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Comment on Should I unplug my smart tv from the internet?

ReginaPhalange@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

I feel I must clarify. I value my privacy, and my money. I prefer to disconnect it from the internet immediately, but if the vendor put a piece of code that measures offline time and then disables critical HDMI input functionality - it is a different story entirely.

What if after X months of offline functionality - I have to connect it again because of “You must connect to the internet to continue using this TV”

What if being offline for a very long duration of time - means that when connecting it again - the firmware update bricks my TV?

I know the instabilities that occurr when updating after a very long time of being offline.

I’m unsure about my specific model - but it is an LG WebOS OLED 48"

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ikidd@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
If they disable stuff, call the manufacturer and tell them you have moved in a family member with sensitive medical equipment that needs to have no wifi in the area. Will they give you a code to disable internet or do you need to sue them for reckless endangerment?

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- pivot_root@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I think we all know the answer to this.
  
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  - ikidd@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Actually, I’ve seen reports where CS gives them a code. Maybe it’s bullshit, maybe not.
    
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- bus_factor@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Never threaten legal action to a callcenter. If they take it seriously (or just don’t want to talk to you) they’ll hang up immediately and demand all further communication goes through lawyers.
  
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pinball_wizard@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

What if being offline for a very long duration of time - means that when connecting it again - the firmware update bricks my TV?

We don’t see many updates that outright brick your product (yet). What we do see is updates that just happen to make your product run much slower than it used to. There’s always excuses why it is necessary, but in the end those updates tend to lead to sales of new devices.

Keeping the device fully offline is a defense against such an update.

Myself, I don’t see any reason for my TV to ever be online, so I take some comfort that it will not receive such an update.

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maxwells_daemon@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
No one eos obligated to have internet, and there are actually people who don’t have it. The TV isn’t sold as an “online only” product, they cannot block you from using something that works offline because you’re offline.

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