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Amazon and Best Buy Team Up To Sell Smart TVs (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the all-fair-in-business dept.

Amazon and Best Buy want to sell you your next smart TV. From a report: The companies, which are two of the biggest electronics retailers in the US, on Wednesday revealed a new multiyear partnership to sell the next generation of TVs running Amazon's Fire TV operating system to customers in the US and Canada. Best Buy will be the exclusive seller for more than 10 4K and HD Fire TV Edition models made by Toshiba and Best Buy's Insignia brand starting this summer. Pricing on the sets has not yet been announced. These smart TVs will be available only in Best Buy stores, on BestBuy.com and, for the first time, from Best Buy as a seller on Amazon.com.

98 comments

  1. Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by aglider · · Score: 2

    I won't ever punch a security hole in my privacy!

    --
    Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
    1. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Patent+Lover · · Score: 1

      Man did you waste a First Post.

    2. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Man did you waste a FPFR (First Post First Reply).

    3. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please think before you type. You just wasted a FPFRFR!!!

    4. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      It's not even going to be a good smart TV. You would be much better off with Android TV, which supports everything rather than being locked in to Amazon's walled garden.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    5. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by sycodon · · Score: 2

      The only smarts I want my TV to have is automagically figuring out what device is sending the picture to it.

      Dumb TV > Smart TV

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    6. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      What the hell is a Fiberglass Panel Fiberglass Reinforced Fiberglass Reinforced?

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    7. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      You're mistaken, the first set of afar stands for Fire Rated. So it's Fiberglass Panel Fire Rated Fiberglass Reinforced. Your welcome!

    8. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      That can be a pain in the ass even. I would rather have to select input because auto sensing crap will switch in the middle of what you put on because the DVD looped in the player your kid forgot to turn off.

    9. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by sycodon · · Score: 1

      Ha!

      Or the kids will see the DVD you left in it last night while watching with your wife!

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    10. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      There are lots of other useful kinda-smart features. ARC is the obvious example, it allows a connected sound system to get the right audio as the TV switches source. It also allows for stuff like an external DVR to turn on the TV and tune to the right channel without a janky IR blaster.

      CEC allows the remote control keys to be passed over HDMI too, so that a DVR or similar can use the main TV remote instead of needing a second one.

      Built in media players that support USB are quite handy too. Sure, you can do better with Kodi or whatever, but the USB port is handy if your friend brings over something to watch.

      What you don't want is network connectivity. As long as the other smart features like apps don't complain or get in the way, simply unplugging the ethernet cable and not connecting to wifi is adequate on most TVs.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    11. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 2

      The only smarts I want my TV to have is automagically figuring out what device is sending the picture to it.

      There is actually a standard for this, called CEC, which is implemented on some TV-connected devices. Unfortunately, TV receivers uniformly suck at implementing it. You won’t find a TV tech who even knows what CEC is.

    12. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The only thing that Smart TVs get you is guaranteed obsolescence, unsupported features, and vendor lock in.

    13. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      There is actually a standard for this, called CEC, which is implemented on some TV-connected devices. Unfortunately, TV receivers uniformly suck at implementing it. You wonâ(TM)t find a TV tech who even knows what CEC is.

      CEC is implemented on a lot of things. Most TVs support it (usually under some branding, like LG's SimpLink, Sony BraviaSync, Samsung and others all have it as well). Most receivers do as well (the ones that don't generally are the boutique very high end ones - the ones you control with a Creston smart home system or other thing)

      The problem is, it was never a fully fleshed out specification, so they all suck and interoperability is generally poor unless EVERYTHING is from the same manufacturer. If you get it to work, great! Enjoy it while it lasts, because it will break sooner or later.

      The AVS Forums are full of people who say "CEC is the best thing ever!" followed by "CEC stopped working - why?!". Sometimes a full system reset works, other times it's broken for good. And this happens even if nothing changed. (And then you have people countering "CEC is unreliable" with "It works great for me!" in threads where well, CEC suddenly broke).

