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.
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
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?
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.
Generally not required, but some are starting to require at least one time connection during TV setup process to use it.
I keep seeing this posted but I have yet to see anyone mention which brands are actually doing this.
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.
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
If a tv requires me to sign up, it’s either getting returned or an axe through it.