Devices > Video Cards, Monitors, Televisions, and Projectors

Samsung Smart TVs Now Showing Popup Ads Over Your Content

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kstuart:
Do you notice that we have now entered a situation where the creation of profit occurs entirely outside of human control ?

In all cases, if an action would increase profits, and it is not done because of some other consideration, the person responsible is fired and replaced with someone who does not have any other considerations.

We're only a short way from profit creation being moved into software where it is immune to human considerations entirely.  Then they won't have to bother with "side effects may include..." because it will be tough luck if you have side effects, software doesn't care...

mwillems:
So I saw my first TV ad last week after a firmware update, thankfully not superimposed over my computer output, but enough's enough.  I had tried not to setup all the TV's network functionality in the hopes that it might protect me from ad content, but I'd been leaving the Smart TV's internet access enabled against my better judgment on the rationale that firmware/software updates might be worth having, but no more of that.

For anyone else with a Samsung Smart display:

It took a few go rounds to figure out how to cripple it's internet access (it has a built in WiFi receiver and no menu option to "disable" internet access once it's gotten it), but I eventually succeeded in turning it off by given it bogus router info (all zeroes).  It can no longer "phone home" to receive ads, etc., and as an added bonus it no longer indiscriminately broadcasts itself as an available DLNA option (which I never deliberately enabled, and also couldn't be turned off).  

Fortunately I need none of it's "smart" features, so the internet-ectomy is a good solution for me.  So far it seems to be working (no more ads), which is good because the next step was going to involve voiding my warranty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skfDtN63XD4 .

I feel bad for anyone who bought a Smart TV, expecting to be able to use the "Smart" features in a way that didn't involve loads of targeted ads.  It's an appliance for heaven's sake  :(

kstuart:

--- Quote ---expecting to be able to use the "Smart" features in a way that didn't involve loads of targeted ads.
--- End quote ---

Apparently you have not spent $14 for a ticket at a movie theater in order to watch 20 minutes of ads before your movie.   They did that after putting ads at the beginning of DVD movies that you paid $30 for.

MrC:
You have control... you have a choice.  Stop being their consumer.  Civil and consumer protest is never free, nor without some discomfort or sacrifice.

mwillems:

--- Quote from: MrC on January 24, 2014, 02:32:51 pm ---You have control... you have a choice.  Stop being their consumer.  Civil and consumer protest is never free, nor without some discomfort or sacrifice.

--- End quote ---

Absolutely, that's exactly the reason why I stopped going to the movies and started working on building up my own home theater  ;D

As for the TV, I think this is a comparatively recent practice for Samsung TVs (I went two years without seeing an ad).  And whether it's recent or not, I certainly wasn't aware this was going to be a thing when I grabbed the TV a few years back, or I would've grabbed something else (a different TV brand, or a projector). Arguably, I should've seen it coming, and I'll certainly know better next time.  

Meanwhile I've already paid for the thing, so I plan to try and recover my sunk costs by using it until I can't effectively use it...

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