AT&T TV launches nationwide, misses the point of cord cutting

[wiyosaya]

Atmos has improved sound. So even without in ceiling speakers you could benefit of better sound compared to normal non dolbi hearing experience. Also, those so called dolby atmos bars are a joke. You will barely hear what it is supposed to be heard from a typical in ceiling plus rear speaker sets.

That's why I posted the link. It takes some doing to get Atmos right. IMO, DTS-X would have been better because, in part, it did not require extra speakers. However, I am willing to bet that speaker manufacturers, and perhaps other similar interests, jumped on the bandwagon because they knew that some wanting Atmos could be sold on buying more speakers and more speaker sales is a good thing - to them.

You lost me at "I'm running Windows 10"...

Honestly, I am surprised you got that far. I know you too well.

Assuming the privacy settings are obeyed, it is easy to turn them off. As you know, there is no guarantee.

And definitely, I am one to complain about WinDOHs 10 "updates." From my experience, they have been worse than those from years ago with Windows NT where they often simply caused BSODs. My HTPC is one PC that has suffered greatly from WinDOHs 10 updates for some unknown reason. That's why I shut them off in the group policy editor on that PC. And why I use Image For Linux https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/image-for-linux.htm and image backup prior to every "update".

The ironic thing is that I let 8.1 update itself and never had any problems - believe it or not.

I did, however, do some significant research before building that PC, particularly into media PC software like Kodi and I came to the conclusion that MediaPortal was the most flexible and had everything I wanted. The only problem was that it only runs on Windows. I am very happy with MediaPortal. I checked Kodi's features about a year ago, and it was still not as capable as MediaPortal.

In general, because of the precautions I take, I don't spend too much time recovering from WinDOHs 10 updates.

I also run 10 at work - I write software. Fortunately, my job gives me admin access over my PC, so I've disabled automatic updates on that machine. I have had my latest work PC for about 1.5 years, and after it autorebooted a month or so after I got it while I was running a long-running mathematical program, I turned all that crap off. I think I have updated only once since then - and the IT department does not hassle me about it.

 

[m3tavision]

My TV will never be anything other than a monitor for my HTPC.

I have two, two tuner HD Home Run tuners for OTA - which faithfully records everything that I want it to using MediaPortal. It's connected to the internet for Netflix, Hulu, and a tv-pod cast for $0.99 per weekly episode that my wife likes.

I gave up DishNetwork over four years ago now, and for which I was paying $85/mo. At this point, the savings has paid for the PC, plus the fully programmable remote system and equipment I got from Command Fusion - http://www.commandfusion.com/

Note, I am not including internet in this. We were paying extra for internet when I was with DishNetwork. Right now, we are paying $22..94/mo. - Netflix $12.99, Hulu $5.99, video pod cast $3.96. The package from Dish that I had is now $95/mo.

I quit because most of the things we watched were local channels that we could get OTA. We rarely watched anything outside of maybe five to seven channels. It was pointless for us to spend so much a month on something we rarely used. It was a matter of not spending money pointlessly.

As I see it, ATT is clearly showing that they are stuck in the pay TV model. To me, it sounds like they are trying a late entry to the fad and all they see are suckers that they think they can con out of a monthly subscription fee.

Granted, I am highly technical. But even the non-technical can get quite a bit of material from their local library on DVD or Blu-ray (including UHD), and that has become my goto for movies and TV series that we want to watch that are not on Netflix or Hulu.

And ATSC 3.0 is in the works for OTA - which is likely to be yet another leap in free TV services.

Thanks^
Channel Master your friend. OTA has better quality TV signal, than Comcast's garbage upscaling.

https://www.channelmaster.com/

 

[wiyosaya]

Thanks^
Channel Master your friend. OTA has better quality TV signal, than Comcast's garbage upscaling.

https://www.channelmaster.com/

You're welcome!

IMO, OTA signals are very good; ATSC 3.0 has the promise of better signals.

The absolute best OTA signal amps are available here - http://kitztech.com/
Nothing on the market from either Winegard or Channel Master can compare.

Because of the current modulation standard of ATSC 1.0 - which disappears and significantly improves with ATSC 3.0 - I had to get one of these amps even though I had a super-low noise amp from Winegard - 2.8dB vs Kitztech 1.0dB or less. Channel Master currently makes OTA signal amps that are in that 2.8dB noise figure range; they are better than current Winegard offerings but not better than Kitztech.

