Google is now putting product ads on the home screen of my Sony Bravia TV
Google is now putting product ads on the home screen of my Sony Bravia TV
Up until now I've only seen suggestions for content offered by the various streaming services. Today I started getting ads for a Hyundai car!
I tried to log a support call with Sony but they said they couldn't do anything without a photo of the offending ad. I now have a photo so will try again tomorrow. I know a single support call won't do anything (though I intend to be very persistent), but if enough people log formal complaints maybe Sony will "talk to" Google.
I know this is deep first world problems territory, but I feel really betrayed having a device I paid $2,300 for being used to shove ads in my face.
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Rule one of a smart TV is to never connect it to the internet.
Rule zero of a smart TV is to not buy a smart TV.
Except quite often they're cheaper because the manufacturer expects to recoup some of their costs by selling your data and showing you ads. So it's often more economical to just buy one and never use the "smart" features.
I wish there were more options.
You're not wrong. Samsung has some "digital signage" devices that are just non-smart TVs.
Thanks so much for this. I didn't know what to look for until now.
FWIW, they may not have OTA tuners, but if you're dedicated enough to want to search out a not-smart TV, you probably don't need one of those anyway.
Non-smart TVs don't really exist anymore if you want a good panel. The Sony ones are pretty solid but Google TV and Android TV have just been undergoing enshittification.
Easier said than done these days. Last time I tried to find a "dumb" TV (3-ish years ago) anything above 30" was going for 4x the price of a similar-sized Smart TV.
Or setup a pihole or similar DNS blocker. My Samsung SmartTv would love to show me ads, if I let it.
Just hope you’ve also blocked all the other manufacturer telemetry
Fur sure. Gravity Lists from those smarter than I and also spending time looking at DNS requests per IP to further isolate.
Rule one of a smart tv for me is to never get one.
It's a real struggle. I couldn't find a TV over ~32" when I was looking to get one. Want to say they were asking WAY over the price of a smart TV. That was like 2 years ago, so I forget the details, but I expect things have gotten worse since.
So got a 52" smart TV and just haven't ever plugged it in to the interwebs ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I miss my 50'' dumb TV. I had to leave it behind when I moved cross-country.
I just got a 43" 4k monitor and hooked it up to my media pc.
This is the way.
While I agree, you open up problems, the apps often work better than a separate device when it is new.
I have a PS5 connected to my LG TV. Some local channels are missing as Sony requires payment to be listed. Some apps have lower fidelity audio or video.
Saying not to use it and spend more money for other products is worse consumerism, fdrom my perspectives than ads, that I will take steps to.agoid.
I’ve used multiple TVs in the last few years and I’ve never seen one where the native apps are better than an Apple TV or Google Chromecast. They are almost universally horrendous.
Apple TV is good, but pricey for a feature that’s already built in. Chrome cast works most of the time but they sometimes glitch or don’t connect to the phone controller. Ps5 is missing apps and doesn’t deal with 5.1 audio well, although they are improving it over time.
Lg is the only one where I’ve been happier with the apps than using a seperate device. I imagin Sonys newer tvs are similar as they are android based, but I’d worry about ads.
I have never had ads on my Lgtv, it this post is concerning.
This TV is (was?) actually pretty good. I have an nVidia shield that I used with my previous TV and it's sitting in a drawer - I haven't felt the need for it with this one.
haven't felt the need for it with this one.
Except the giant ad you posted about?
Yes. But I know there are work arounds for the ad - different launcher, maybe pi-hole etc. that I can do without the Shield. If I start using the Shield I'd be implementing exactly the same work arounds.