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This is the future that Stallman warned us about. They mocked him and said it didn't matter. It's not going to get better until everyone stops buying TVs with spyware built in.
Vote with your wallets or quit bitching. Self hosted is an option these days. But that means not being lazy. And people are really lazy.
Vote with your wallet
When are we going to finally accept that this is nothing but a delusion? How many failed boycotts over and over will it take?
I agree with the sentiment, but really more than a boycott where you're purposefully not buying something to hurt it, it's more like people opting out of something that's just bad. It does take a while of being put through the mud for most people to realize and more importantly take action, but eventually it happens. If you're following video game stuff, look at what happened with Baldur's Gate in contrast with Overwatch 2. We need some more time (unfortunately) and one daring competitor to offer the catalyst product.
Vote with your wallets or quit bitching.
I never bought one but I can't do anything about people who have AirBnB's who buy them or hotels that install them in every room.
There are ways around that as well. Call ahead and ask what kind of TVs they have. Tell them why you are concerned and you might just get the hotel to worry about this as well if enough people start bothering them. If you don't have a choice unplug the TV and bring your own laptop.
I can't call ahead if someone else made the reservation though.
Yes, there are many situations where you will not have control of what room you stay in. Are you going to list them all one by one? JFC
If you don’t have a choice unplug the TV and bring your own laptop.
I mean I bring my own laptop anyway. I can't stop other people from using the TV.
If your solution is for everyone, everywhere to agree to do something, you're going to need a plan B.
Yo ho ho time boys. Yo ho ho.
I'm sitting here wondering if it's possible to replace the software on smart TVs with something other than what came prepackaged. Something open source, something we can control properly.
I mean, I doubt that any software will just plug and play even if you can somehow get the TV to load it.... and I'm sure with enough time and reverse engineering you could cobble it together, but, I mean, something for everyone that you can just flash onto the TV and be rid of the garbage software that came with it.
Is it possible? Yes.
Practical? Not without some very specific skills and tools
You sound triggered.