this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2023
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Why are people even using these kind of sticks any more rather than the apps on their TVs?
In my experience the TV apps are insanely slow and cumbersome. I’ll always grab a cheap chromecast/firestick over using some abandoned TV streaming app that needs 2 updates and a restart before launching YouTube.
Seeing people say this kind of stuff just doesn't jive with my experience at all. Both my LG smart TV I had for 5 years and my current symsyng I've had for the last two had stayed snappy and fast thoughout their use.
In addition to firetv being built into many tvs the built in apps on smart tvs are slow compared to a lot of external devices. They also send a lot of data back home and the ones not based on a big platform don't get updated as often or have the same amount to choose from.
I have apple TVs and even the older models from 2015 is faster than smart tvs I've used.
I've found the apps on my previous LG and current Samsung to be snappy and just as quick as the console based ones.
My mom's LG is so slow it was rage inducing and it's a new tv. My Samsung is better but still not great. The remotes are both terrible and neither is anywhere near the speed of an old apple tv.
There's also still privacy issues. One of the reasons the TV's are cheap these days is because they sell your data.
Meh, I've given my info to plenty of companies to use their products at this point, Google, Sony, Microsoft, Valve, etc. Samsung already have mine from an old phone so I don't care if they get it from my TV too.
I'm not giving my TV internet access to it can download ads and remove features through updates.
I'm also not going to use any major tech corporation proprietary device to stream.
I'll just connect a small computer I can manage myself, with a full wireless keyboard and mouse, that can run any app I so desire.
Ok, not being a member of the Lone Gunmen I'm not paranoid enough to worry about that.
Are people actually using the built in apps over a dedicated box? I figured most people had a dedicated streaming device for at least their main TV. So much faster, better updates, more consistent (and with things like Apple TV I think the only way to access the platform)
apple ported their streaming services to everything, it's not only available on apple hardware fwiw
but no, most people just use whatever their tv does. tech people don't obviously but most people do
Hmm, guess I've just influenced everyone I know enough to use the boxes. The only people who don't that I know are also traditional cable only people and don't use streaming services at all.
I've used the on board apps since I had a TV that supported them. I used to use my consoles before that but they suck up a lot of power for an equivalent or worse experience than the TV apps.
Can you run a VPN natively on your TV and torrent without fear of your ISP giving you a warning?
No, but I can on my tablet and then just cast the video to the TV.
Bell TV in Canada doesn't support Samsung TVs because Bell is stupid. The only option is to use an external device. It's a good thing I don't care about their TV app. I only have access because it comes free with fibre internet.
That's bizarre in 2023, all the UK channels have a Samsung app.
Some of us have old tvs. Mine is a plasma from the aughts that’s still working fine
How do you deal with watching or playing modern content designed for 4k/HDR screens?
Never did it before so idk what I’m missing. My pc is middle of the line anyways so idk. And Baldurs Gate 3 is the first new AAA game I’ve bought in quite a while and my tv isn’t even close to the top of my issues with it (crashing regularly).
So yeah when this monstrosity gives up the ghost I’ll probably buy a fancy new tv with all those features assuming the wife is cool with me getting that and as big as my current one (I inherited the current one). But idk I can see the stuff on screen ok enough, and I assume off the shelf sound hasn’t gotten much better, especially if you’re routing from headphone Jack to hearing aids like I do. I can see what’s going on and enjoy the stories. It’s not like I’m using 360i resolution or something.
How do you deal with watching or playing modern content designed for 4k/HDR screens?
The amount of features that TV must lack that I use regularly is crazy. 4K, HDR, VRR, 120hz mode, etc.
Yeah I got none of that. I do have a large red spot of burn in that’s slowly fading that I’m pretty sure is why my aunt was looking to give it away. It’s got a few display modes that generally suck. I’m pretty sure it was my aunt and uncle’s first non interlaced tv. But it’s got a few hdmi slots so I can plug in my computer and game on the couch.
I’m sure all those features are nice and all. And when my monstrosity dies I’ll probably buy something nice with those features and I’m sure my wife and I will love them. But that’s kinda the awesome part of holding on to old crap forever, when it finally does die what you get is really nice to you even if you cheap out. I thought getting 10-15 years of hearing aid advancement at once was nice, but I suspect 20 years of tv advancement will be mind blowing, and probably make me upgrade my pc monitors. But as for now my tv is 5’, heavy as fuck, and it works fine if you know how to mess with it right