Sony TVS, and YouTube app being terminated on the 20th April

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sony TVS, and YouTube app being terminated on the 20th April

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PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1301658 11-May-2015 00:12

This is what really pisses me off about today's technology.

Yes it's fancy, and has the "Wow factor", I bet during the sales pitch, they don't bother telling you the manufacturer reserves the right to remove software, on YOUR television, at THEIR own discretion.

At least with CRT Televisions, one could take a 1960s Television set, connect it to a area with analog reception, and it will still work as if it was in the 1960s, as those TVs were so rock solid.

I doubt these so called "Gadgets" will last 5 years, let alone close to 50, even if it did, Sony or whoever the manufacture was, would probably have disabled all the main features, (as described here, and the only thing it would be usable for is a cool looking retro light.

If they want people to change over to "Emulated TV sets", they need to at least say the software with it, will be guaranteed to work for the lifetime of the TV unit. They can't go applying the same logic with smartphones, where they discontinue supporting a certain model of device, just because it's within the manufactures best interests to do so. This is a TV set, not a phone, and all the features should be guaranteed to work for the lifetime of the TV set, and not discontinued to push customers to the throw out a perfectly good TV, for the sake of getting YouTube working again, yes one can get a ChromeCast, or whatnot, but that shouldn't be the point.

I'm 99% sure a Smart TV sends channel readings back to Nielsen, to help with Ratings analysis, yet another invasion of my privacy. I'm also know about how they have protection to stop pirated content from being played, legal or not it shouldn't be up to the manufacturer to implement this, down to the consumer level.

Parents have a 2012 Samsung 50" LED TV, shortly before the Smart TV boom, so it has all the bells, and whistles, but minus the Smart Hub, and I'm now starting to realize that that's actually a good choice, and in a few years, it will probably have more features, than the future Smart TVs released, due to them disabling features when it suits them, I have an Elderly Toshiba 42" HD Ready LCD TV, only an Analogue tuner. I don't even have Sky, or Freeview in the bedroom, I ether have to go to the lounge, or Stream. I have access to the Live DStv content from SA, and M-Net, and the SuperSport channels are actually excellent, and beat Sky, and Mediaworks combined hands down, anyway, rant over...

andrew027

1286 posts

Uber Geek

#1301690 11-May-2015 08:31

When we bought our last TV we um-ed and ah-ed about whether to get a smart one or not and in the end we decided to just go for a big screen with a good picture and plenty of connectivity. We ended up getting a Samsung 55" full HD LED-LCD panel on sale from Noel Leeming for under $800. With smartphones, laptops, a PS3, a top of the range Sony bluray player and 7.1 channel receiver, MySky+, and more recently a Chromecast I figured there are plenty of ways to get content onto the screen, and add the smarts, without paying for them to be in the TV itself.

I know that story doesn't help your parents much, but unless they release a TV that is just a giant HD panel on an Android tablet with a handful of HDMI and USB ports so I can download and run any app from the Play store (maybe they already have? I never looked...) then I don't expect too much from them.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#1301731 11-May-2015 09:36

I appreciate your post is a slightly emotive rant... but...

PaulZA: This is what really pisses me off about today's technology. Yes it's fancy, and has the "Wow factor", I bet during the sales pitch, they don't bother telling you the manufacturer reserves the right to remove software, on YOUR television, at THEIR own discretion.

Do you have proof of this somewhat vague sales pitch?
A recording?
Or is it a case of 'he said / she said'...?
My hunch, and feel free to correct me here, is it's the latter.

PaulZA:
At least with CRT Televisions, one could take a 1960s Television set, connect it to a area with analog reception, and it will still work as if it was in the 1960s, as those TVs were so rock solid.

And it would still be a 12" 4:3 TV with a shocking picture and sound.
And you're right, people can still use it if they want to. It's just, well, no one wants to.
Why is this?
Because the viewing experience is pathetic compared to a modern TV.

Also, while you've mentioned 'connect it to a area with analog reception'... you may have missed the part where 1960's TV's don't feature time travelling capabilities.

PaulZA:
I'm 99% sure a Smart TV sends channel readings back to Nielsen, to help with Ratings analysis, yet another invasion of my privacy.

