If I could buy an actual, proper, dumb TV with the same quality of screen and array of inputs as the top LG, Sony or Samsung then I absolutely would. As far as I am aware no such thing exists anymore.
I don't get it. So separate box isn't spying?
Honestly I wish I had just purchased a Shied w/ a "dumb" tv instead of my Bravia with built in Android. So many issues and incompatibilities... Live and learn
I'll always use a separate set top box over a smart TV for two reasons - portability and upgrading. I can disconnect the box and take my setup with me if needed, and I can get a new one when the hardware starts to age without replacing a perfectly good TV. Someone's probably making money off my data either way.
That nice 4k Smart TV's picture is just as pretty without a network connection.
I've had a loyalty card at a local grocery store
I use amazon alexa (and love it)
I use facebook and google for a lot of my online information
I'm supposed to be bothered that my TV wants to sell me tv shows? oh god the horror!
I've sold myself out a long time ago, bring on the tv discounts.
I may be in the vocal minority here, but I'm willing to pay more for a smart-less TV.
LOL, so you think a seperate Android Box is going to prevent Google from "spying" on you and data collecting ?
Vizio are being forced to be honest these days after this Class Action Lawsuit settlement:
https://www.classlawgroup.com/vizio-smart-tv-privacy-lawsuit/
Makes for some really interesting reading about the minute details of data collection companies can now do.
The only company that takes privacy seriously is Apple, and they made a very LARGE statement about it outside CES 2019 in Las Vegas recently:
If you don't want your activity tracked don't use the internet, get a land line, get rid of cable, write everything down with pen and paper, do not use a GPS, pay cash for everything, and never use a loyalty card or gift card.
Welcome to 1940.
The replies here are incredibly disappointing. Just because bullshit is common doesn't mean you should be okay with it.
What a non issue. I'll admit to joining my smart TV to the network years ago to try out the features. They sucked, of course.
No problem.
Just block the device at the router.
It never even occurred to me (this was years ago, remember) that the TV would "spy'on me. And instead of taking the time to even try and figure out how to disable those features at the TV., it was super easy to just block it off from the intent instead.
My #1 reason:
So I can use my remote's Home button over HDMI-CEC.
Does the author of this article refuse to use a smartphone or ad supported websites or the same credit/debit card multiple times or grocery loyalty cards?
Everything that can be remotely internet connected tracks you in some way. Netflix and YouTube are running the same analytics on your habits whether you watch them on your TV's built-in software, a set top box, your phone, or your PC. Running them directly on your TV just means its manufacturer gets some small kickback istead of Nvidia or whoever. This may be a form of "spying", but it's the same usage tracking we're all subjected to already. Your TV isn't listening to you or anything like that.
Now choosing your TV based on the particular smarts it contains probably is a bad idea, but only because it will probably stop receiving updates in a year or three. Then just plug the device of your choice into it. It's much cheaper to replace a streaming box every two years than the whole TV.
I have a TCL Roku 4K TV and have no idea how but it pops up on the bottom to "start over watching this movie with our service" for a few seconds any time I'm watching a movie on Shield TV even in Kodi. No idea how to disable it.
It's really irrelevant. Because if it's not your tv collecting data from you, your separate box is collecting data. And if somehow your Roku/Shield/Apple TV or Fire TV aren't collecting data (they are), the apps you are using are collecting data.
As long as my TV limits their collection to viewing habits and not secretly recording my conversations and selling that I'm ok with it.