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0 pointsnostromo5y ago0 comments

1. Turn off your Samsung TV's internet connection

2. Connect Apple TV via HDMI

Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV.

0 comments

The skinny, slippery, round cornered, black AppleTV remote seems to be designed to be as easily lost as possible. Weeks often go by without finding it, during which we use other streaming devices instead.

The Amazon FireTV remote is quite easy to lose, but I stocked up on spares when it was on sale for $15.

The TiVo remote is not only too big to lose, it has a remote-finder feature where you can induce it to play a tune. Genius.

Gaelan5y ago

If you have an iPhone, it can function as an Apple TV remote.

w0mbat5y ago

If you do that, you will immediately lose your iPhone, as the curse is transferable.

dannyw5y ago

Physical buttons > touchscreens when you don’t need a screen.

1 more reply

microcolonel5y ago

They don't even have an Android app? wtf.

1 more reply

social_quotient5y ago

Heads up, I got these for my Apple TV remotes and haven’t lost one since.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXI592F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_...

nicbou5y ago

Tie it to a stick, like those gas station bathroom keys

ogre_codes5y ago

> Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV.

Two out of three anyhow... the Apple TV remote is pretty mediocre. Gets rid of a lot of junk I never use, and a bunch of stuff I really miss (the mute button for starters).

nyjah5y ago

It's weird, I've had 1/3 Apple remotes work well.

But in the settings you can connect any remote to the AppleTV and program the buttons. That works really well!

willstrafach5y ago

This one is well worth a try: https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Control-Alternative-Replacemen...

robbiep5y ago

Using your phone as a remote is awesome. If your HDMI has CEC/ARC you can switch the TV in just by pulling down the remote widget and pressing the screen. And you can fill password and search fields. And anyone can use it once they’ve paired

ogre_codes5y ago

Most of the time the Apple remote is just fine... mostly it's the fact that it's easily reversible and lacks a mute button that bugs me.

nikon5y ago

I prefer using a Logitech Harmony 665, program it once and good to go for all devices.

TedDoesntTalk5y ago

Samsung can still try to connect to open WiFi networks. Not accepting the EULA makes this irrelevant.

pbronez5y ago

Ugh are you telling me that these TVs are aggressively trying to find and connect to unsecured Wi-Fi to upload data I don’t want them to have over an unsecure connection I don’t control?

Gross.

akiselev5y ago

$20 says they already have a deal with Verizon/Spectrum/whatever to use those customer login protected open wifi APs as backhaul when an internet connection is not otherwise available. Considering how much they're leaning on customer PII to subsidize the cost of TVs, I wouldn't be surprised if they start putting 5G radios in them too.

1 more reply

Vrondi5y ago

Time for some HN user to break one of these TVs open and physically remove the antenna or wifi card.

3 more replies

dannyw5y ago

Yes, Samsung TVs do that: https://www.reddit.com/r/security/comments/bpjky4/worried_ab...

aronpye5y ago

Can you create a honeypot open Wi-Fi network that isn’t actually connected to the internet?

Gaelan5y ago

Is this hypothetical or documented?

dannyw5y ago

Yes, Samsung TVs will try to connect to any open wifi network without your interaction: https://www.reddit.com/r/security/comments/bpjky4/worried_ab...

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

w0mbat5y ago

The Amazon FireTV remote is quite easy to lose, but I stocked up on spares when it was on sale for $15.

The TiVo remote is not only too big to lose, it has a remote-finder feature where you can induce it to play a tune. Genius.

Gaelan5y ago

If you have an iPhone, it can function as an Apple TV remote.

w0mbat5y ago

If you do that, you will immediately lose your iPhone, as the curse is transferable.

dannyw5y ago

Physical buttons > touchscreens when you don’t need a screen.

1 more reply

microcolonel5y ago

They don't even have an Android app? wtf.

1 more reply

social_quotient5y ago

Heads up, I got these for my Apple TV remotes and haven’t lost one since.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXI592F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_...

nicbou5y ago

Tie it to a stick, like those gas station bathroom keys

ogre_codes5y ago

> Not only does this improve your privacy, but it improves the UI and remote of your TV.

Two out of three anyhow... the Apple TV remote is pretty mediocre. Gets rid of a lot of junk I never use, and a bunch of stuff I really miss (the mute button for starters).

nyjah5y ago

It's weird, I've had 1/3 Apple remotes work well.

But in the settings you can connect any remote to the AppleTV and program the buttons. That works really well!

willstrafach5y ago

This one is well worth a try: https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Control-Alternative-Replacemen...

robbiep5y ago

ogre_codes5y ago

Most of the time the Apple remote is just fine... mostly it's the fact that it's easily reversible and lacks a mute button that bugs me.

nikon5y ago

I prefer using a Logitech Harmony 665, program it once and good to go for all devices.

TedDoesntTalk5y ago

Samsung can still try to connect to open WiFi networks. Not accepting the EULA makes this irrelevant.

pbronez5y ago

Ugh are you telling me that these TVs are aggressively trying to find and connect to unsecured Wi-Fi to upload data I don’t want them to have over an unsecure connection I don’t control?

Gross.

akiselev5y ago

1 more reply

Vrondi5y ago

Time for some HN user to break one of these TVs open and physically remove the antenna or wifi card.

3 more replies

dannyw5y ago

Yes, Samsung TVs do that: https://www.reddit.com/r/security/comments/bpjky4/worried_ab...

aronpye5y ago

Can you create a honeypot open Wi-Fi network that isn’t actually connected to the internet?

Gaelan5y ago

Is this hypothetical or documented?

dannyw5y ago

Yes, Samsung TVs will try to connect to any open wifi network without your interaction: https://www.reddit.com/r/security/comments/bpjky4/worried_ab...

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse