score: 1

Dear Samsung,
What part of "NO" was unclear?
Signed,
Every Consumer In The World

--
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
1. Re:Dear Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  The part where said consumers kept buying the product.
2. Re:Dear Samsung by sjames · 2016-05-31 04:39 · Score: 1
  
  That's the problem. This nastiness wasn't part of the deal. The TV they bought didn't do this. Samsung are altering the deal and telling people to pray they don't alter it further.
  This is why I insisted on a dumb TV with a VGA input and no network connection last time.
3. Re:Dear Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:42 · Score: 0
  
  You missed the part where their sales are down by nearly 21%?
CFAA by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:36 · Score: 1

Juries, please: THINK BIG on this computer-fraud-and-abuse logic bomb case. It needs to be financially devastating in addition to the time the criminals spend in prison. While they're in prison, their wives need to be selling themselves into prostitution just to put meals on the table. Wipe them out. "We, the jury, find in favor of the plaintiffs, to be awarded 100% of Samsung's assets."
FUCK ADVERTISERS by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:42 · Score: 0

Seriously, the advertising industry is the most fucked-up industry in the world right now. They make the gambling finance industry look like they're giving orphans good homes. I mean the finance industry just wants to fuck you out of your money. The advertising industry wants to OWN everything you own for the sake of shoving more annoyances right in your face to make you buy shit you never fucking needed. They feast on every scrap of private information about you all in the vein hopes of better brainwashing you into a walleted zombie. Fuck these guys. We need router-level ad-blocking and we need it stat.
This seems to work... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 03:51 · Score: 0

I have a 550 series Samsung LCD TV, and giving it a garbage DNS setting (its own static IP address as the DNS address) seems to prevent it from "connecting" to the internet while still letting me stream to it from my PC. It also seems unable to connect to Samsung when I try to manually check for an update now. Hopefully that will be enough to keep it from automatically updating too.
1. Re:This seems to work... by lgw · 2016-05-31 05:02 · Score: 1
  
  I have a 550 series Samsung LCD TV, and giving it a garbage DNS setting (its own static IP address as the DNS address) seems to prevent it from "connecting" to the internet while still letting me stream to it from my PC.
  
  I'm baffled at this sort of thing. I just have an HDMI cable from my PC to my TV - why on Earth would I "stream"?
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
2. Re:This seems to work... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:14 · Score: 0
  
  I have no idea why YOU would want to "stream", or why you would prefer to run an HDMI cable, and I really don't care. But I connect to my PC via my network because my PC is far away from my TV, and because it's more convenient to be able to access my library and control things with the TV remote.
3. Re:This seems to work... by lgw · 2016-05-31 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  my PC is far away from my TV
  I have a long HDMI cable. They make those.
  
  and because it's more convenient to be able to access my library and control things with the TV remote.
  Wow, really? Can't argue with taste, I guess. Nothing's easier than a mouse, to me.
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
4. Re:This seems to work... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 06:18 · Score: 0
  
  HDMI can only go up to about 50 feet without additional hardware. Anyway how long is your mouse cord? Or do you just run all the way to your PC every time you want to pause?
5. Re:This seems to work... by lgw · 2016-05-31 07:08 · Score: 1
  
  HDMI can only go up to about 50 feet without additional hardware.
  True, but my PC is in the living room anyway, since I'm a geek and all that (it's silent, though). I do use a 50' cable, though, since I'm not going to run it across the center of the living room. Sometime this summer I'll switch to a fanless PC under the TV, displacing my X-Box since I hardly use that.
  
  Anyway how long is your mouse cord?
  My mouse (well, mice, why have just 1?) is wireless, of course, designed to work well on a couch. USB cable from my PC to a convenient place near the center of the room for the wireless receiver (without having the cable visible, of course). Since I only use my TV as a monitor, the only routine thing I can't do from a mouse is turn the TV on.
  
  --
  Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
This is your fault people! by stealth_finger · 2016-05-31 03:59 · Score: 2

Why the fuck did you buy tvs that need to be plugged into the internet? Stuff plugs in to the tv not the other way around. It's easy enough to get all the content online on your tv without putting the fucking thing online itself. TVs with OS, multiple hunded mb updates, to a fucking TV? I will never buy a smart tv and none of you should either, or before too long our tvs will come with a power lead and rj45 socket (or they'll not bother with that and go wireless only) and that's it. All a tv should do is display exactly the content you put to it. HDMI/USB or just plain old aerial signal. Fuck smart tvs, and shame on anyone who bought one. Throw them in the bin with the 3d TVs. Curved screens are the only gimmick that actually add anything of value (if you're in the sweet spot that is, otherwise you need't've bothered).

