Tag

Smart Tv

All articles tagged with #smart tv

technology1 day ago•8 min saved

Five must-have apps to supercharge your TCL TV

A TCL smart TV supports Google TV or Roku, and the article highlights five essential apps—YouTube TV for live and on-demand viewing, JustWatch to see where a movie or show is available across services, Projectivy Launcher to replace ads on Google TV, Jellyfin for a private media server, and FitOn for a robust free workout library—with notes on platform availability (JustWatch isn’t on Roku, the launcher replaces the Google TV interface, Jellyfin requires your own media library, and FitOn’s free tier includes ads).

via bgr.com|

#jellyfin #smart-tv #streaming-apps

technology16 days ago•4 min saved

Control Your LG TV Without a Remote: Two Easy Alternatives

Two hassle-free ways to control an LG TV without a remote: use the TV’s built-in button (Type A for basic on/menu/shutdown; Type B for directional control) or pair your smartphone with the LG ThinQ app to use a remote: once on the same Wi‑Fi, add the TV, enter the PIN, then switch between trackpad, D‑pad, or voice modes and access volume, channels, power, home, and apps.

via bgr.com|

#lg-thinq #lg-tv #mobile-app

technology21 days ago•1 min saved

Samsung Bans Smart TV Apps That Could Turn Your TV Into a Residential Proxy

Samsung said it will ban smart TV apps that route other users’ web traffic through a TV’s home connection after a security firm found some apps could turn TVs into residential proxies, citing a Pac-Man game as an example. The company will enforce platform-wide policies to prohibit residential proxy SDKs, following similar moves by LG, as part of strengthening the security of its smart TV app platform.

via Engadget|

#app-platform #cybersecurity #residential-proxy

technology25 days ago•5 min saved

Xbox Cloud Gaming lands on VIDAA OS TVs, widening Game Pass reach

Microsoft expands Xbox Cloud Gaming to VIDAA OS-compatible smart TVs (including Hisense models), letting Game Pass subscribers stream a growing catalog of titles directly on supported TVs via a new Xbox app. Requirements include a supported region, an active Game Pass (not PC Game Pass), and a compatible controller; players can access both Game Pass titles and their own Cloud Gaming library. This marks another step in Xbox’s cloud strategy, following prior TV support expansions, amid leadership shifts and a continued emphasis on the console experience.

via TrueAchievements|

#game-pass #hisense #smart-tv

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

The Hidden Engine Behind Your Smart TV’s Picture

The article argues that the smart TV processor is often the most important spec, affecting upscaling, image quality, noise reduction, and even gaming and app performance. It recommends prioritizing brand-name processors (LG Alpha, Samsung NQ, Sony) and testing in-store for smooth menus and fast app loading, while also checking reviews for real-world upscaling performance.

via SlashGear|

#brand-name-processors #image-quality #processor

technology1 month ago•15 min saved

Lock Down Your Smart Devices Before You Connect to Wi‑Fi

Before linking a new smart TV, tablet, or phone to your home network, follow a quick privacy and security checklist: install software updates, change default passwords, review and limit app permissions (turn off Automatic Content Recognition on TVs), disable unused features like Bluetooth or screen sharing, consider using a guest IoT network to isolate devices, enable two‑factor authentication on accounts, remove unneeded apps, and add a trusted VPN for an extra layer of encryption—recognizing that default settings favor convenience over privacy.

via Fox News|

#acr #privacy #security

technology1 month ago•16 min saved

Roku's New Home Screen Update Triggers Uproar Over Ads and Clutter

Kotaku reports widespread user backlash after Roku's June UI overhaul, which replaces a fast, simple home screen with a cluttered, ad-heavy layout driven by recommendations, introduces bugs, and prompts calls to revert or offer an old-interface option.

via Kotaku|

#ads #roku #roku-update

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Google Home Speaker Slashed to $49.99 in Best Buy 4th of July Bundle

Best Buy's 4th of July sale offers the Google Home Speaker for $49.99 (half price) when purchased with select discounted smart Google TVs; the offer is accessed from the Google Home Speaker page via the 'Special Offers On related products' link.

