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by Olap84 3841 days ago
A consistent platform is the most obvious benefit.

Could it also be a fairly static non vendor customized and hence upgradable OS also? Most Smart TVs are never updated after all

3 comments

> Most Smart TVs are never updated after all

Along with the usual problems of "smart" (spyware) devices, the non-updatability of IoT devices is a time bomb.

We already have a problem with firmware based on very-old Linux kernels; shipping devices with known kernel exploits should be automatic liability for any damage the device does. It's willful negligence.

As Dan Geer says[1], embedded devices need to either be updated or have a limited lifespan. We cannot allow a situation where common consumer IoT devices are both immortal and unfixable.

[1] http://geer.tinho.net/geer.blackhat.6viii14.txt

Can't any platform claim that as a benefit? For a consistent platform to have any value you'd like it to stick around for some time... Unlike FirefoxOS.
I don't see Smart TVs as a good market for Firefox OS, Android is the obvious choice in this market. Generally, you'd want to target IoT devices where battery life/power draw is important but you still want a rich UI.

Consistent platform could be a decent benefit for the markets where Firefox OS makes sense though.

Current gen SmartTVs use Tizen (Samsung) and WebOS (LG), Chromecast (ChromeOS), Panasonic (FirefoxOS), Sony (Android), etc.
Fair enough.
Are there any Smart TVs shipping with Android? I don't think it is the obvious choice, there are tons of different systems used right now.