--
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
1. Re:This is your fault people! by steveg · 2016-05-31 04:24 · Score: 1
  
  Good luck finding a "dumb" TV.
  Everything you say is right, except that more and more "don't buy a smart TV" is equivalent to "don't buy a TV."
  Well, almost everything. Curved TVs are every bit as useful as smart TVs (which is to say, not at all.)
  
  --
  Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
2. Re:This is your fault people! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 07:25 · Score: 0
  
  Just don't use your TV's "smart" functionality, ignore it.
3. Re:This is your fault people! by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 12:30 · Score: 0
  
  Buy secondhand. Plenty of dumb tvs available. They're also significantly cheaper and, thanks to our throw-away society, surprisingly good quality.
4. Re:This is your fault people! by steveg · 2016-06-01 03:01 · Score: 1
  
  Which is what I have done with my one smart TV. It doesn't know my wifi password, nor will it ever.
  But it still probably cost an extra $50 to $75 for the additional hardware that I didn't want.
  
  --
  Ignorance killed the cat. Curiosity was framed.
Simpler times by Ogive17 · 2016-05-31 04:01 · Score: 1

Remember the simpler times when you turned a tv on and it just displayed exactly what you wanted?

About once a month my current TV will become unresponsive to all controls (remote and buttons on the back). My only course of action is to pull everything from the wall and unplug the damn thing for 30 seconds.

At least it doesn't play ads. Our current one is connected to the internet only because my wife cannot figure out the Roku or the Xbox One to stream......

--
"Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
1. Re:Simpler times by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2016-05-31 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  In fairness, a lot of the less competent analog sets spent most of their lives drifting vaguely around some approximation of the image they were supposed to be displaying, those little trim pots that you were only supposed to use a plastic screwdriver to adjust weren't just for show.
  
  What they weren't, though, was smart enough to be actively adversarial; and that is vastly worse.
OK, but... by ytene · 2016-05-31 04:06 · Score: 5, Interesting

I purchased a new Samsung TV in December 2015 and this was not discussed as even a possibility when I chatted through options and scenarios with the store. I chose an internet-connected TV because I live in an apartment building that cannot get satellite TV, so my best option for a wider set of programming was for a net-connected TV... I took a NetFlix subscription and already had Amazon Prime.

However, for Samsung to start injecting commercials into the non-program parts of the TV [for example in the menus] would be a complete breach of the terms and conditions under which the set was purchased. It would be a bit like you purchasing a car, running it for 6 months, then being told by the manufacturer that, "Hey, we've decided your car is now a taxi. You'll have to take fee-paying passengers about when you drive. We won't ask you to change the route, but we will keep all the proceeds of the free rides you need to give."

Not happening.

In the UK at least I think this would fall fall of the "Goods and Services Act", might likely be "false advertising" [for failing to disclose the intent to push adverts], etc, etc.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Samsung have tried this. They did it a couple of years ago in Australia and New Zealand, where subscribers to paid network services [like NetFlix] suddenly saw crude, badly-formatted adverts appearing in the middle of (paused) Amazon Prime streaming content. There was uproad, and Samsung pulled the firmware update, hastily claiming it was pushed in error...

We might need to get ready for the same level of uproar if they try again...
1. Re:OK, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:42 · Score: 0
  
  Fortunately for Samsung there's usually a clause in the Terms and Conditions like "these Terms and Conditions may be updated at any time, for any reason, with no notice, and you hereby agree to any and all future changes."
2. Re:OK, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:13 · Score: 0
  
  IIRC "false advertising" isn't actually a thing, or at least it is a very specific thing, and what most people mean when they say "false advertising" is in fact "obtaining by deception".
  I'm sure a few google searches could clear thing up but I want to sound smart.
3. Re:OK, but... by ytene · 2016-05-31 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  I think the legal term that would apply there would be an "unconscionable contract", meaning "a doctrine in contract law that describes terms that are so extremely unjust, or overwhelmingly one-sided in favor of the party who has the superior bargaining power, that they are contrary to good conscience".
  
