I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I just want a giant dumb display from my Apple TV. I vaguely remember someone posting a link to tvs restaurants use but I don’t remember exactly what or if it was what I’m looking for.

(Sorry, being lazy here)

TV is just a screen. That is how I've used mine for the last 5+ years.

2042: a $20 budget neural version hits the market but requires the user to watch a 15s ad every 5 minutes.

Walmart is one of the most litigated companies ever, and probably has 10+ active lawsuits against it at any given time. So if they're getting into this, they're fairly sure it will work legally now and in the future.

The battle against personal-data-collection by default on TVs is probably lost at this point. It's over. Non-smart TVs will probably become specialized, super-expensive corporate-class expenses out of reach of most people before too long.

Projectors are capable of creating a big image on a wall like a TV, and while it's not as bright, it comes with much less privacy invasion, and is also portable. That's where I'm likely spending my future TV dollars until those gets caught up in this as well.

The last TV I actually enjoyed more than a PC/Mac display was a monster Panasonic plasma that had some serious practicality issues. I'd use it maybe 2-3 hours per week.

None of the other display technologies are that interesting to me. OLED gets close sometimes, but nothing matches the visceral urgency of a plasma panel clocked at 600hz. The noises it would make in bright scenes was crazy. You had to have a powerful sound system to cover up the semiconductor switching. And, that's kind of the entire point for me with a television. Go big or go home. Exhibition. If I just want to consume content without pissing off the neighbors, my MacBook/PC tends to provide a much better experience.

They have been on a decline for years and this is a nail in the coffin.

At this point, it can actually be easier to piece parts together instead of paying for a TV with Tizen OS on a tv that may have a camera to watch you sit on the couch with your fingers all orange from the cheeto binge screaming at the TV because that seems to happen a lot now.

1984 has been here for 10 years, now it's just grown big enough to be noticable.

I have a $1700 Samsung TV. It's quite nice, but I struggle with changing the HDMI input of all things.

Not sure if that's they're intent here, but I could easily see that becoming a thing (if it isn't already). And what better way to collect useful ad data on people than forcing them to create an account and then tracking their usage of the device.

Of course, I would never buy this tv because of the requirement. I just buy dumb tvs and then stick an apple tv in front if the hdmi input.

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Some questions prospective buyers should ask:

1. Is "onboarding" necessary for this "Smart TV" to function as a "dumb screen"? i.e. Would a user need to get a Walmart account just to access video settings?

2. Does it inject ads or phone home to share screen captures from HDMI input?

3. Is not giving it access to WiFi sufficient, or does this thing have alternative ways of getting "updates"?

The hardware is amazing, the software could improve in terms of how it deals with motion blur and surfaces like gravel.

It’s obvious that the TV manufacturers have no motivation to provide updates and now they are moving to steal your data.

If one wanted arguably less/different spyware, there's the Fire TV Stick 4K Max* $35, Apple TV 4K* $149, or Nvidia Shield TV Pro** for $199.

* Shows ads

** Shows ads that can be disabled by stopping Google/Android services

I understand. I've been an EFF supporter for decades, at least when I can afford it. I get it.

The problem though is that you sometimes want to screencast a video or song from your phone. Your dirty dirty phone that has been out in the wild collecting malware. Or a guest does. And sure, what's one video?

And of course your TV doesn't have the latest updates.

It's a fucking perverse incentive that will lead to more regulation of the Internet and IoT when we get malware "leaks" and outbreaks.

The civil libertarians have been co-opted with game theory and smart knowledge of the tragedy of the commons in this case by the intelligence services.

Instead of just educating citizens and democratic debate.

I don't have the political power to sell that idea now, and I know it sounds crazy.

Oh well. I wonder what I can't sell next.