I’d pay extra for no AI in any of my shit.
I would already like to buy a 4k TV that isn’t smart and have yet to find it. Please don’t add AI into the mix as well :(
I don’t have a TV, but doesn’t a smart TV require internet access? Why not just… not give it internet access? Or do they come with their own mobile data plans now meaning you can’t even turn off the internet access?
They continually try to get ob the Internet, it’s basically malware at this point. The on board SoC is also usually comically underpowered so the menus stutter.
The simple trick to turn a “smart” TV into a regular one is too cut off its internet access.
I was just thinking the other day how I’d love to “root” my TV like I used to root my phones. Maybe install some free OS instead
You can if you have a pre-2022 LG TV. It’s more akin to jailbreaking since you can’t install a custom OS, but it does give you more control.
Signage TVs are good for this. They’re designed to run 24/7 in store windows displaying advertisements or animated menus, so they’re a bit pricey, and don’t expect any fancy features like HDR, but they’ve got no smarts whatsoever. What they do have is a slot you can shove your own smart gadget into with a connector that breaks oug power, HDMI etc. which someone has made a Raspberry Pi Compute Module carrier board for, so if you’re into, say, Jellyfin, you can make it smart completely under your own control with e.g. libreELEC. Here’s a video from Jeff Geerling going into more detail: https://youtu.be/-epPf7D8oMk
Alternatively, if you want HDR and high refresh rates, you’re okay with a smallish TV, and you’re really willing to splash out, ASUS ROG makes 48" 4K 10-bit gaming monitors for around $1700 US. HDMI is HDMI, you can plug whatever you want into there.
Still slow UI.
If only signage displays would have the fidelity of a regular OLED consumer without the business-usage tax on top.