  It's another way of saying that one party (Samsung) try to push another party (their customers) into a contract which is completely one-sided.
  
  But even the basics of contract law should defend us here. A company could equally easily put in the small print of their contract that anyone purchasing one of their products must give up their first-born child to go and work in some factory in the far east for no pay, working as child slave labour. I am NOT suggesting that any company would do such a thing, but technically they can put what they like in their terms and conditions. Fortunately, if they try to *exercise* rights they grant themselves under that contract, then if those rights are unreasonable the law defends everyone else against their intent...
4. Re:OK, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:43 · Score: 0
  
  Sounds like that might have been a pre-beta test of the concept. Probably have been refining it since then for this phase....
  Glad I recently bought a dumb, but nice (and cheap) SharpTV that works fine with whatever I connect to it via HDMI (mostly cable and my Sony BD player that has the network-supplied stuff if I want - just the free version of Pandora so far). That TV should last us until the next paradigm shift, or 3...
5. Re:OK, but... by Altus · 2016-05-31 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  How much money can this honestly be worth... each view can't be worth much more than a web impression and users rarely go into the menu of their TV... I can't imagine the revenue they make being worth the absolute PR headache this would end up being. Never mind that it might be illegal is some parts of the world.
  It just doesn't make a lot of sense for a company that big, making that much money, to risk their reputation for a pittance.
  
  --
  "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson
6. Re:OK, but... by houstonbofh · 2016-05-31 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  Well, there is precedent... :) http://dilbert.com/search_resu...
7. Re:OK, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 07:23 · Score: 0
  
  Use your screen like a simple display, and use an external netflix capable box. You can replace your content box every year if need be (cheap) and kep the display.
  Samsung wants your display to be more than just that, and gain market share in other fields with that.
  But I don't want that.
8. Re:OK, but... by sl3xd · 2016-05-31 07:36 · Score: 1
  
  A company could equally easily put in the small print of their contract that anyone purchasing one of their products must give up their first-born child to go and work in some factory in the far east for no pay, working as child slave labour.
  You know, if even a fraction of the things I've heard about Samsung are true... that is exactly the kind of thing I'd expect from them.
  
  --
  -- Sometimes you have to turn the lights off in order to see.
9. Re:OK, but... by AlanBDee · 2016-05-31 08:04 · Score: 1
  
  Connect a PC to the TV and buy a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo. Anytime I see someone search for a show on Netflix though the embedded app I cringe. I can't think of much media you can't get through a PC. Zero if you're willing to pirate. I do have to use Windows for Sling TV but everything else should work in Linux. Then disconnect your TV from the network.
10. Re:OK, but... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 18:06 · Score: 0
  
  At Least here shrinkwrap license are not valid.
  If i buy a device all legal contracts needs to be presented, and for me to sign, before the actual purchase of the device.
11. Re:OK, but... by dyslexicbunny · 2016-06-01 02:50 · Score: 1
  
  You can't get an Amazon Fire stick? It has a Netflix app. That's my solution. Also have my gaming PC hooked into it if I want to use the Netflix site or stream something from someone with ads.
  Never hook up anything to the internet that should have no reason to be!
Dear samsung, we all hate ads. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:11 · Score: 0

The Samsung advertising execs should stay off the white stuff for a while so they maybe start realizing that consumers do not like ads and fucking over your customers is not a viable business plan.
In Soviet Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:29 · Score: 0

Television watches YOU!
That movie was prophecy by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:30 · Score: 1

Made me think of idiocracy
Is this the future of Samsung TVs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7c0J_V1L8
Why the hell would you PAY for this??? by kheldan · 2016-05-31 04:31 · Score: 3, Insightful

This is beyond rediculous. Why would you pay for a TV that pulls this shit on you? I do not pay premium dollars for a television set that shoves gods-be-damned ADS in my face! All I need a TV to be is a monitor, that's all. I don't even understand why anyone would buy a so-called 'smart' TV in the first place; doesn't everyone either have a DVR, a media center computer, or just watch cable/satellite/OTA broadcasts? On top of all that are the news stories we've all read about how these so-called 'smart TVs' are spying on us. What's next? Are they going to require you to watch streaming ads before it'll allow you to watch whatever you're feeding to the TV to watch? Why is anyone putting up with this shit?

