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Comment by johnpython | Hacker News Reader

Like you I would never bring a device like this into my home. The issue is they are becoming normalized and mainstream adoption is growing at an alarming rate. What happens when you can't purchase a home appliance without these "features" and it refuses to work without connecting to your wireless network and being able to phone home?

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It's getting more and more difficult to find a non-"smart" TV, it will be a sad day if the same thing starts happening to other appliances. I don't want to live in a home with a smart fridge, smart toaster, smart oven, smart toilet.

Yup, and even standalone devices like Roku have "voice search". Which ends up being yet another microphone connected to the internet...

Yep. Fortunately, though, you can simply refuse to set up the internet connection on your TV. This is what I have done. No wifi password = no outgoing data.

Probably only a matter of time before devices start leaking data via the cell network. Amazon was able to deliver "free" cell service to Kindles, right?

Tesla does the same thing in their vehicles. Every one has an LTE modem.

I hadn't heard of this or the Kindle thing mentioned by bhauer. Thanks for alerting me. A new threat I now need to monitor for (sigh).

Projectors are still "dumb", so if you have good curtains or typically don't use the TV when it's super bright it can be a great replacement -- I switched from a TV to a projector about 10 years ago and have never looked back :)

There are plenty of “smart” projectors. It’s not really that much different from a TV.

At least it might be easier to RF shield a projector than TV… That’s the future, right? Until it becomes illegal.

then how will you have reception?

You are not alone. Given enough time, our market for "dumb" appliances will be big enough that the manufacturers won't be able to ignore us.

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