    14. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are lots of other useful kinda-smart features. ARC is the obvious example, it allows a connected sound system to get the right audio as the TV switches source.

      ARC is dumb. Better to use toslink. Doesn't needlessly waste scarce HDMI inputs on TV or cause headaches chasing down noise because you decided to connect wires between your receiver and TV + all other AV shit.

    15. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      I just want a dumb TV.

      I picked up a small form factor refurbished desktop for $150 recent. It truly does play everything. I tried an Android TV box, and despite getting lots of views on Amazon, I found it to be a piece of junk. A lot of basic apps I downloaded from the App store wouldn't even run properly. For a little more than the Android box cost, I got a full windows PC that can not only play any media I throw at it, but can also act as a PLEX server as well as run a few basic games. It could probably run more games, but the form factor and power supply limit which graphics cards you would be able to use with the system.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    16. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      6 of one, half dozen of another.

    17. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Jaime2 · · Score: 1

      Please don't ask for this. My typical horror story with CEC (the technology that does this): Watch something on AppleTV, TV switches over to the correct input... great. Switch back to cable box to watch something from my DVR. Four hours later, my TV spontaneously goes to static because the AppleTV went to sleep and the TV switched to it so that I could enjoy the new signal on HDMI2.

      In other words, even that level of intelligence is often worse than nothing. Totally dumb TV for me. Besides, why do I want my TV manufacturer including $30 worth of functionality that I either already have or don't want.

    18. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by pak9rabid · · Score: 1

      Additionally, Raspberry Pi's and Kodi support CEC as well (works out of the box with Open/LibreElec). Gone are the days of having to setup your own IR/radio receiver and having to get lirc working.

    19. Re:Yes, but you won't ever catch me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I've only got 4 hdmi ports and I need them for input. All larger TVs should have at least 6 hdmi ports IMHO.
      And, as you say no noise problems with TOSlink. I've got my TOSlink output from the TV connected to a D/A converter connected to my old-skool analogue audio amp, I get amazing sound regardless of whether I'm watch Cable, chromecast, DVD whatever - and there's no perceptible lag despite the DAC being a cheapo one.

  2. Nope! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I hear Amazon are a bunch of bad hombres from Dear Leader Trump. There is no way I'm buying one of these things! No thank you!

    1. Re:Nope! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      lord no, Donna Trump is against anything that makes hir look stupid... Hir even hates hirself, which is why hir keeps having to buy new friends, as hir cannot afford the upkeep on the old ones.

  3. Evil joins forces by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You lose!

  4. Do Not Want by thebryce · · Score: 2

    No smart tv's in my house, no echo or google home either.

    1. Re:Do Not Want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      amen to that.

    2. Re: Do Not Want by jddj · · Score: 1

      +1.

      Oh, and I turn off Google Assistant and pretend the phone isn't listening to me, too.

    3. Re:Do Not Want by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just paid close to a grand for a 49" Gaming monitor... I use that for watching what I want to watch, and damn, does that monitor make my battleships ass look fat.

    4. Re:Do Not Want by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      "Wiretap, do you have a recipe for pancakes?"

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  5. Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by guacamole · · Score: 5, Interesting

    All I want is a screen, with HDMI ports.

    1. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by mccalli · · Score: 1

      Alone in the universe, I actually still quite fancy having a 3D one too. I missed out on that fad, still think it could have been good mostly for gaming rather than casual watching TV & films with friends and family.

      Gran Turismo had a mode making use of 3D which actually showed different pictures to different polarisation. Meant you could do full screen two player, which each player seeing a different image. I suppose VR has taken this niche now, but VR is still damned expensive and seems to have wires everywhere.

    2. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Kenja · · Score: 1

      Yes, but they tend to cost more... they're used for things like restaurant menus these days.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    3. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called a "monitor". Yes, people still sell them.

      It will cost you more than the TV with all the extra junk though.

