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Relatedly, Hisense also forces updates and disables use of the TV if you do not accept the update (via a full screen non-cancelable prompt).
I learned this the hard way after Hisense broke my TV via an update that I didn't want and then refused to fix it even after 6 months of escalations and emails.
They’re not alone, either. I had to downgrade my Visio just to use the features that it shipped with. I’m sure this is illegal, but no one cares unless you’re rich.
I know they're different manufacturers, but TCL tried this shit and I just factory reset and never setup the Internet on it. I use an android TV box for the smarts.
Unfortunately the firmware was the issue, not just OS software. So factory-resetting didn't help us. But yeah, that definitely radicalized me to the "never connect it to the internet" camp for future TVs.
I got a TCL last year and it wouldn't let me use the TV until I set up the internet. After 4 factory resets I figured out how to put it in store demo mode, and plugged in a separate streaming device that connects to the internet. Now I realize I could have connected the TV to the internet and then blocked it at the network level.
Their Google TV models have a basic mode which lets you use it without internet with no bypassing.
My mom has a Hisense TV (because my parents invariably buy the very cheapest they can. They'd get a B&W if they could), and it just started something new - on start up, it now shows a static page of color wash, then you choose a channel. It doesn't start on the same channel you turned off last night. Must be a new update came through. She let it sit on the screensaver all day, because it never occurred to her to try to change the channel.
Not a big deal, but weird, and NOBODY asked for this.
Was gonna say, LG does the same thing.
So far my only TV that hasn't forced things in an absurd way has been my Sony... Guess what Sony just did? (Sold their Bravia TV line to TCL...)
I’ve never connected my LG TVs to the internet and they work pretty well.
I hear you can jailbreak them, which is appealing to me.
No shit? I might have to try that, only problem is my spouse will kill me if I break it... (primary TV)....
I got a Hisense tv in November and never connected it to the internet. Now I am extremely pleased that I never connected it.
This future fucking sucks
This is the cyberpunk future that the 80s kids were so hyped for.
As a 80s kid I don’t recall being hyped. If anything all sci-fi books were warnings for us. Younger generations embraced the black mirror shit thought.
Somewhere between Snow Crash and Hackers it became the dream instead of the nightmare.
I have a HiSense TV and use ADB AppControl to disable/remove the telemetry or forced updates, and Projectivy Launcher to get a home screen/launcher that doesn't show ads. Both are free and work really well. I don't see trash on my homescreen anymore.
I bought mine a few years ago, never connected to the internet, never had a problem.
Now I'm definitely never connecting it.
Holy shit, glad I put my hisense behind a pihole blocking all domain lookups and never updated it
Anybody have un-enshittified 4k tv recommendations?
Mainly want good picture quality for movies + high refresh rate for games.
There are still non-"smart" monitors (as opposed to tvs), get one while you can. I would but too poor. My world's full of 1080p trickle down :p
The biggest thing you can do is just never connect it to the internet. I even block the MAC addresses so ever if someone tried to connect it, it won’t. Then use an external box like a Roku, PC, or AppleTV to connect to your content.
And, if any TV requires an internet connection to set it up, immediately return it.
Exactly this.
"Smart" TVs never go online, never connect to anything but power and an HDMI, and quite frankly..if it didnt risk causing warranty headaches, I'd open teh fucker up and unplug its wifi antenna too.
Always use an old PC/Laptop/Raspberry Pi/whatever to get them online/on youtube/streaming/etc. You have full control over those devices, and can update them as desired and modify them at a whim.
Fuckin hate smart TVs. a bunch of fucking spyware and adware that just makes the device run hotter and die sooner.
We're gonna need this "requires Internet connection" bit to be in reviews.
Would you consider an old plasma TV? They won't be in 4K (I think they topped out at 1440p) but there are some real advantages to them (if you can tolerate the disadvantages).
"Ads help pay for the smart part of the TV" /s
"the ads help us make more money above and beyond all the apps who've paid us to pre-load their shit on our product"
Damn. Just bought a Hisense fridge last week. I hope I won't have to watch an ad before it lets me get the mayo.
Sending pics of your moldy leftovers to your crush if you don't pay up
I'm sorry Dave. I can't let you do that.
I have a "smart" TV, but it has never been connected to the internet for reasons such as this. Also I don't want it spying on me, which is a thing society has to deal with now for some reason, and we just let it happen.
We should be burning the corporate headquarters for these places down when they try shit like this.
I just stopped using a tv, period..
