#Why do these titles read like a contractor talking shop about something to me?!?

Updates can be worth installing if they solve problems that the TV has (which can be numerous and can vary substantially between models). The documentation associated with a given update should detail what changes it makes and/or problems it corrects.

If the TV is Internet connected then you definitely want to install updates regularly, as they might patch security vulnerabilities.

I think some of the older models added major features like VRR and such after release, but in general probably not. I’d assume there’s some patched vulnerabilities but if it’s air gapped from the internet I’m not sure how much it matters.

Because I don't want to see my face every time my computer boots and some offices are overly bright.

Feels like it's just a matter of time before these fucking modern parasitic TVs require internet connection to even work. As a television.

Nice. That's a great resolution for a 32" screen. The same PPI as 27" 5K (5120x2880) which is so much more pleasant to eyes than your usual 27" 4K (3840x2160)... And IPS Black as well. Good stuff.

Smart TVs collect data on everything you watch to be sold on to advertisers. This includes everything you steam, watch local off disks, everything… they actually collect data at the screen level.

TVs are the prices they are because they are subsidized by this entire other business they run, selling your data.

Of course the data randomized and not tied specifically to you, and if you don’t have the TV on the internet it can’t do this at all.

But smart TVs are 100% designed to collect and sell data to advertisers. The bright side is, it means they can be pretty dang cheap… because again, they are actively making money for the TV company, so they want everyone to have one.

I just did a bit of looking, it seems the dumb screens are mostly for commercial applications and the prices are sky high. Guess we're stuck with Smart screens for now.

I've never even done that. Are the updates worth getting?

A dumb screen with the same specs would probably cost a good bit more since they'd be losing out on the option to datamine what you watch.

Imo that's a huge benefit, but the big draw is using it as a mini e-reader/Kindle.

Gloss is out matte is in

Can't wait to replace my Samsung "smart" tv for this very reason lol I mean $250 for a 55" 4k tv was pretty good and we bought it almost 4 years ago so we've definitely got our money's worth but holy hell does that UI lag like crazy lol

We use Disney + constantly, and the smart tv apps are all unbearably slow, so I use the PS5. It's overkill for sure, but when I push a button the screen responds instead of waiting 10 seconds or so.

Really wish I could just buy a screen, I have so much crap plugged in that the "Smart" functions are a waste.

Also it's much better for outdoor use since there's no backlight needed. You don't need to max brightness and overheat the phone to use it outside.

That's pretty neat. Something else that would be cool would be having the eink panel sit on top of an LCD. Then just turn off the LCD and output to the eink. Afaik, eInk panels are transparent or can be made so when they have no ink on them.

I think some smart watches do this (use eInk for the always on time and OLED otherwise) and it's really neat.

Or maybe a dot matrix top display

That's what I did on my parents LG. The fucking update pop ups are the most annoying thing and webOS is a clustered mess even with the smart remote. Apple TV is king.

G2 just doesn’t seem worth it unless you have excessive money to spend. C2 is very close performance and is way better value. This is coming from a guy who has 3 OLED TVs but could never justify getting the G2

That’s not actually true. Apple’s phones have had 12 MP sensors for a very long time. They are not “the same sensor but with better post processing”. Not even remotely.

why matte? :/

eww that webcam

Kind of related, the Ticwatch 3 uses an lcd screen on top of an OLED screen. So the lcd screen can last up to a couple weeks for just the clock, and OLED for a day or two for smartwatch apps.

I was interested in the possibility of using e ink in the same way, as a secondary screen combined with oled. Unfortunately I'm not an expert and could only find forum posts like this referencing an old screen made by a company that no longer exists, Pixel Qi https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/594549/oled-or-other-screens-combined-with-e-ink

And a 10 year old patent filed by apple https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2011/04/apple-exploring-hybrid-e-inklcd-display-for-idevices/

100%. I connect my TV to the internet maybe once a year to check for updates and then immediately off again.

Just to piggyback on this discussion...I was given an Apple TV 4K for Christmas and it's a fuckin gamechanger!

No more shitty slow Samsung "Smart" UI.

If you already have the Apple TV, can't you just leave it disconnected from the internet? I'm able to use my LG as an entirely dumb TV that way.