    4. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      The ethernet/wifi connections are not mandatory, you don't have to plug them in.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    5. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The ethernet/wifi connections are not mandatory, you don't have to plug them in.

      You (and I) would like to think so - but I've heard that some tvs actually require an internet connection during the setup process... (Actually I believe it was another Slashdot thread on a similar topic - and unfortunately it seems entirely too plausible to discount...). And while I would immediately return it at that point, it would be a major pita. A sticker 'network connection REQUIRED' would be most helpful.

    6. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Alone in the universe, I actually still quite fancy having a 3D one too.

      You're not alone. I managed to buy one -- a dumb one, even, so bonus! -- but I fear the day when it eventually fails.

      A couple of years ago I decided I'd gift a family member with a 3D TV only to discover that they were no longer available. (OK, technically there are a couple of models, but they're stupidly expensive. I'm not prepared to drop $6k+ on any TV.) Needless to say, there was disappointment all around.

      Now, it seems, you can only buy TVs with two main features: one very negative ("smart" TV) and one shrug-meh (mis-advertised "4K").

      If anyone knows of someone still selling dumb 3D 1080p TVs, preferably 55" or larger, for not-stupid prices, I'd love to know about them.

    7. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are still too many people on dialup or not on the internet at all for a TV to require a connection for setup.

      I have a smart TV with only the HDMI connected. Works fine.

    8. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by k6mfw · · Score: 1

      I'd settle for just B&W standard def tube type TV set for excellent content delivered by broadcasters...

      Getting back to types of TVs, a recent issue of IEEE Broadcast Technology Society, https://bts.ieee.org/ mentioned the three-legged stool of equipment needed for delivering television programs, equipment needed to receive television programs, and ***the content*** of these television programs [remove any one of these legs, the stool falls down]. It has been written as technology improves (it really has, the pictures of flatscreens soooooo much better than those old CRTs) but content broadcasted? Lots of discussion about quality of that so if you don't have the latest tech TV you're probably not missing much.

      --
      mfwright@batnet.com
    9. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes and no. If you stick to big 16:9 computer monitors : there's some cheap 1080p at 28" or more often at 27". The odd 1080p at 32" too but some are curved.
      The 4K at 43", which I think got noticed (you can run a really big desktop at low ppi)

      Wait, so, since I hadn't checked this in a year (?)
      There's a new size of "computer monitor", 48.5". I found the Acer EB490QKbmiiipx
      Beside the many letters in the name, it does have many inputs. both jack input and jack output! So if you don't mind your "ARC" being just stereo analog line level, this should get the sound out. Why jack in? because there's a VGA input, and so the TV will let you plug sound in even if you use VGA.
      No SCART, no composite. 1x displayport and 3x HDMI
      As far as I can see there's no way to plug any USB junk ; dumber than "dumb" TV. An external tuner might give you the missing TV + remote + USB file playback (?)

      Maybe more expensive than a TV still but I don't know what a 49" TV costs!

    10. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It seems like the Samsung mid-range phone from 2015 requires an Internet connection during set up. Yes, it's a phone. But that buggers me! It's a sneaky requirement with "Next" button frozen unless you join a wifi network.
      I would try it on a firewalled to hell network, but missing one I think I will try on LAN after disconnecting the WAN to see what happens.
      Do people maintain fake servers to run on a LAN?
      Indeed I don't want to "register" a phone to Samsung or google, or be forced to access the internet before using it (I'd only want to unlock or root it or whatever anyway, before flashing it)

      I have a Warren Buffet attitude : don't really want to use something I don't understand.
      If a phone could boot of a USB CD-ROM drive and just run "Lineage x.y", "Sailfish w.z" or something I would like it better.

      Rationale : there's even more private data on a phone than on a TV (which just uploads a timestamped list of everything you watch to ACME corporation and the secret police of Tajikistan)

    11. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by taustin · · Score: 1

      Go by your nearest Walmart. They have a selection.

