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I bought my first smart TV in 2011. It wasn't my first HDTV, but I was very excited about it. I liked the idea of having practically everything available on my TV without a separate box. That TV even had the "DIRECTV Ready" software in it so it looked like it would run pretty much everything I wanted in a nice clean installation.
The love didn't last. By 2013 that TV had several extra boxes littered around it, and by 2016 I was on to another TV altogether. That new TV also had smart features, which I swiftly ignored.
The idea of a smart TV is a good one. I mean, you should be able to have just the TV in the room and not have to worry about a forest of wires connecting things up. For those who do want a complete home theater experience, having inputs and outputs is great, but the average person should be able to simply use their TV to get everything they want including a live TV package like DIRECTV for Internet or Sling (both offered by Solid Signal, by the way… shameless plug). The only potential addon would be a sound bar since most TVs have truly abominable sound and there's no good reason for that.
The problem is that manufacturers inevitably ignore their smart TV software after just a year or two. That 2011 TV was a Samsung, not some off-brand, and yet the apps didn't get updated as quickly as they should. New apps weren't added. Pretty soon, I was back to using a streaming box pretty routinely.
If the smart TV is actually updated, that can be just as bad. In 2018 or so I bought a Roku-enabled TV. I figured at least it would get app updates. I was right about that, but after five years of app updates it's dog-slow. So slow it's barely usable. Yet, here's the funny thing. The Apple TV box I use with it is about the same age and it's still nice and speedy. Something isn't right about that.
I hate to be pessimistic about this, but I don't see smart TV manufacturers doing anything to improve the situation. They would rather feel confident that you'll want to throw their TV out the window and buy a new one in five years. Folks, the days of buying a TV and keeping it for 15 years are long gone, I get it. But I'd still rather upgrade on my schedule rather than be forced to do it because my TV's gotten ridiculously slow.
If smart TV manufacturers really wanted, they would make the "smart" part of the TV a replaceable module that you could take off the back of the TV when it got really slow. I would imagine they might charge $50-60 for a new module and I know I'd pay it. I wonder if other people would.
In the past, PC makers did things like that. Even video game consoles were once upgradeable. Practically no one actually upgraded that way, though. In the interest of making things cheaper and smaller, the upgrade options were eventually removed.
Maybe, though, just maybe, with people having more of a focus on buying sustainably and recycling and all that, it might just be time to rethink that.
The post STREAMING SATURDAY: The decay of smart TVs appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
The love didn't last. By 2013 that TV had several extra boxes littered around it, and by 2016 I was on to another TV altogether. That new TV also had smart features, which I swiftly ignored.
Smart TVs have the best intentions
The idea of a smart TV is a good one. I mean, you should be able to have just the TV in the room and not have to worry about a forest of wires connecting things up. For those who do want a complete home theater experience, having inputs and outputs is great, but the average person should be able to simply use their TV to get everything they want including a live TV package like DIRECTV for Internet or Sling (both offered by Solid Signal, by the way… shameless plug). The only potential addon would be a sound bar since most TVs have truly abominable sound and there's no good reason for that.
The problem is that manufacturers inevitably ignore their smart TV software after just a year or two. That 2011 TV was a Samsung, not some off-brand, and yet the apps didn't get updated as quickly as they should. New apps weren't added. Pretty soon, I was back to using a streaming box pretty routinely.
If the smart TV is actually updated, that can be just as bad. In 2018 or so I bought a Roku-enabled TV. I figured at least it would get app updates. I was right about that, but after five years of app updates it's dog-slow. So slow it's barely usable. Yet, here's the funny thing. The Apple TV box I use with it is about the same age and it's still nice and speedy. Something isn't right about that.
Any hope for smart TVs?
I hate to be pessimistic about this, but I don't see smart TV manufacturers doing anything to improve the situation. They would rather feel confident that you'll want to throw their TV out the window and buy a new one in five years. Folks, the days of buying a TV and keeping it for 15 years are long gone, I get it. But I'd still rather upgrade on my schedule rather than be forced to do it because my TV's gotten ridiculously slow.
If smart TV manufacturers really wanted, they would make the "smart" part of the TV a replaceable module that you could take off the back of the TV when it got really slow. I would imagine they might charge $50-60 for a new module and I know I'd pay it. I wonder if other people would.