I will NEVER buy a 'smart TV'. Ever.

--
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
I remember when /. wasn't a bunch of whiny babies. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 04:54 · Score: 1, Insightful

In the old days, there would be a post listing the IPs to block. Now the posts are all whiny, reactionary, babies crying about Samsung and imagining that they're interesting enough to spy on. The dumbing-down of Slashdot has been a tragedy.
60" are already avaialble. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:12 · Score: 0

There are 60" montiors, just do not connect their Ethernet/wireless port.
My wife has Visio 43" 4K SmartTV connected via 1080p HDMI from computer, using the TV to upscale the 1080 to 4k (Vision issue). Came with Ethernet port and wireless - did not configure wireless and connected the Ethernet only to validate the SmartTV for "future" then pulled the cable. So no streams from outside world, no reporting back to mothership.
In the all "TV" should die.
You buy a monitor with no remote, it turns on when a signal is present, single simple cable.
You buy a sound system with no remote, it turns on when a signal is present, single simple cable - maybe Bluetooth.
You then get a Echo, ChromeCast, Roku, or Computer, to supply signal.
One "remote" one system fully and simply integrated.
1. Re:60" are already avaialble. by Darinbob · 2016-05-31 06:26 · Score: 1
  
  Was there not a TV available without the networking and no "smart" features? Last I checked they still have dumb TVs in large sizes, so there's no need to pay more to get features that you're not going to use. I could be out of date though, maybe the dumb TVs are all gone because there's no way to put advertising on them... But that's ok, I can keep mine for 15 years if I don't break it and I don't go all hipster and demand 4K.
2. Re: 60" are already avaialble. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 09:54 · Score: 0
  
  Not at 4K in this area. Also SmartTV had faster processor to handle refresh rates and filling in missing bits and smoothing. So 120 240 "refresh rate" and mouse movements are very smooth. Better than 2x 24" screens running at 480p.
Welcome to the future. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:16 · Score: 0

It's not just tv's. Companies are pushing for this in every area of our lives. Smart cars, os, tv's, fridges, watches, phones, thermostats, lights, etc.. They want every step taken, heart beat made, movie watched, food eaten, distance driven, logged and stored forever. Enjoy it!
Add this to your blocklists by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:18 · Score: 0

# samsung 'smart tv'
#127.0.0.1 log-1.samsungacr.com
#127.0.0.1 log-2.samsungacr.com
#127.0.0.1 notice.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 noticecdn.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 noticefile.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 vdterms.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 acr0.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 lcprd1.samsungcloudsolution.net
#127.0.0.1 time.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 oempprd.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 cdn.samsungcloudsolution.com
#127.0.0.1 Coordinator-Production-28516768.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com
#127.0.0.1 syncplusconfig.s3.amazonaws.com
#127.0.0.1 targeted-config-test.samsungacr.com
#127.0.0.1 premium-videos.telly.com
#127.0.0.1 www.samsungotn.net
#127.0.0.1 infolink.pavv.co.kr
#127.0.0.1 game.internetat.tv
#127.0.0.1 ns11.whois.co.kr
#127.0.0.1 d2tnx644ijgq6i.cloudfront.net
#127.0.0.1 d3mjsomixevyw7.cloudfront.net
#127.0.0.1 d1oxlq5h9kq8q5.cloudfront.net
#127.0.0.1 d179kwmlpc4o47.cloudfront.ne
#127.0.0.1 az43064.vo.msecnd.net
#127.0.0.1 www.samsungotn.net
#127.0.0.1 www.samsungrm.net
How will these be displayed exactly? by Kargan · 2016-05-31 05:22 · Score: 1

Just curious, how will these sorts of ads be displayed to viewers, and when?
Are they talking about doing this while watching Cable TV programming? While streaming using one of the built-in apps, like Netflix or Vudu? Just while viewing the Smarthub screen?
Does anyone know?

--
Palaces, barricades, threats, meet promises
Re:I remember when /. wasn't a bunch of whiny babi by o_ferguson · 2016-05-31 05:30 · Score: 1

Nice list of addresses to block, you whiny, reactionary, baby. Put up or shut up.