    12. Re: Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by houghi · · Score: 1

      That is called a monitor. Crazy but thing is that you often pay more for a monitor than for a tv. I just use a smart tv as a 55 inch monitor. Never conected it to anything. 500EUR 4 years ago. Now Icould get 4K for it, but no need for now.

      Manytimes a tv is cheaper att the same screen resolution. Iam not a gamer nor a movie maker or photographer, so no need for high end stuff.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    13. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by muahtorski1 · · Score: 1

      It'd be great of they had a module for all the smart functionality that could be physically removed and throw in a drawer. I would still need to verify that the TV has been rendered dumb, but being able to do this would at least provide some satisfaction.

    14. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Pascoea · · Score: 1

      but I've heard that some tvs actually require an internet connection during the setup process... (Actually I believe it was another Slashdot thread on a similar topic - and unfortunately it seems entirely too plausible to discount...

      I've said it before, and I know others have as well. Literally cannon configure the TV without hooking it to their app. Granted, once done you can delete the app, disconnect the wifi, etc.

      I question, especially with the prevalence of Xfinity's "Xfinity-wifi" in my area and free MVNOs, if I'll even need to give future devices access to MY network for it to be phoning home on me.

      https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=10052705&cid=53566341#comments

    15. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      All I want is a screen, with HDMI ports.

      And all my wife wants is to press the "Netflix" button on the remote and start watching Grace and Frankie.

      My seven-year-old son wants to toggle to the YouTube menu and start watching Minecraft videos.

    16. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      https://www.newegg.com/Product...

      Newegg, 55"+ 'monitors'

      Curiously, since these are targeted at "business" uses like conference rooms and trade displays, they're more expensive than TV's in the same size/format/quality with a tuner, etc. aimed at the consumer.

      --
      -Styopa
    17. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So learn how to build a MythTV box and have your family use that. I'm sure your wife and son aren't mentally deficient enough to at least use the MythTV frontend, so long as you're smart enough to set up the backend.

    18. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 1

      Why would I waste time building a "Myth TV" box when I can go for a bike ride with my kids? Life's too short to spend precious time fighting with technology when I can buy a TV with a "Netflix" button.

    19. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by antdude · · Score: 1

      Computer monitors. ;)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    20. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      1080...why? It will probably be more expensive. 4K is amazing up close..especially when gaming. I have been using a 49" 4K Roku TV as a monitor. Eye strain gone.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    21. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      1080 looks like shit at 32" up close

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    22. Re:Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Geek returns TV (computer) because it gets on the internet...WTF is going on around here? Is it vanilla pudding day at the nursing home?

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    23. Re: Does anyone still sell a "dumb" TV? by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      A basic 49" 4K smart TV goes for $400 now. My TCL operates at 60Hz and is the best monitor I have ever had in my life.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  6. Why do we need "smart" TV's? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's nearly impossible anymore to find a regular TV. When I went to Best Buy last year, they had exactly one 32" TV model (Westinghouse) that wasn't "smart". That's the one I bought. Most people these days have a console, or can get a Chrome Cast, Roku or Fire Stick for cheap enough to make their TV smart if they want. A "smart" TV is just one more point of failure for your TV, especially for the off brands. Does anyone really think Netflix, Hulu, etc. are going to be pushing updates for the HiSense you bought 3 years from now?

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    1. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by fred6666 · · Score: 2

      It's nearly impossible anymore to find a regular TV.

      Just buy any TV and do not connect it to the Internet.

    2. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is all well and good until the 'smart tv' decides that it really needs to connect to the Mothership and shuts down until you connect the network up.

      Not such a good idea now is it.

    3. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just buy any TV and do not connect it to the Internet.

      Aren't there some that insist on an internet connection for initial configuration? I'm pretty sure I remember someone claiming they'd encountered some that were unusable until they were connected to the internet. Talk about "f--k that noise, give me my money back".

    4. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's nearly impossible anymore to find a regular TV.

      My TV has exactly one input ... the HDMI from my amp.