I am in a valley and get lots of reflected signal which makes ATSC 1.0 signals, even though I am only about 5-miles line-of-site from the transmitters, extremely hard to get and the amp was an absolute necessity.

I've also got a small directional Winegard antenna in my attic on a rotator. https://winegard.com/products/hdtv-digital-antennas/attic-antennas

 

[Someone8MyPosts]

There was nothing compelling about this even without the chaff. Only those that don't remember how badly they got screwed by these companies over the years would consider it.

 

[Ryan Barrett]

No, it is an older model that I've had for a few year that I bought from Harvey Norman. Even then I point blank refused to have an Android-based tv. I'm currently considering a new tv, likely a 4K tv, and it will be WebOS, not Android.

I have a 2018 E8 and I can tell you, they collect just as much info about what you watch and gives them access to your microphone. You can opt out of ad targeting, but you cannot turn off any of those features if you want to use any of the apps like Netflix. And LG TVs are one of the few devices that support both Dolby Vision and Atmos (although it's really a compressed version pushed out as DD+) but if you have a 2019 or later TV with HDMI 2.1 you will eventually get full lossless Atmos as services start supporting it. At any rate I believe Apple TV may support it as well but is the most expensive streaming device. Roku supports Vision but not Atmos IIRC. Locke and Key on Netflix and Jack Ryan on Prime Video sound awesome in "Atmos" And using an HTPC for streaming is only going to help you with Netflix as one of the posters above mentioned. You're screwed for everything else. Games sound fantastic though. Play Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Gears 5 and Control and you'll see. You do have to download the dolby atomos app for those to work. If none of that stuff matters to you, sorry for the extra info lol.

 

[Ryan Barrett]

Atmos has improved sound. So even without in ceiling speakers you could benefit of better sound compared to normal non dolbi hearing experience. Also, those so called dolby atmos bars are a joke. You will barely hear what it is supposed to be heard from a typical in ceiling plus rear speaker sets.

Honestly the cheap $100 Onkyo Atmos add-ons have worked just fine for me although I have been too lazy to upgrade the wiring. The only thing that sucks is having to choose between atmos and 5.1 unless I want to unhook the cables in the back every time (which I don't) so my back mounted surrounds go unused when not watching a non atmos enabled program since it's a 7 channel receiver and 9 channel receivers are really reserved for the higher end systems. My receiver cost me about $350 on a black Friday sale. It has everything I need except HDMI 2.1(obviously) and the aforementioned 2 extra channels.

BTW, the best showcase for an Atmos system if you have a 4k blu-ray player is by far the race scene in Ready Player One. When cars and players get smashed and turned into coins it really does sound like they're jingling above and then behind you along with all the other **** going on like trains smashing, king kong ****ing up the track. Just awesome.

 

[onestepforward]

I have a 2018 E8 and I can tell you, they collect just as much info about what you watch and gives them access to your microphone.

Thankyou for your response. To further explain, my tv is not directly connected to the Internet as I stream everything that I watch through an Apple TV. So, I also don't use WebOS apps. To the best of my knowledge, my tv does not have a mic built-in.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

Dumb "smart" TVs need connected to receive updates, such as selling points for features they don't even have yet (looking at you, dolby vision). Even if we don't use it, we are still forced to *pay* for it. You know unsecured wifi doesn't even need a password?

Right, but many of the features these dumb "smart" TVs are sold as and have buttons for are to utilize the microphones and cameras they bury in them. Of the TVs I was interested in, there was no way to disable the microphones and cameras I could find. Yet again, paying for so much I won't use.

You don't need those updates for the smart TV to work, just like non-smart TVs don't get any updates at all and still works. I bought a Smart TV a few years back and just use it like a dumb TV - I don't need any updates and don't pay a dime extra for stuff I don't need or use.

As for unsecured wifi, I don't have unsecured wifi around me as all my wifi have passwords. And don't you still need to set it up/point it in the right direction for it to connect to unsecured wifi? I've never heard of a device connecting to a wifi channel automatically by itself.

