Linux TVs

max641@lemmy.world to Linux@lemmy.ml – 177 points –
Thomson Alpha 100 cm (40 inch) Full HD LED Smart Linux TV with 30 W Sound Output & Bezel-Less Design (40Alpha009BL) - Thomson India
thomsonhome.in

Which Linux distro is running in Thomson TVs. What are the capabilties.

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Is it even possible to buy a dumb TV any more?

Keep the smart TV off the network and the difference is usually minimal.

Still takes a while to boot compared to a dumb panel.

From standby isn't that noticeable. Definitely a bit of a difference in cold-boot times though.

Can't speak for others but mine puts up big intrusive banners if you don't connect it to the internet.

Maybe you can trick it by using a private DNS server. Maybe someone already cracked their API and has a manual how to run your own server telling the tv „bro, everything easy“ Just google jailbreak (insert tv name) this should be a good start for digging.

Plenty of them will auto connect to what ever open network. So you can't guarantee that. Or various exploits that could exist in the wifi stack. It's not the same as buying a "dumb" tv.

That is what we call 'breaching hacking laws'. In other words, if you catch your TVs doing that, lawsuits can be brought against the supplier.

No it isn't, there's no hacking involved in connecting to a wifi network. Plus different jurisdictiona might see it differently anyway. And good luck with your lawsuits against mega corps.

This isn't some hypothetical, this is something smart TVs are known to be doing, right now.

No it isn’t, there’s no hacking involved in connecting to a wifi network. Plus different jurisdictiona might see it differently anyway.

Most western jurisdictions define hacking as accessing computer resources without permission. So yes, at least in the west, such behaviour definitely counts as hacking. Doesn't matter if there's no encryption breaking or brute forcing going on. If it's connecting to a network that it doesn't have permission to be on, it is breaking the law.

And good luck with your lawsuits against mega corps.

It is possible to get entire products pulled from stores if they are breaching hacking laws.

Look at commercial monitors. They're the screen without the bloat.

I think there's a few models that are not really advertised, don't know them though.

Seems unattractive for manufacturers since apparently 50% of income on TVs is user data.

But if you don't connect your smart tv to anything how is it smart.

No, but you can likely remove the Wi-Fi and any other Wireless chips that you don't need (other than the IR). That, and use it as a display for a computer through HDMI

Yes, as long as you never connect your TV to the internet, then it is for all intents and purposes a "dumb tv."