      It doesn't get connected to the network, doesn't play a role in tuning of channels, doesn't play audio, and whatever things it has built into it I neither know nor care. It is just a dumb display.

      If it can't function with just a single HDMI input, it's not really a TV at all, it's an ad appliance.

      I have no intention of giving a TV access to my network, because I assume the people who built it are either lazy, stupid, greedy, shady, or all of the above. A "smart" TV offers not a single feature I care about other than the dumb display.

    5. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe they know that the firmware is terrible or broken - even months in advance, they know the team is understaffed, underpaid, or needs more time to fix it up barely. So while the TVs sit in storage and logistics with firmware 1.0.0 that's not worthy of a 0.9, the firmware monkey still are fixing.
      Hopefully by the time you'll get home, the TV will be a few months old and will have some firmware 1.1.1.0.
      Most people that wouldn't bother with networking a TV would just run the broken firmware, and complain and return and give bad reviews. So perhaps it is best to guilt the consumer into connecting it to the net. Consumer obedience or ignorance will let the TV upgrade to less broken firmware. I mean, people are voluntarily letting Android software, Google Play, or anything access the internet. They click "allow", "next", "agree", "yes" like we did software licenses for Windows 3.1 software.

    6. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's nearly impossible anymore to find a regular TV. When I went to Best Buy last year, they had exactly one 32" TV model (Westinghouse) that wasn't "smart". That's the one I bought. Most people these days have a console, or can get a Chrome Cast, Roku or Fire Stick for cheap enough to make their TV smart if they want. A "smart" TV is just one more point of failure for your TV, especially for the off brands. Does anyone really think Netflix, Hulu, etc. are going to be pushing updates for the HiSense you bought 3 years from now?

      I have a chromecast but I fancy my Samsung SmartTV because it's so easy to use and I don't have to pick up my mobile phone. Netflix, amazon, hbo go, twitch they are all there with one press of a button.

    7. Re:Why do we need "smart" TV's? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aren't there some that insist on an internet connection for initial configuration?

      Does it *really* matter? Connect it, let it do any config, firmware updates etc., disconnect it (via Ethernet) or change wifi password on router to temporary value, let TV do its stuff, change router password back and reboot router.

      Slight pain in the ass but you're talking about a couple of minutes work for a device which should last 5+ years.

      Yeah, not ideal but no big deal either.

  7. the real question here. by nimbius · · Score: 2

    and the question we're not supposed to ask is, does this thing run Kodi? because if it doesnt, I'll just stick to buying a used 4k TV and a Raspberry pi. https://kodi.wiki/view/FireTV_...

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
    1. Re:the real question here. by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      How well does the Raspberry pi do with 1080 (at least) h265 content? I have an android box that I got because it technically could do this and run Netflix and other apps. Unfortunately, Netflix only allows the TV version of their app on certain devices so it's almost useless (no scrolling on TV shows so I can't select any episode after 10 or 11.)

      I have a qnap file server which runs great except that it's able to use hardware transcoding for 265 so I have to access it directly (via Emby).

      I have a stronger computer that I think I broke the power supply (hoping that's all it is) but I have not had a chance to work on it yet. It's running windows 10 with a top of the line NVidia card and was more responsive weith almost everything but kept locking up using Kodi. I need to get around to troubleshooting it as well as installing Linux on it.

  8. Thank you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thank you for helping Hillary get the nomination and ensuring Trump was elected. We've done you job. Now go away.

  9. smart TVs are too bundly by FudRucker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    i dont want an arm processor computer with android bundled in to my TV, like the other poster said, sell dumb TVs with 2 or 3 or 4 HDMI ports, maybe those rca jacks for audio & video too, i can always hook up various arm or x86 computers to my TV if i want to do that, and besides, what if the computer inside my TV gets a little old, what then? throw out the whole TV because the computer in it is obsolete???

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
    1. Re:smart TVs are too bundly by tomhath · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The TV is not the product; you are the product. The "smart" features are there to ensure you see all the advertisements.