Wow.
Please show your proof of the TV sending ratings back to Nielsen.
Also, you haven't mentioned that you have a smart TV? Only an old Toshiba? How is the Toshiba sending ratings back to Nielsen? Or do you own a smart TV in another room?

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1301748 11-May-2015 09:40

andrew027: When we bought our last TV we um-ed and ah-ed about whether to get a smart one or not and in the end we decided to just go for a big screen with a good picture and plenty of connectivity. We ended up getting a Samsung 55" full HD LED-LCD panel on sale from Noel Leeming for under $800. With smartphones, laptops, a PS3, a top of the range Sony bluray player and 7.1 channel receiver, MySky+, and more recently a Chromecast I figured there are plenty of ways to get content onto the screen, and add the smarts, without paying for them to be in the TV itself.

I know that story doesn't help your parents much, but unless they release a TV that is just a giant HD panel on an Android tablet with a handful of HDMI and USB ports so I can download and run any app from the Play store (maybe they already have? I never looked...) then I don't expect too much from them.

Absolutely agree. Technology is moving so much faster than your average TV turnaround rate. My current telly was one of the first Sony full HD models... 2008 I think? Still works just fine. In 7 years we've seen such a huge revolution in terms of smart devices and their capabilities. TV's are too expensive to keep replacing at that rate. My perfect TV would be one with a kick-ass picture, loads of connectivity, and a reasonable price tag. Let the attached tech change every couple of years and just swap it out as needed.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1301784 11-May-2015 10:31

I bought a Sony smart TV a year and a half ago because it was cheap in a sale and had the best reviews for picture quality. I have never turned on the smart functions. Never intended to. External devices have a lot more flexibility and control.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

shk292

2857 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1301795 11-May-2015 10:41

Possibly swimming against the tide of opinion here, but I bought a Samsun smart TV last year and love it. It has de-cluttered my lounge and I don't have to constantly re-train the wife and kids about which device to use for what. We use a Panasonic Freeview recorder as the only external device, everything else is built into the TV - BBC iplayer, Plex, Netflix and direct access to a NAS. Most controlled from one remote, compared to the 4-5 in use with the previous non-smart TV.

NzBeagle

962 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1301830 11-May-2015 11:13

My recommendation to anyone is to get something better than built in, such as a Chromecast or other similar device. Once it's learned, it's excellent, and putting down the average remote and interface of most current TVs is a relief. Who knows though, maybe the life cycle of the Chromecast could also be 5 years? But for $50 to upgrade my 7 year old TV, I've now got all the 'smart' I need.

There's a few other good options too, like Roku and Apple TV. I just find controlling via smart phone or tablet much easier when operating the TV, particularly in operating Youtube or Netflix.

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Oblivian

7300 posts

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ID Verified

#1301834 11-May-2015 11:18

PaulZA:
If they want people to change over to "Emulated TV sets", they need to at least say the software with it, will be guaranteed to work for the lifetime of the TV unit.

Unfortunately, what the manufacturers see as a 'lifetime' - are the cycle lifetime of the technology (or time it is expected to be in your house before deciding to upgrade). Much like most lifetime gaurantees off the shelf does not mean 'till it dies' 1-2yrs these days. PCs back in the day it use to be 3yrs. And TVs 10yrs.

But not in the 2010s.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18663 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1301860 11-May-2015 11:40

Oblivian:
PaulZA:
If they want people to change over to "Emulated TV sets", they need to at least say the software with it, will be guaranteed to work for the lifetime of the TV unit.

Unfortunately, what the manufacturers see as a 'lifetime' - are the cycle lifetime of the technology (or time it is expected to be in your house before deciding to upgrade). Much like most lifetime gaurantees off the shelf does not mean 'till it dies' 1-2yrs these days. PCs back in the day it use to be 3yrs. And TVs 10yrs.

But not in the 2010s.

You are correct but that does not make it right. Question: Is the supplier doing you a favour by permitting you to purchase the product, or are you doing the favour by agreeing to buy it? When you pay the asking price for a new product, I think you are entitled to have certain expectations about it.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

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