--
- In Soviet Korea, only old people loose all their bases to Natalie Portman's petrified hot grits overlords.
Obligatory... by sconeu · 2016-05-31 05:35 · Score: 1

They are altering the deal.
Pray that they do not alter it any further.

--
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
Why is this not criminal? by LainTouko · 2016-05-31 05:36 · Score: 1

I would have thought, in the UK for example, this would violate the computer misuse act (Samsung were not authorised to install ad-displaying software by people) or the criminal damage act (a television which doesn't display what the user wanted to the same degree as before has been damaged). How do they get away with vandalising people's property like this? There's not even the "you have to copy our software to use our software in the way advertised, so sign an EULA" nonsense with a television.
What gives them the right by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:38 · Score: 0

I did not sign any document that allows them to start sending me this crap. I guess it will be time to sue these companies for forcing this stuff on us.
Fuck that by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 05:46 · Score: 0

I will never buy a Samsung TV with this feature, I don't care how cheap it is.
Back to dumb TVs then by zerofoo · 2016-05-31 05:59 · Score: 1

The day my 2010 Samsung TV starts showing me ads is the day I disconnect its network connection.
No internet = No ads.
I've got plenty of external set top boxes that do not force ads down my throat.
1. Re:Back to dumb TVs then by GumphMaster · 2016-05-31 11:18 · Score: 1
  
  No internet = No ads.
  ... or the last advert it downloaded forever ad ever amen ;)
  
  --
  Patent litigation: A doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction... in which everyone seems willing to push the button
I keep saying it for years by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 06:00 · Score: 0

Samsung is a lame and rude company. They can make great chips, electronics, perfect screens etc. and even beat Apple in sales. That doesn't change anything, their applications, especially Windows applications can give a clue about their quality.
I won't be updating. by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 06:08 · Score: 0

I made the mistake of buying a Samsung TV, which is NOT connected to any network except over the air, air TV channels, and to a computer passively as a monitor.
I will never allow such an upgrade until I upgrade to a better TV, one that isn't a Samsung.
Re:I remember when /. wasn't a bunch of whiny babi by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2016-05-31 06:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

When spying is getting closer to being free with every improvement in IT efficiency it doesn't take much 'interesting' to be interesting enough to spy on.
Clippy by El_Muerte_TDS · 2016-05-31 06:25 · Score: 1

Just get it over with right away and add a Clippy who gives me suggestions on what to watch instead of what I really want to watch.
Is Samsung worth buying at all anymore? by ilsaloving · 2016-05-31 06:44 · Score: 1

I stopped considering Samsung for phones after the incredibly poor experience I had with my Galaxy S3. Ever since, I've been hesitant about buying anything else Samsung makes because they've now demonstrated they're willing to throw any old crap onto the market in the hope it makes some money.
If Samsung is going to pull a cliche Darth Vader move (I've altered our agreement....) on existing customers, then it sounds like it's time to write off Samsung complete.
Apparently Samsung has learned nothing of the mess Sony has gotten themselves into (and are continuing to suffer for, to this day).
They didn't remove Ablock Fast by Sephr · 2016-05-31 06:54 · Score: 1

and, ironically, battling Android over its own AdBlocking technology
That was Google, not Samsung. Samsung was upset when Google removed Adblock Fast (which isn't their own app, it's a third party dev's app) from Google Play, and actually reached out to Google to get them to reverse their decision.
If this happens ... by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 06:58 · Score: 0

I'll post a complaint to the European Commission. It's not fucking normal and it won't stick. I did pay a quite a sum for my Samsung TV a few years ago. Nowhere in it's description is it mentioned that it will display ads. It's anti-consumer to change the basic behavior of a product without even an option for them to rollback the changes.
Who is left? by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 07:13 · Score: 0

Can't go to Sony either.
What's that leave RCA, LG, Sharp? Toshiba, Panasonic? Running out of options here.
I want a new TV. by jcr · 2016-05-31 07:17 · Score: 1

I'm in the market for a 4K display. Who's making one that's not loaded with Android or other crapware?
-jcr

--
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
This is why I like "Dumb" TVs by Lord+Kano · 2016-05-31 07:25 · Score: 2

I want my TV to be as dumb as possible. I don't want my TV to receive software updates. I want external devices that I can throw in the trash if they pull this kind of stunt.
LK

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"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
China? by jbmartin6 · 2016-05-31 08:49 · Score: 1

Have you ever seen Chinese TV? Some of those shows and networks already have pop-up ad crud all over the place on top of the shows. If Samsung wants to complete in China, this probably is not as much of an outrage as it is to US or European customers.