  10. In other news by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

    Eric Schmidt: Google TV on 'majority' of new TVs by summer 2012 - I bet Apple would like successes like that for change instead of failures like Home Pod.

    --
    Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  11. I will never buy a new TV. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I will however buy a large monitor with HMDI and other ports.
    And I will also buy a Ocolus Go VR headset when it comes out.

    TV with all the channels, is not interesting, and I havent watched TV for about five years.

    Why any company would invest in TV, or Smart-TVs today, is beyond my comprehension.

  12. Needs to be stopped by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The type of vertical integration being pushed on us by Amazon needs to be stopped.

    Time to break up Amazon.

    1. Re:Needs to be stopped by Trailer+Trash · · Score: 4, Funny

      The type of vertical integration being pushed on us by Amazon needs to be stopped.

      Time to break up Amazon.

      I know! I wish we had the option to just not buy one of these.

      --
      Do you have ESP?
  13. What about dumb displays? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What I want is a big dumb display, like a computer monitor. I don't want anything smart, I don't even want a tuner. Give me something simple with lots of inputs such as composite, S-video, components, DVI and multiple HDMI. I don't even want a remote.

    Is that too much to ask?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:What about dumb displays? by Highdude702 · · Score: 2

      I agree with all but the lack of remote.. Some tv's and monitors are s pain in the ass to change input on without a remote. I have a small ASUS monitor with one of those touch sense button panels on the bottom. If carbon paper, even receipts gets near it it senses input and fucks off.. Remote please with all those inputs. And don't for get DP, it is the future of connections just needs time like HDMI.

    2. Re:What about dumb displays? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Won't buy unless:

      1) Matt screen. No glossy screen. No exceptions
      2) At least one HDMI input. More maybe but not necessary.
      3) Must not require connection to network for anything at any time.
      4) No camera
      5) No microphone
      6) No Tuner
      7) No Sound

      This means I will probably be stuck with my current 80" Sharp for the quite a long time ...

    3. Re:What about dumb displays? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Ah yes of course. Let's just ask for proper buttons instead of touch panels (problem solved, no remote needed and buttons should cost less than a touch panel) and multiple DisplayPort instead of HDMI. Well, maybe one HDMI or two.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    4. Re: What about dumb displays? by jddj · · Score: 1

      Carbon paper? WTF?!?

      Did you for that post on an Olivetti and fax it in?

    5. Re: What about dumb displays? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      You apparently don't actually use your desk to you know.. Do desk things.

    6. Re:What about dumb displays? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      I agree, but something has to make them "different" from the rest. And always need HDMI ports. Too much stuff has only HDMI and converting cables and adapters normally suck and sometimes older devices will refuse to use them.

    7. Re: What about dumb displays? by jddj · · Score: 1

      Nah, just haven't laid eyes on carbon paper in like, a decade. Probably stored in the back of the supply cabinet with the mimeo fluid and the tape for the ASR-33.

    8. Re:What about dumb displays? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tuners were added so you didn't need a cable or satellite box. If a remote control breaks, you just buy a new remote control. If the buttons on the TV break, you need a new TV. Even the old CRT TV's ended up having electronic circuit boards.

      3D TV was cool, at least all the promotional adverts. Some movies like Transformers have so much detail and motion that I had to try and swap the left/right channels in order to make the scene make sense (title letters appeared further away that the background).

    9. Re: What about dumb displays? by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      You may not knowingly have. But heat transfer receipts press transfer paper all the shit like that has a bit of carbon in it. Not the jet black sheets of yesteryear.

    10. Re: What about dumb displays? by jddj · · Score: 1

      Naw, dude, that's not carbon. Thought you were talking the real-deal here.

    11. Re:What about dumb displays? by Jaime2 · · Score: 1

      I actually want less. One HDMI input is plenty. Life is better if you run all your sources through an AV receiver and real speakers. Even better, an up-converting receiver so the picture never flickers when changing sources.