As for paying for cameras and mics, they might have extra features, but the cost of these smart TVs is much lower than the cost of dumb TVs from years ago. You can get a 40-50 inch smart Vizio TV with internet connection and various features for like $300-$400. I remember like 10 years ago in 2010 when an LCD screen of that size would cost you something like $1000+, which resembles ~$1,200 in today's money due to inflation.

 

[toooooot]

Honestly the cheap $100 Onkyo Atmos add-ons have worked just fine for me although I have been too lazy to upgrade the wiring. The only thing that sucks is having to choose between atmos and 5.1 unless I want to unhook the cables in the back every time (which I don't) so my back mounted surrounds go unused when not watching a non atmos enabled program since it's a 7 channel receiver and 9 channel receivers are really reserved for the higher end systems. My receiver cost me about $350 on a black Friday sale. It has everything I need except HDMI 2.1(obviously) and the aforementioned 2 extra channels.

BTW, the best showcase for an Atmos system if you have a 4k blu-ray player is by far the race scene in Ready Player One. When cars and players get smashed and turned into coins it really does sound like they're jingling above and then behind you along with all the other **** going on like trains smashing, king kong ****ing up the track. Just awesome.

Wait, why do you have to unhook the cables? Is it a bug? And in what app do you have it?

 

[ShagnWagn]

You don't need those updates for the smart TV to work, just like non-smart TVs don't get any updates at all and still works. I bought a Smart TV a few years back and just use it like a dumb TV - I don't need any updates and don't pay a dime extra for stuff I don't need or use.

As for unsecured wifi, I don't have unsecured wifi around me as all my wifi have passwords. And don't you still need to set it up/point it in the right direction for it to connect to unsecured wifi? I've never heard of a device connecting to a wifi channel automatically by itself.

As for paying for cameras and mics, they might have extra features, but the cost of these smart TVs is much lower than the cost of dumb TVs from years ago. You can get a 40-50 inch smart Vizio TV with internet connection and various features for like $300-$400. I remember like 10 years ago in 2010 when an LCD screen of that size would cost you something like $1000+, which resembles ~$1,200 in today's money due to inflation.

You "need" updates when your TV has a known software problems, like mine.

Just because you haven't heard of a device automatically connecting to any kind of internet connection doesn't mean there isn't. It would be trivial to make their privacy invasion device look for and connect to any unsecured wifi. I'm not referring to your own wifi - I'm speaking of others near you allowing unsecured. If I was scum like these manufacturers are for privacy invasion, I would consider doing this.

So, you think adding microphones and cameras makes TVs cheaper? I'm not sure what universe you're in, but that's a weird statement. Anything that creates work increases the price. TVs are cheaper due to new technologies and more efficient manufacturing and cheaper materials. TVs don't last anywhere near as long as they used to... thus, cheaper. Think how much cheaper they would be if they did not force us to pay for microphones and cameras! It would bring the price of OLED TVs down even more! Just give me a dumb TV and let me use the money savings toward a device of my own choosing. Instead, they are forcing us to give them more money (profit) to charge us for something we won't use.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

You "need" updates when your TV has a known software problems, like mine.
Just because you haven't heard of a device automatically connecting to any kind of internet connection doesn't mean there isn't. It would be trivial to make their privacy invasion device look for and connect to any unsecured wifi. I'm not referring to your own wifi - I'm speaking of others near you allowing unsecured. If I was scum like these manufacturers are for privacy invasion, I would consider doing this.
So, you think adding microphones and cameras makes TVs cheaper? I'm not sure what universe you're in, but that's a weird statement. Anything that creates work increases the price. TVs are cheaper due to new technologies and more efficient manufacturing and cheaper materials. TVs don't last anywhere near as long as they used to... thus, cheaper. Think how much cheaper they would be if they did not force us to pay for microphones and cameras! It would bring the price of OLED TVs down even more! Just give me a dumb TV and let me use the money savings toward a device of my own choosing. Instead, they are forcing us to give them more money (profit) to charge us for something we won't use.

Gotcha. I suppose a device that connects automatically to unsecured wifi and sends out data could exist, but so far I haven't seen or read about any and I think there might be a risk of lawsuit for that.

No, I don't think adding features makes it cheaper. I'm just saying the added cost of these features is more than offset by the overall decrease in price thanks to new/more efficient tech and manufacturing. Considering a 40 inch LCD is under $300 and a ~30 inch can be found for $100 or less when on sale, I'm guessing that if they stripped all the new features, they might have to price the TV so low that they'd barely make any profit on it.

