LG "SMART TV", or NOT!! - What do you think??

[jeallen01]

This, I think, a general heads-up/ warning /question about "SMART TVs" - and currently specifically LG.

My 2 yr old LG LG 43UM7500PLA is currently telling me that some "Smart" services are unavailable and with no indication of when they might resume - OTOH, I have never used them to any extent and nor do I intend to, and so this has little effect on me/us.

It is however a reminder that a "smart tv" can be an "all the eggs in one (broken!) basket" blackhole if something goes wrong with the on-line service provider - &/or they simply decide to turn some/all of those services OFF after a few years (as Toshiba did with the (very few) "smart" services that were on our previous 42" Tosh).

Anyone else feel the same/different about this whole "smart tv" thing??

NB: after voting in the Pole, it would be helpful if you could give more info & comments on, e.g., the TV brand(s) / model(s), age, scope of services available and "useability"/user-friendliness.

Thanks in advance.

 

[statalite]

I have a dumb TV with smart boxes attached.

 

[Jimmy H]

I've had a LG-OLED55B9PLA for just over 2 years, the picture quality is great but I find the constant updates which never seem to improve anything very frustrating. The latest update has brought with it the unavailable smart service message and has generally slowed down response times.

I only use the smart services for catch up and use a Firestick for everything else.

 

[ozumo]

All my televisions are either dumb or offline.

 

[PaulR]

I prefer all my smartness to be in separate devices.

 

[Satspot]

No need for it. All the smartness resides outside of my TV. I just feed the results to the TV. Much cheaper and more efficient route and easily upgradable when necessary.

What I would like to see are more HDMI ports built into the TV. Now that would be useful. Maybe add the option I outlined above to your poll. Just watch the vote for it rise.

 

[jeallen01]

.........

What I would like to see are more HDMI ports built into the TV. Now that would be useful. Maybe add the option I outlined above to your poll. Just watch the vote for it rise.

I don't think that's quite appropriate to this thread & pole - it would be more more so in another thread (anyone care to start one ???) on what you would like to see changed/added/removed in "smart tv's".

NB: some people are voting for the 1st option but without apparently then commenting as to why / how they do use the "smart" features - it would therefore be interesting to understand the latter if they care to come back with that info!.

PS: reserving my own votes and detailed comments for a bit to to what extent if my own feelings on the subject are shared by others!

 

[Lazarus]

Occasionally use our main TV's inbuilt smartitude for Catch-Up, but far prefer the external Roku attached to the bedroom Telly.

 

[Terryl]

I have a JVC 4K smart TV, it has a built in ROKU service, I also use other services a lot, mostly for watching movies,(old and new) TV shows and series, one thing I did like is when I did a local TV channel scan it came up with over 1000 online TV channels, (locals first then it went crazy) I can't understand three quarters of them but it gives me something to do.

 

[Lazarus]

I have a JVC 4K smart TV, it has a built in ROKU service, I also use other services a lot, one thing I did like is when I did a local TV channel scan it came up with over 1000 online TV channels, (locals first then it went crazy) I can't understand three quarters of them but it gives me something to do.

Yes, Roku are now widely licensed for integration into European TV models. Far more user friendly than the respective TV manufacturers own efforts amounted to hitherto.

 

[Analoguesat]

32" LG tv. The wifi isnt enabled on it & there is no ethernet cable connected. Not in the slightest bit interested in using any of the services on it.

 

[Satspot]

I don't think that's quite appropriate to this thread & pole - it would be more more so in another thread (anyone care to start one ???) on what you would like to see changed/added/removed in "smart tv's".

NB: some people are voting for the 1st option but without apparently then commenting as to why / how they do use the "smart" features - it would therefore be interesting to understand the latter if they care to come back with that info!.

PS: reserving my own votes and detailed comments for a bit to to what extent if my own feelings on the subject are shared by others!

Well the reason I didn’t buy into the whole smart TV concept from day 1 is I’ve been doing that stuff for years. I wouldn’t want to lock myself into a ridiculously priced TV knowing I was at the whim and mercy of the manufacturer as to weather he’ll continue to support it via updates. We’ve witnessed that very clearly with both Apple and Samsung mobile devices. Fine if you’re in a position to move your TV on every 2-3 years but I certainly don’t.

When broadcasts are no longer viewable on my TV that’s when I look at alternatives.

No amount of inbuilt smartness in the TV would convince me otherwise if I can achieve similar or better results outside of the TV at a fraction of the price and believe me that’s very achievable.

As far as I can see the only smartness involved here is coming via the manufacturer when potential owners buy into the concept. To date they haven’t managed to snare me.

 

[Channel Hopper]

This, I think, a general heads-up/ warning /question about "SMART TVs" - and currently specifically LG.

It is however a reminder that a "smart tv" can be an "all the eggs in one (broken!) basket" blackhole if something goes wrong with the on-line service provider - &/or they simply decide to turn some/all of those services OFF after a few years (as Toshiba did with the (very few) "smart" services that were on our previous 42" Tosh).

Panasonic removed their access to many apps on their televisions - including YouTube - about ten years ago

 

[ManFromWales]

Sony Bravia ..made dumb. When you consider what embedded (in SW) "Samba Tv" can do, especially when it uses ACR :-

No Thanks

 

[jeallen01]

An interesting article in the latest, Issue 627, of Computer Active mag gives a lot of info about how to switch off some of the "spying" in "smart" TV's on the UK market!

 

[sonnetpete]

We have a Sony Bravia which was purchased before 'connectivity' was a thing.....I spend a huge amount of time on the latop, while SWMBO watches constant re runs of Midsomer Murders.....

 

[Lazarus]

..... while SWMBO watches constant re runs of Midsomer Murders.....

I'm doing a lot of that, too!

 

[Satspot]

I'm doing a lot of that, too!

ITV3 Repeat never mind the +1. You’ll never miss an episode.

 

[Lazarus]

ITV3 Repeat never mind the +1. You’ll never miss an episode.

Yep. That's the one.

And they're running Maigret tonight, which I missed first time around. V Good.

 

[Satspot]

Yep. That's the one.

And they're running Maigret tonight, which I missed first time around. V Good.

Have you noticed all the ads for disability aids, life assurance policies and cruises. Very clear demographic this channel is aimed at.