After researching a new TV (where it only needs an Apple TV, no so-called smart features for spying purposes) the three contenders were Samsung, LG and Sony Bravia (the higher end models). Samsung was the least trustworthy, having played games with firmware updates and adding telemetry, LG was medium trustworthy, and Sony seemed the least likely. It looks like that heuristic was correct. For the Bravia, I put it on wifi just once temporarily to upgrade the firmware when I bought it, and I'm leaving it disconnected.

It can't just magically connect to an openwifi and update its firmware to start telemetry. It would need a new firmware to even try that.

Folks, never update a TV firmware unless it's necessary.

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drnick1 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Folks, never update a TV firmware unless it's necessary.

Why would a TV ever need a firmware update? Either it works out of the box or it doesn't and I return it. I never updated the firmware of my PC monitor either.

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Ardon 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

There really is a lot of processing between the signal and final display. It's pretty common for TVs to ship and then get a firmware update that does actually affect core display functionality.

I'd rather they just shipped finished firmware, but yanno. I got bit on a monitor that has actual firmware bugs but no firmware upgrade path that doesn't involve trying to ship it to a service center.

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ZekeSulastin 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

To Ardon's point, my Dell AW3423DWF shipped with an incorrect EOTF for its HDR Peak 1000 mode which was fixed in a firmware update. It's still just a plain monitor though without any "Smart" features though.

... I said something about not sneaking crap in but then I remembered that Dell liked to try and push the Alienware app via Windows Update. I don't have it but I don't remember what I did to block it or if they just stopped pushing it.

	▲	spockz 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		There is a feature that you can enable in windows update, which was off by default once upon a time, that allows windows update to lookup and install apps by usb/peripheral id: plug and play something. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/2450930/...

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dblacc 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

security updates ?

	▲	lysace 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Only needed if you connect it to the network. Don't.

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declan_roberts 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Just keep the TV completely disconnected and use something like an Apple TV.

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bigyabai 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Now you're trusting Apple to not enshittify your TV with a firmware update. Even modern set-top boxes are so awful that I understand why everyone moved on to phones/computers.

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bichiliad 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Anything that you use to show stuff on your tv is gonna have this problem. Apple is a little higher on the trust spectrum than, say, Roku. You’re paying Apple in part for the convenience of not doing a homebrew setup, and in part for the trust.

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bigyabai 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Not anything - you can use XBMC or Jellyfin and have a certain degree of control over your frontend.

Apple's big problem is that whatever they say, goes. If they decide to partner with Hulu for advertisements, you have no escape hatch to install a respectful UX.

	▲	3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		[deleted]

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drnick1 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

What makes you think the Apple TV isn't also spying on you? It almost certainly is collecting telemetry too. Whether that's more or less than LG I don't know, but my preference is a Linux box with Plasma Bigscreen.