[nottorp]

> they can get a decent replacement for $300 new

Presumably the "decent replacement" will also be too smart for their own good and there will be people who will pay extra on purchase for a "de-smarted" device.

Speaking of which, I shudder to think what will happen if my current TV ever breaks. Would getting a "smart" TV and physically removing the wifi help?

[LadyCailin]

My prediction is that more devices will start to come with an eSIM that phones home and downloads more ads or uploads user data whether you give it WiFi access or not.

[reaperman]

Amazon Sidewalk can also be used - it automatically finds devices on other networks (like your next-door neighbor) and sends data through their devices in case you don't connect your device to your own network.

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Sidewalk/

[nottorp]

That may be a business opportunity... make faraday cages that enclose the right spots on specific tv models...

[eimrine]

Have you ever seen TV not connected to the Internets? Some models refuse to work with "no free storage" alert if it has spywared too much data about the used (used is any user of proprietary sw). When the used connects the snoop-TV to the network it of course unloads the data.

[nottorp]

> Have you ever seen TV not connected to the Internets?

I'm a luddite. I have an 1080p TV from before Android TVs.

And I'm afraid to upgrade it...

[tharkun__]

I haven't had a "TV" for over 25 years now.

I still have a dumb monitor that costs more than a TV that would have a larger diameter with an HTPC that is really just a regular Linux install and that runs open source software on it. Which software has changed over the years, as has what kind of "TV" I get on it, from actually having a cable TV tuner in there to all streaming or local files. Over that time frame, it has become increasingly harder to get things to work "properly".

As in, yes there are caveats to this of course. Like there's no Netflix (/insert your favourite streaming service) app for it and you probably can't get 4k and/or surround sound from in-browser. As in, they're intentionally making the experience of people actually paying money to them worse.

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices.

[wiether]

I'm kinda in the same boat, my 14yo 1080p TV still works like a charm, so my worry is more about what would happen if it died?

[guappa]

Those things aren't cheap.

[codedokode]

GSM module? I think it costs several dollars. They are already installed into electricity meters for example.

[guappa]

The lifetime subscription :)

[codedokode]

It doesn't need to be lifetime, only as long as devices are supported. Also, electricity meters makers somehow solved this problem. I am sure a subscription won't be expensive if the device doesn't use too much data. Also the device maker can pay with collected data or advertisement.

[guappa]

Electricity meters are already conveniently plugged to a wire?