    12. Re:What about dumb displays? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get a projector.

      Combine with a receiver if you can't find any with all the inputs you want.

    13. Re:What about dumb displays? by Walter+White · · Score: 1

      A touch panel can be implemented by sticking a couple pieces of foil on the plastic. It's probably going to be less expensive than mechanical switches.

  14. If it's anything like their fire stick.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No thanks. That is the most annoying piece of garbage UI I've ever encountered. I have to dodge their silly ads and promotions just to get to my content. Never again amazon, never again.

  15. Create a meme for the average person by jenningsthecat · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's time to start seriously promoting the truth among the non-tech-savvy that 'smart TV's are a dumb idea'. Folks still have the Facebook debacle in the backs of their minds - maybe it's time to bring it back into the foreground and make clear the relationship between Facebook spying on people via their computers, and TV makers / sellers spying on them via their TV sets.

    I have lots of hope, (but very little optimism), that it's possible to wake Joe and Jane average from their shiny-induced stupor.

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
    1. Re:Create a meme for the average person by ausekilis · · Score: 1

      I agree wholeheartedly with this. I've started seeing a lot of Google Assistant ads on Hulu lately that advertise letting Google "lock that" or "watch this" or "turn on the lights". How about NO to all of the above.

      What happened to the massive backlash pointed at Microsoft over the Kinect being an always-on camera and microphone? Are we really so quick to forget about having something always listening and watching in our homes?

    2. Re:Create a meme for the average person by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Why is everyone "going all Battlestar Galactica?" Smart TVs are a way to get away from the cable TV assholes of yesteryear. Your campaign to banish "smart TVs" is doomed from the beginning. Outside of this thread we are all talking about how we ditched cable years ago.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
    3. Re:Create a meme for the average person by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Google sunsetted and shut down so many things over the years I can't look at them seriously for anything any more.

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  16. Not surprising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as Best Buy has been an unofficial Amazon showroom for years...

  17. best buy signed its suicide letter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    there is only one way this "deal" can end up...

    1. Re:best buy signed its suicide letter by datavirtue · · Score: 1

      Yep....and so has Khols. They know it's over. Three years tops...

      --
      I object to power without constructive purpose. --Spock
  18. Perfect for a den of spies (Bestbuy Geeksquad) by Burz · · Score: 1

    ...to sell devices that are just waiting to be abused as 'telescreens'.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story...

    1. Re:Perfect for a den of spies (Bestbuy Geeksquad) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'll never win the argument when it involves "kiddie porn". Try swinging the story in the opposite direction:

      https://www.cbsnews.com/news/610k-settlement-in-school-webcam-spy-case/

      Many Android TV's are now voice activated and have a camera.

  19. Surviving Amazon by Mad-Bassist · · Score: 1

    I find it interesting that a company as big as Best Buy decided to use Amazon as a source of revenue. I've heard of small businesses and entrepreneurs being sellers, the wisdom being that it doesn't have to be their only income stream.

    I think Trump has it wrong: the future is adapting, and right now it looks like running a business through Amazon isn't a bad idea, despite Amazon profiting from it without much effort (unless one spends a bit more to take advantage of their ability to store, handle, and ship merchandise!)

    --
    "The only legitimate use of a computer is to play games." - Eugene Jarvis
  20. Smart TV Oxymoron by Blue+Stone · · Score: 1

    Yay! let's all buy Amazon's security risk with built in obsolescence!

    The OS will stop getting patches in a few years so you'll have to either disconnect it from the network - losing the smart TV functionality you're buying - and/or buy another one if you want that wonderful 'smart tv experience'!

    Isn't that just grand.

    Plain old screen with ports (HDMI/USB) + smart box (android/pi/whatever) is the only sensible way. Anything else is Dumb TV.

    --
    Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
    1. Re:Smart TV Oxymoron by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you might, you know, watch OTA TV, which in our country we refer to as "watching TV".
      Use the remote to enter the channel's number and raise/lower the sound volume.

