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by jitl 183 days ago
I’ve used some of my friends more recent year TVs and even if they’re not networked the UX is just horrible. One Samsung model eliminated the “input” button on the remote and forces you to go through “Home” to select inputs in a tiled menu festooned with quick tips and baked in ads for Samsung stuff like SmartThings. The worst part is that if it detects an input is connected to a game console, then it moves that input to the Gaming tab, which is chock full of tiles for shit like Solitare, Samsung game store, etc. WTF.

It’s like every interaction is viewed as an opportunity to sell attention or get you to mis-click on an ad.
2 comments
amelius 183 days ago
We really need laws against products that are still tied to the vendor after you buy them.

If a product needs to be tied to the vendor, it is a service and it should not be sold as a product.

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bluefirebrand 183 days ago
The problem is that every business seems to be run by fuckheads who would respond to this by changing their business model to "Televisions as a Service"

Every TV would become a rental instead of a product you can buy

Maybe I'm cynical, but I don't see any way to be optimistic anymore. Every company now seems to behave like landlords instead of producers

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amelius 183 days ago
Yes, but if it is "TVs as a service" then it completely changes the game. We can force them to replace the TV when it dies. Or make them take the TV back when we stop the service. Repairability would be their problem, not ours.

This could arguably be a win for the environment.

Of course, many people would still want to own their products, so that would be a market opportunity then.

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bluefirebrand 183 days ago
Only on this fucking website would I say something as full of shit as "TV as a service" and find some asshole thinking it sounds like a great idea

I give up. Go fuck yourselves Hacker News I'm done with this anti-human hellhole

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jitl 182 days ago
it’s one person don’t have a conniption
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jitl 182 days ago
It’s not just TVs, General Motors wants to be a “service” too removing connectivity like CarPlay/Android auto to force you to use a car App Store, and BMW with their subscription heated seats. Recurring revenue at all costs!!
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0cf8612b2e1e 183 days ago
One thing you could try is to get a third party remote. The input switching functionality may still exist and be reachable. At least, it worked for mine.
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