this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2023
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Need an account just to use my new gaming console. Another account to play Diablo IV. I bought the goddamned console and game. I had to sign into an app for the console. Why can't I just play the game? The Samsung display that I got for the console (I have a projector, so I needed something for daytime use) is a "smart" display. That wanted me to create an account with an app on my phone. I just woke up, so if I rambled, oh well.
I think we're at the point where everything will suck to the greatest degree from now on. There's no room left for business not to suck (Amazon ads on Prime unless you pay more, as an example). Goodbye anything that isn't terrible.
Tip on TVs: look for signage TVs. Much better possibility of them not being smart TVs.
If you do buy a smart TV, yanking the network connection and use a Pi to drive the TV connected to a media server. And use OTA antenna.
My issue is more because of the slow as piss operating systems since they are all an afterthought but one they force on you.
Buying a newer smart TV showed me this isn't getting better. Same size model and price range as the TV from years ago - previous TV was damaged.
The software has more "features". This removes the app and input feature to a dedicated screen, rather than a bottom scroll menu.
You can no longer switch to a chosen source. The TV analyses a source and only allows you to switch to that source if it has detected the input and guessed what it is. Now when you plug in a hdmi device you need to wait for the TV to decide if you can change to the new source. This is very frustrating when using a switch. Not a problem in older Samsung TVs.
Most of the bundled apps are terrible Samsung services or paid for apps with no uninstall ability.
The apps you may want like BBC iPlayer don't work correctly. They can access the app, but often the app is unable to play the media without a reset of the TV.
The TV can't be reset with the remote. Powering off, doesn't power off the TV. You need to switch it off at the wall. Despite this you can't cast media to the TV when the screen isn't on.
Using external devices like a chromecast, firestick, raspberry pi etc. Seems like a good solution. Not really. Samsung breaks the ability for devices to control the TV over hdmi to switch to their source when the TV is in Samsung app menu or settings.
The colours on the newer TV are worse than the old TV.
The TV also has to boot up now.
TVs are getting worse. No one in the TV market actually cares about the experience of the customer. Dumb TV seem like a good idea, but they are harder to access and often cost more.
Someone new has to enter the TV space. Samsung, LG and Sony all make shitty software. They sell as having extra features but these features are half backed and don't care about the overall experience. It's the same with their smart phones. A TV should come with decent calibration. A dumb TV controller that handles volume, source input, brightness. Then a second computer to do apps and features, that doesn't need to be working for base functions until called upon.
My piece of shit smart TV flashes the power light when it's not connected to the network. 🙃
mine does something similar...electricians tape fixed that shit real fast
Past the return policy?
I’d add to that - never connect it in the first place so it doesn’t know your wifi credentials, and if it has ever connected block the tv in your firewall via hardware address.
In a functional society we would see the government regulate enshitification and protect consumers, but at least in the US, we are not seeing that. Only hope is that the EU can curb this trend somehow and the world follows suit