# Do folks really use all the capabilities of their 'smart TVs'? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2017, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380 "2017-01-17T11:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/41 "2017-01-19T17:25:27Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I had a media computer in the stack for years. It was always more of a PITA than an asset - the disc player software (HD-DVD and then BR) always needed an update, or the OS did, or some other thing would keep us from just turning it on and using it. I guess a regularly-used (and thus continually updated) system would work better, but none of the personal systems were within reach of the TV. Yeah, it was a regular use computer so that helped. but the HDMI ports on the TV didn’t work so the cable box was attached via component cables and the computer via VGA & 3.5mm audio and we had an old Wii that we used for Netflix attached via the white & yellow AV cables. So it was a pretty rinky-dink setup. It let my wife watch streaming BBC on the big screen but having everything in one package is much, much better. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/42 "2017-01-19T17:28:36Z")
My theory has always been that if they Smart TV part stops working, I’ll just buy a Roku and hook it up. It’s probably better than what I have in terms of apps right now and is super cheap. I currently have, but hardly use anymore, a first generation Roku. I had it hooked up to my CRT tv for a long while. It was great as well. I basically consider my Samsung having a roku built in. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/43 "2017-01-19T18:39:05Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > My theory has always been that if they Smart TV part stops working, I’ll just buy a Roku and hook it up. It’s probably better than what I have in terms of apps right now and is super cheap. In all probability, if the smart TV “part” fails, the whole set is dead. This is why you should get a dumb TV and a separate device. If one fails or you want an upgrade something you only replace that one part. It’s like those cheapo TV/VCR combos … only worse. Those at least could be usable as TVs if the VCR got unusable. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/44 "2017-01-19T18:48:10Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In all probability, if the smart TV “part” fails, the whole set is dead. This is why you should get a dumb TV and a separate device. If one fails or you want an upgrade something you only replace that one part. > > It’s like those cheapo TV/VCR combos … only worse. Those at least could be usable as TVs if the VCR got unusable. There is no smart TV part. All TVs these days have a CPU, which runs the software. Yes, if it dies, the whole TV is dead, but that’s just as true for a dumb TV as a smart one. What’s more likely is that the smart App stops being supported by the service provider, - happened to the youtube app on an older bluray player I have - Panasonic stopped updating it, and youtube refused to play videos over it anymore. And as has been stated on other threads on this topic - it’s getting harder and harder to get a name brand TV with decent features without smart TV functionality. So the best plan if you get a smart TV is to try out the smart Apps - if you like them, you’re all set. If not, get a roku or firestick or whatever. If the apps stop working in a few years because the TV vendor stopped supporting them, buy a separate device then. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/45 "2017-01-19T19:05:58Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In all probability, if the smart TV “part” fails, the whole set is dead. This is why you should get a dumb TV and a separate device. If one fails or you want an upgrade something you only replace that one part. There isn’t really a unique smart TV part – all TVs these days have motherboards with a processor to control its functions. If your board fails, the TV is going to be equally dead whether it’s a [smart TV](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91ex8p5eLZL._SL1500_.jpg) or a [dumb one](http://cdn3.bigcommerce.com/s-thum641i/products/930/images/1982/Samsung_Main_Front_BN94_07301A__51722.1434466421.1280.1280.JPG?c=2). Smart TVs just have a much more capable board/processor/memory combo than the dumb ones. Edit: **Muldoonthief** beat me to it (but I have pictures!) but, yeah, if the apps go out of style, just buy your Roku and plug it into the TV and run the apps through that instead. ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/46 "2017-01-19T19:46:15Z")
I have an oldish smart TV, an LG. I used the Netflix and Pandora apps before we got a chromecast, but now all I use it for is the [MLB.tv](http://MLB.tv) app. If you sign up for the free [MLB.tv](http://MLB.tv) account you can stream one pre-selected game every day. It’s great since the husband and I both like baseball but we don’t have pay TV. So during baseball season we use that app a lot. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/47 "2017-01-19T20:15:23Z")
I have a Panasonic TV that I used the youtube and netflix apps on a lot until they quit updating the software on the model. I unplugged it because it was an extreme security risk and replaced it with a firetv which use to have a far nicer UI although they “fixed” that recently. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/48 "2017-01-19T21:07:50Z")
You stopped using your tv because it was a security risk? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/49 "2017-01-19T21:14:28Z")
I don’t know what rat avatar is referring to, since they’re talking about a Panasonic…but, some Samsung smart TVs have voice recognition, which have had some privacy issues, so it’s not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/50 "2017-01-19T21:17:21Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > You stopped using your tv because it was a security risk? A non-protected smart TV [could be exploited](http://www.computerworld.com/article/2473544/cybercrime-hacking/hacking-threats-to-big-screen-smart-tvs.html). A massive DDOS attack last October [was assisted](http://www.welivesecurity.com/2016/10/24/10-things-know-october-21-iot-ddos-attacks/) by using hacked online devices such as nannycams and routers. Potentially any “smart” appliance can be used in this way especially since people usually don’t take pains to secure their internet capable cat food dispenser. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/51 "2017-01-19T21:19:37Z")
We briefly used the Netflix function. Now we just use an Android box. The smart TV functions have been completely forgotten. Hell, we don’t even use the tuner. Smart TV was a neat idea that was inescapably doomed by the simple fact that no matter how smart your TV is, within one to three years, someone will build a $100 product that will plug into your TV and is ten times smarter. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/52 "2017-01-19T21:38:55Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > A non-protected smart TV [could be exploited](http://www.computerworld.com/article/2473544/cybercrime-hacking/hacking-threats-to-big-screen-smart-tvs.html). A massive DDOS attack last October [was assisted](http://www.welivesecurity.com/2016/10/24/10-things-know-october-21-iot-ddos-attacks/) by using hacked online devices such as nannycams and routers. Potentially any “smart” appliance can be used in this way especially since people usually don’t take pains to secure their internet capable cat food dispenser. Ok. I wonder if he meant that he unplugged the ethernet, since I’m presuming that would prevent any such attack. ---
**Author:** ![rat\_avatar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rat_avatar/32/255_2.png) [@rat\_avatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rat_avatar)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/53 "2017-01-19T22:03:13Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Ok. I wonder if he meant that he unplugged the ethernet, since I’m presuming that would prevent any such attack. Yes as the topic was about ‘smart TVs’ and a ‘smart TV’ is any TV that has built-in Internet connectivity, I removed the network cable. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380/54 "2017-01-20T00:20:48Z")
My TV is not actually “smart” but it does have an ethernet port and can stream (some of) my media over my network. I use it quite a bit but often have to fall back on my Xbox (original) using XBMC or PS3 using Showtime to watch some stuff. > [@](#): > > a ‘smart TV’ is any TV that has built-in Internet connectivity Not any tv that has built in internet, just one that uses apps that access the internet similar to a roku or apple tv or chromecast. My non-smart TV connects to the internet, but only to search out firmware updates (not that it’s ever found any.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-folks-really-use-all-the-capabilities-of-their-smart-tvs/777380.md?page=2)