Some Rokus and Apple TVs receive longer update windows, though.

  • ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    3 months ago

    nobody has answered this question on multiple fora for me: is it necessary to connect a smart tv to the internet?

    can i keep it forever on “aeroplane mode” or whatever and use it as a dumb tv? can i never connect it to the internet if that’s what i want?

    • BrikoX@lemmy.zipOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      3 months ago

      Generally not required, but some are starting to require at least one time connection during TV setup process to use it.

      • MorrisonMotel6@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        3 months ago

        If you’re one of those customers who has to do this, connect it via ethernet, do the setup, then forever leave it disconnected. Never give it your wireless credentials. I personally wouldn’t trust the TV to forget the credentials and not phone home and make itself the ad machine the company wants it to be

        • NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 months ago

          If you don’t have this ability because the TV isn’t close to a router or if the manufacturers get so scummy that they no longer include Ethernet ports, you could accomplish this by setting up a “burner” hotspot on your phone and doing tethering. Change the name and password to something you’d never use and then let the TV connect to that and then change it to something else. TV may remember it but it won’t find that exact combo again unless you want it to :)

      • Fuzzy_Red_Panda@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        3 months ago

        I keep seeing this posted but I have yet to see anyone mention which brands are actually doing this.

        • BrikoX@lemmy.zipOPM
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          3 months ago

          Because it’s not so much brand specific as it’s device specific. Companies are still testing the waters with adding this to their differently priced lineups to see what backlash they get from each group.

    • OZFive@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      3 months ago

      No. You can keep it offline as much as you want and use external sources to view on your TV. You do not have to use the operating system included.

      You do not have to connect it to the internet to have your TV work.