In the past, PC makers did things like that. Even video game consoles were once upgradeable. Practically no one actually upgraded that way, though. In the interest of making things cheaper and smaller, the upgrade options were eventually removed.
Maybe, though, just maybe, with people having more of a focus on buying sustainably and recycling and all that, it might just be time to rethink that.
The post STREAMING SATURDAY: The decay of smart TVs appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
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493 views
Over the past few weeks, I have had problems connecting to streaming services (Netflix, HBO et al). When I go to the TV's native Channels, I have no problem. The Dish internet troubleshooter shows I have a good internet connection. I'm wondering whether it's an issue with my internet provider or a problem with the Dish software on the Hopper Plus. Anyone else seeing this?
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Lifetime Supporter
Starting a thread klang !
After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.
After an amazing first 2 seasons and an 8 episode 3rd season still coming this year, season 4 has now been greenlit.
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976 views
Supporting Founder
Patrick Stewart died yesterday, October 28th at the age of 86. We lost yet another great actor. 
www.hollywoodreporter.com
Patrick Stewart, ‘Star Trek’ Captain and ‘X-Men’ Superhero, Dies at 86
He’s forever known for playing Jean-Luc Picard and Charles Xavier, whom he “admired for their morality, for their kindness, for their sensitivity, for their compassion.”
www.hollywoodreporter.com
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Staff member
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Cutting Edge
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
Additional tabs provide:
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8
Understanding the TPN Map
Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
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945616 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68661 Replies
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2680356 views
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
This is a thread that will keep you apprised of 4K events that will be showing on Dish channel 540. Keep looking here for information.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
As of today, 9-27-17, there are no scheduled events posted for the next 2 weeks. That is subject to change on a daily basis.
769 Replies
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168216 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Good...simple humor. Enjoy
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92AtfTLge4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJy0WnejlF4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E92AtfTLge4
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJy0WnejlF4
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77 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
I created this thread on the original Edgecutter Cutting Edge Forums site. It's simply a place for those to review the latest software available for those using Windows 10 and Windows 11. To date it has received 112,559 views. I have been asked by staff to continue this thread here.
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48060 views
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.
For niche use cases, yes I agree. Kali for ethical hacking and security testing, and running a Cacti server for network monitoring are the two things I have experience in. Plus thousands and thousands of other things, but for every day use I just can't see it. The owner of the GMRS repeater that I pay to access is changing the Tx DPL tones tomorrow, while Chirp is available on Linux, the software to program my MXT500 is not.To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything.
I run Fedora and Ubuntu in VMWare, honestly I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows. The cartoonish dock at the bottom of the screen reminds me of Apple products.
Actually it looks like there are a lot of features new or updated, although most are on a gradual rollout schedule.
www.elevenforum.com
KB5127936 Windows 11 Cumulative Update Preview build 26200.9818 (25H2) and 26300.9818 (26H2) - Oct. 28
Microsoft Support: This cumulative update for Windows 11, versions 26H2 and 25H2 (KB5127936), includes production-quality improvements. Announcements and messages This section provides key notifications related to this release, including announcements, change logs, and end-of-support notices...
www.elevenforum.com
Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.
www.tvtechnology.com
Pearl TV Issues Progress Report on Low-Cost 3.0 Converters in Advance of NAB Show New York
Group has secured lower pricing from key tech players to make less costly boxes available
www.tvtechnology.com
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753 views
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.
There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
S
WHAT ABOUT THE INTERNET PART OF IT. NO ONE WANTS A BOX CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET EITHER.
It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.
There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
That would be handy. Download the latest RNA snippets that can be updated over 5G and no more shots! You're a Genius!Cough, cough. COVID vaccine implants.
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It states the average amount they are under water is OVER $7,000. 
Personally, I tend to be the type that drives a vehicle for a lot of years....do my own oil changes and other fluid changes. Just replaced the spark plugs and a couple coils. Youtube is great for things like this.
www.zerohedge.com
Personally, I tend to be the type that drives a vehicle for a lot of years....do my own oil changes and other fluid changes. Just replaced the spark plugs and a couple coils. Youtube is great for things like this.
Nearly 3 In 10 New-Car Trade-Ins Are Underwater, Edmunds Finds<!-- --> | ZeroHedge
ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com
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