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This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
1. Re:China? by Streetlight · 2016-05-31 14:55 · Score: 1
  
  I was watching a sporting event from a local broadcast channel the other day on cable TV and there was a permanent scroll on the bottom of the screen that overrode the network feed providing advertisements. It's here, guys, and not from the TV manufacturer. Samsung will need to put their ads at the top of the screen because the locals, and probably cable, will have them on the bottom of the screen.
  
  --
  In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
Re:I remember when /. wasn't a bunch of whiny babi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 08:55 · Score: 0

The days of blocking are quickly passing us by. Adblocking in general has gone mainstream and the ad companies are getting wise to it. They're setting up challenge-response systems to ensure that their phoning-home doesn't get blackholed, and when it does, an on-device cache of ads gets served instead.
The new hotness is ad-network emulation. Instead of simply directing all ad-network DNS entries to localhost, you'll soon direct them to a local server that emulates the active responses that the ad-injection code expects, and responds with blank placeholders. The 2nd generation of this will also send fake ad "results" to the actual phone-home servers and fill their marketing data sets with bullshit and lies, all while retrieving real challenge codes for future issuance to clients. It will be a MITM for the ages, and the arms race will continue from there.
Get a tuner and a large monitor by knorthern+knight · 2016-05-31 09:54 · Score: 1

If you want OTA TV, get a separate tuner box (e.g. HDHomerun http://www.silicondust.com/pro... ) It has drivers for Windows/Mac/Linux. 32 inch monitors are now around $500 Canadian (under $400 US ?). Hook it up to a small PC, and you're ready to go.
And another thing that is one of my pet peeves. TV monitors are being built like it's the 1950's. 60 years ago, CRT monitors had pictures that shrank as the TV aged. There was also a horizontal bar across the top of the picture, 45 pixels high, which is why the 525-scanline TV sets ended up being used as 640x480 monitors.
*MAJOR RANT* Idiot TV manufacturers are *STILL* building digital TV screens with major overscan. Try using a digital TV set as a computer monitor; I dare you. You'll soon notice that your "1920x1080" TV is showing only 1750x950, if that. Whereas a computer monitor actually shows the full picture.

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I'm not repeating myself
I'm an X window user; I'm an ex-Windows user
Newsflash: Samsung attempts suicide by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 11:12 · Score: 0

I have two Samsung TVs. I really like both of them. But based on what has been going on with Samsung lately, I doubt I will ever buy another one.
Didn't they demo these in that movie Idiocracy? by ogdenk · 2016-05-31 11:42 · Score: 1

In the Idiocracy movie, they had TV's with like 500 ads surrounding a tiny viewport with the actual content in the center. That movie was more prophetic than I could have imagined.
Give Them Data by Anonymous Coward · 2016-05-31 12:31 · Score: 0

I won on of those TV's on a giveaway.
Once every few weeks, I let it have network access, and feed it an audio feed from a synthesized voice with useful queries like:
How can I stop Samsung from spying?
How can I disable samsung analytics?
How can I sell my Samsung TV and replace it with Panasonic?
How can I disable the Microphone?
Where can I find torrents?
How can I short Samsung stock?
Why does Samsung suck?
How can I mod Samsung firmware?
Why is North Korea better than South Korea?
Sometimes I pipe in the audio feed from the cores in Portal 2. The square root of rope is string...space does not exist...
I tend to do the same with Cortana on my Virtual instances, all registers to "Billy The Gator Gates".
I let that run for a few hours.
The great thing about analytics using microphones, is that the data can't be vetted. So I tend to overload them with garbage data, during "prime" tv viewing hours of 1AM-4AM.
TVs lifetime is long so sales are down by Streetlight · 2016-05-31 14:46 · Score: 1

I have an "old" Sharp, non-smart LCD TV with an expected lifetime of 60,000 hours of use. At five hours per day it should last 12,000 days or 32 years. Newer LED back lit TVs will last longer - 50 years? No wonder sales are down. and prices are way down from a few years ago so profits gotta' be down. Besides, why would folks (the majority of owners) who are happy with what they have replace it.? Also, millennials aren't watching TV either.