      Why do the simplest of things need be complicated!
      For the "smart", use a laptop PC, or desktop, running Windows or Linux. If you need low end/low power just use a damn netbook.
      Why? It's easier to update Windows 7 or to install Linux Mint etc. than to hack "ROMs" on goddamn unsupported Android hardware, plus having to learn another OS (Android) and its programs. No online account needed! No activation! (well, if you're on linux or permanently run a copy of Windows with "Windows is not genuine" message)

  21. Planned obsolescence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    what if the computer inside my TV gets a little old, what then? throw out the whole TV because the computer in it is obsolete???

    When our NYC cable company, Time Warner, 'merged' and became Spectrum, we were forced to throw out a working dumb TV since their cheap replacement boxes stopped bundling Coax. The installer guy had some kind of adapter that he refused to support despite my showing him proof that our new TVs and the new boxes were still doing nothing over the faulty / unsupported Coax adapter. A strike for forced upgrades.

    We were already running from Verizon, who had for years been hiding their frequent struggles to maintain their DSL lines here in Upper Manhattan and gave some shameless ultimatum that would force us to pay even more for the privilege of neglecting us with 3Mb speeds for years despite being just 3 blocks away from the CO. So this would have been another forced upgrade.

    I digress... making a point of having little power of choice, and facing unforeseen consequences by the unknown unknowns, now matter what I as a customer can do... let's get back to our obsoleted TV and new ISP overlords... we were forced to throw it out. The mother did a blind purchase based on price. We needed just an HDTV but price was low and it came out to be smart. So mind you, Samsung in 2017 sells us a TV with more planned obsolescence. The Youtube "app" was on the box IIRC, but I never saw it --I was foolish enough marveling at our first ever smart TV to OK the update prompt that came up when allowed it on our Wifi.

    That's another strike: irreversible loss of value wrt time-of-purchase. I recall seeing a friend's TV whose list of video services also inexplicably stopped working, after YT's deal with their manufacturer expired a year or two after date of purchase.
    So not only am I losing features, but I also cannot update the crappy Samsung Browser (based on Chromium ~35 IIRC)

    Are you still with me? so, not only is the browser experience already crappy and slow, messages about browser compatibility lead the curious informed user to search for a newer version. You'll chase your tail from Samsung to google and discover that there isn't one. There is no app-store install and Sony doesn't seem to have standalone installers. I've been burned so I didn't bother to search for potential firmware updates.

    So here is the knockout punch: The browser warnings and poor usability are part of obsolescence. You'll be stuck with a TV for 10 years until it breaks, except for people looking for larger sizes or falling prey to passing tech fads (remember 3D?). My experience is tech giants and browser makers like Firefox and Chrome are aggressively implementing dissuasion pushing site publishers away from plain http and javascript-less pages. We warnings about self-published certificates that are scary compared to regular http. We got non-configurable blocks against deprecated https certificates... If you run a browser that is older than 5 years, you run into certificate errors, since bundled certs are often not too long-lasting because browsers are assumed to never last that long. Guess they forgot about IE6 again...

    Guess they don't realize that smartphones and TVs often reach the 5-year mark. I keep an old copy of Centos running 2013 version of Firefox (24). Starting 2018, many https-only sites have mysteriously refused to connect. Slashdot is included. Fast forward 5 years when http has been beaten down into the land of anti-corporate taboos, and today's nascent world of letsencrypt certs requires certs that TODAY's static TV browsers are unable to accept... it's gonna be a lot of breakage out there. Final strike for planned obsolescence in the form of needing to rent non-obsolecense for your browsers... peace of mind paid for yearly in the form of some kind of "Browsing as a Service", I guess.

    I don't trust Android's Project treble to have solved the problem. TVs and cars and phones will probably have evolved to house special apps that embed upgrade-able /

  22. hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I actually thought that Best Buy went bankrupt and out of business a few years ago. I'm not making a joke. Why would anyone go to Best Buy? ESPECIALLY to buy an Amazon product?