It would be great if they still made dumber TVs with less features for cheaper, but unfortunately, I think the trend is those older TVs are dying out as most people probably like more fancy gizmos and they might not be as profitable.

 

[ShagnWagn]

Gotcha. I suppose a device that connects automatically to unsecured wifi and sends out data could exist, but so far I haven't seen or read about any and I think there might be a risk of lawsuit for that.

No, I don't think adding features makes it cheaper. I'm just saying the added cost of these features is more than offset by the overall decrease in price thanks to new/more efficient tech and manufacturing. Considering a 40 inch LCD is under $300 and a ~30 inch can be found for $100 or less when on sale, I'm guessing that if they stripped all the new features, they might have to price the TV so low that they'd barely make any profit on it.

It would be great if they still made dumber TVs with less features for cheaper, but unfortunately, I think the trend is those older TVs are dying out as most people probably like more fancy gizmos and they might not be as profitable.

"I'm guessing that if they stripped all the new features, they might have to price the TV so low that they'd barely make any profit on it"

You can bet they will make sure they are getting plenty of profit. TVs are plenty big enough and affordable. Instead of blowing money on stupid "smart" features, use that toward better picture quality, which is what a TV is meant for - displaying an image and basic audio. Thankfully they are not forcing us to pay for "soundbar quality" audio... yet.

 

[m3tavision]

You're welcome!

IMO, OTA signals are very good; ATSC 3.0 has the promise of better signals.

The absolute best OTA signal amps are available here - http://kitztech.com/
Nothing on the market from either Winegard or Channel Master can compare.

Because of the current modulation standard of ATSC 1.0 - which disappears and significantly improves with ATSC 3.0 - I had to get one of these amps even though I had a super-low noise amp from Winegard - 2.8dB vs Kitztech 1.0dB or less. Channel Master currently makes OTA signal amps that are in that 2.8dB noise figure range; they are better than current Winegard offerings but not better than Kitztech.

I am in a valley and get lots of reflected signal which makes ATSC 1.0 signals, even though I am only about 5-miles line-of-site from the transmitters, extremely hard to get and the amp was an absolute necessity.

I've also got a small directional Winegard antenna in my attic on a rotator. https://winegard.com/products/hdtv-digital-antennas/attic-antennas

Get channel master's omni-50 antenna...

 

[wiyosaya]

Locke and Key on Netflix and Jack Ryan on Prime Video sound awesome in "Atmos" And using an HTPC for streaming is only going to help you with Netflix as one of the posters above mentioned.

I'll have to check out Locke and Key. It looks interesting.

 

[wiyosaya]

Get channel master's omni-50 antenna...

Thanks for the advice.

I tried small omnis before going with a smallish directional. The problem is where I live. I get a reflected signal from the north that kills the main signal from the south.

An omni is much more susceptible to multi-path interference which is really, really bad where I live and it is, IMO, a major "what the hell were they thinking when they designed this" flaw in ATSC 1.0 since it completely kills reception in areas where it is prevalent.

I did quite a bit of research on the subject. A directional antenna is much more capable of rejecting multi-path interference. I went with this one because it was just small enough to rotate 360 in my attic.

There are other areas that are affected by this same problem. Someone living near Boston had the same issue, and IIRC, there is at least one other such area in the country that may be in NJ or PA. I bet there are many more such areas in the country, too. You would definitely know if you lived in such an area.

 

[Ryan Barrett]

Wait, why do you have to unhook the cables? Is it a bug? And in what app do you have it?

Because if you have a seven channel receiver you're generally using it for a 7.1 surround sound setup. However Atmos uses two of those channels. That's why it's called a 5.1.2 channel setup. The 5.1 is the normal surround (center, left, right, left surround, back surround) and the atmos speaker use two channels. The inputs in the back will say Left Surround/Height channel and Right Surround/Height channel. The 2 in the 5.1.2 setup are the other two channels in a 7 channel system. You would need a 9.1 channel receiver to keep everything plugged in at once as there would be 2 dedicated inputs just for the atmos speakers. And if you wanted to go all out and have all 7 channels running and then front AND rear atmos speakers you'd need an 11.1 channel receiver.