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In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell
Products to NOT BUY by iTrawl · 2016-05-31 22:31 · Score: 1

It's easy: if it's advertised on a Samsung TV, boycott it. If enough people do this, the advertisers will stop buying ad space on Samsung, and the situation will solve itself.
On the other hand, "get big in 5 seconds" ads seem to do just fine even though most people should be educated about them by now, so... yeah, the problem will still solve itself. More speedily so.

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"Everybody's naked underneath" -- The Doctor
Please show me the TV that Apple makes. by GLNRBN · 2016-05-31 23:56 · Score: 1

It better have an amazing panel.
Simple answer by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 05:37 · Score: 0

Advantages for a smart TV: Fewer boxes and cabling especially from multiple vendors leads to easier installation and usage. Furthermore the removal of cabling, connectors and power supplies potentially reduces costs although that may not percolate into the marketplace.
Why did you give your TV your Wifi password? by reanjr · 2016-06-01 05:39 · Score: 1

I don't get this.
If you don't provide a Wifi password for your TV, it can't change features on you, it can't effectively spy on you, it can't inject ads. It can't do anything "smart".
I bought a Samsung "smart" TV years ago. I never bothered setting up internet access on it. Why would I? In what world would that ever make sense? I also don't have a problem with the TV being "smart", because I never granted it the resources required to actually DO anything.
I don't understand the feature, but I really don't understand the kerfuffle over the feature. If you give your TV internet access, wouldn't you expect it to deliver internet content? Isn't that the point?
Ads on our devices by cmorgan503 · 2016-06-01 08:33 · Score: 1

First, they came on tapes, DVDs and BluRays. Didn't matter if we owned or rented them, previews were always there. Sometimes, they couldn't be skipped.
Now, they're coming on our smart TVs. Never mind that we paid a bit of hard earned cash for the damn thing, it's ours. It stopped belonging to the store or the device vendor once the store accepted my money, and watched me struggle to put that monster in the back of my car. Except, now people appears to be meekly willing to take this crap before putting a stop to it. "Well, it's a nice enough TV with all that fancy smancy shit on it, that I can't do without. So, a little ad is fine.. I guess."
Next, they're going to insist on doing the same crap with our phones. "Mom, I'm sorry about Dad, we're on the.. " "We're interrupting your call to bring you a word from our sponsor. Your call will resume momentarily". Just remember, you pansy passive asswipes, that when this shit starts happening, it's because most of you sniveled about not being able to get by without smart TV features.
Seriously, knock this passive crap off, people. If I had a smart TV, and it starts showing ads, it'll be back at the store I purchased it from in a heartbeat.
violation of basic rights by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 10:03 · Score: 0

All advertising and marketing needs to be opt-in, as a matter of universal and inalienable human rights.
It doesn't matter whether it's internet advertising, or things mailed to a person's home, or put on their car, or their door, or their tv, or their tablet. If the person didn't opt in, it violates my rights.
Goods and services can be made available with ads only if they are also available at no more than twice the price, without any additional hassle. If the same goods and services are made available for 'free' with ads, then they must also be available for some nominal sum.
I have a right to charge violators substantial sums of money for infringing my time and stealing a portion of my life. No different than kidnapping, really.
A few minimally sized billboards can be placed at highway exits, sufficient to allow the elderly to read a reasonably short business name. No other billboards are allowed.
I assert these rights as being rights "retained by the people" under the US Bill of Rights (9th Amendment) and "reserved to the people" (10th Amendment). Neither Congress, the federal courts, the state governments, or local government can pass any law or create any policy or precedent infringing these rights.
These rights limit to all groups and individuals involved in any form of marketing, whether public or private, for profit or non-profit.
Re:I remember when /. wasn't a bunch of whiny babi by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 11:42 · Score: 0

>there would be a post listing the IPs to block
How about a MITM redirect that throws up porn clips instead of ads? Trump nude might generate a few support calls.
If Steve Jobs were here, it would have been fun to see "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" style ads making fun of these awful products.
If some of thse sets and set-top boxes have cameras, maybe the killer smart app is the one that shows other owners busy working their junk...?
DO NOT WANT by Anonymous Coward · 2016-06-01 14:40 · Score: 0

This is precisely the sort of thing that spawned the expression "DO NOT WANT"