via 9to5Toys|

#best-buy #discount #fourth-of-july-sale

technology2 months ago•4 min saved

Roku TV UI Goes Uniform Across Brands With Purple City Backdrop

Roku is standardizing the home screen across Roku TVs, replacing brand-specific designs with a single Roku City purple backdrop and a small brand logo, bringing consistent navigation, easier software updates, and potential for deeper cross-device features as more manufacturers like TCL adopt the approach.

via | Cord Cutters News|

#roku #smart-tv #streaming

privacy3 months ago•26 min saved

Smart TVs Are Turning Into Data Traps for Ads

Smart TVs are increasingly becoming data-collection devices as a sprawling network of ad-tech vendors tracks viewers through cookies, device IDs, IPs, precise/non-precise location, and user profiles. The article catalogs hundreds of vendors with cookie lifetimes spanning from days to years, notes some vendors don’t use cookies or rely on other storage, and highlights pervasive cross-device tracking and potential privacy risks for households. Viewers may need to adjust privacy settings or limit ad tracking on their TVs to curb data collection.

via Slate|

#adtech #cookies #privacy

technology6 months ago•14 min saved

13 Smart-TV Tweaks to Boost Speed, Privacy, and Ease of Use

A tech piece outlines 13 practical settings and habits to dramatically improve smart-TV performance and privacy, including turning off motion smoothing, choosing accurate picture modes, using Ethernet, enabling automatic updates, clearing cache, periodic restarts, customizing the home screen, disabling automatic content recognition, limiting ad personalization, checking HDMI ports and cables, using an external streaming device, enabling accessibility features, and leveraging the USB port for firmware updates.

via ZDNET|

#performance #privacy #smart-tv

technology6 months ago•4 min saved

Go wired: why Ethernet beats WiFi for your Smart TV

Switch your Smart TV from WiFi to a wired Ethernet connection for a faster, more stable streaming experience; connect a Cat5e/Cat8 cable from your router to the TV’s LAN port, then enable Wired in the TV’s settings. Netflix lists about 15 Mbps for 4K and 25 Mbps for smoother loading; Ethernet can also reduce ping for gaming and apps. While researchers have demonstrated ultra-fast speeds in labs, practical home use should stick with wired Ethernet for now.

via supercarblondie.com|

#ethernet #network #smart-tv

technology6 months ago•85 min saved

How to stop your smart TV from tracking what you watch

Smart TVs collect detailed viewing data through Automated Content Recognition (ACR) and related telemetry across apps and external devices. The guide explains how to disable data collection on major brands (Samsung, LG, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Android/Google TV, and Vizio) by adjusting settings such as ACR/Live Plus, Viewing Information, Advertising/Interest-Based Ads, and Voice data, noting that options vary by model and region and that some diagnostic data may still be collected.

via Tom's Guide|

#acr #data-collection #opt-out

technology6 months ago•35 min saved

Smart-TV bargain alert: Amazon Fire TV 32-inch HD drops under $200 with 5 more deals

Yahoo Canada Style reports the Amazon Fire TV 32" 2-Series HD smart TV is on sale for under $200 (about $185, 26% off) and lists six additional Amazon TV deals in Canada, including a 43" 4-Series UHD for around $280, a 50" 4-Series for about $430, a 43" Omni QLED near $450, a 55" Omni QLED around $690, and a 65" Omni Mini-LED for roughly $1,230.

via Yahoo Lifestyle Canada|

#amazon #canada #fire-tv

technology7 months ago•6 min saved

Turn Off ACR to Stop Smart TV Ad Tracking

The piece explains that Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) on most smart TVs secretly tracks what you watch to feed targeted ads, raising privacy concerns and potential security risks. It provides brand-specific, step-by-step instructions to disable ACR on Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, and TCL/Roku TVs, and notes that turning off ACR may reduce personalized features and might require periodic rechecks after software updates.

via ZDNET|

#acr #ad-tracking #data-collection