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NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 9:15 am

I use a Fire stick on all my TVs by default. So much easier than worrying about smart TV OS's. The only time it bites me in the ass is when they get into pissing matches with people like HBO Max. On the rare occasion I want the full HBO Max experience I use the PS4.
Amazon is late to the party when it comes to integration. My Sony just recently received an update that shows Prime content on the Home screen, similar to Netflix. I have a few Fire sticks, but they're all in storage now since it's easier to just access everything through a single button on my remote. I'm sure you're already doing this, but having Prime content going over ethernet is also nice.

tifosi77
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Postby tifosi77 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 11:14 am

Yeah, I haven't dealt with my TV's UI in probably 8 years. I honestly don't even remember what the menus look like.

dodint
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Postby dodint » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:17 pm

I only know mine because it asks to be updated about once a month with a pop-up that won't go away unless acknowledged. Wish I had a dumb TV.

nocera
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Postby nocera » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:19 pm

I've never had a smart TV. Somehow the TVs that I bought in 2009 are still alive and kicking.

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:22 pm

A good UI goes a long way towards adoption, obviously.

LITT
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Postby LITT » Mon Aug 10, 2020 2:25 pm

For me, another huge piece of the decision is the Smart OS used. Sony's is far superior to both Samsung and Vizio, IMO, so if I wanted to use both Netflix and Prime, I'm looking at Sony first. It integrated with the TV so much better than most. Apple TV may sway that decision, though.
apple tv is really only used because the vizio interface is so shitty

LITT
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Postby LITT » Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:18 am

whats the difference between QLED and OLED

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:26 am

Long-winded explanation: https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-thea ... s-oled-tv/

QLED is still an LED panel that requires a backlight, and poor backlighting can cause issues like uniformity, where some parts of the screen are darker than others.

OLED requires no backlighting, so uniformity shouldn't be an issue.

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Postby LITT » Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:27 am

so OLED > QLED

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 7:38 am

so OLED > QLED
Depends on your room environment and viewing habits. Dark room for movies? OLED is superior. Bright room? QLED all the way. TV shows with static logos? QLED, as they won't burn in like OLED.

LITT
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Postby LITT » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:03 am

it is a very bright room (except at night). it is has a wall of windows

skullman80
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Postby skullman80 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:07 am

QLED would be your best bet then.

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:14 am

Run through that comparison page on rtings.com and make sure you enter bright room in that section. One of the main reasons I went with my Sony was because it was considerably brighter than most other sets, and had better glare reduction.

eddy
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Postby eddy » Tue Aug 11, 2020 3:03 pm

TCL 2020 models are out and sound pretty damn great

https://www.techradar.com/news/tcls-new ... -the-price

meow
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Postby meow » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:10 pm

Is Unlocator a Russian ponzi scheme that is going to steal my identity?

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:33 pm

Sure thing you can do that, however let me enlighten you with the truth. Once you get new plan with them it will be for a specific period of time and discounts will expire once that period ends and you will end up aying more
Verizon CSR enlightening me...

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:23 am

I chatted with Verizon again this morning, and finally go somebody who was useful. I explained that I expect an increase, but not $50/month. After checking my account, he told me that I didn't need to renew my contract, and could simply go month to month, as the $85 in discounts applied to my account have no expiration. In total, my bill would only go up $10/month. Out-****-standing!

meow
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Postby meow » Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:27 am

Is Unlocator a Russian ponzi scheme that is going to steal my identity?
Please advise

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Thu Aug 13, 2020 7:32 am

Is Unlocator a Russian ponzi scheme that is going to steal my identity?
Please advise
I don't use any VPN service, so I can't help here. I know a number of others do, though. @nocera, perhaps?

nocera
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Postby nocera » Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:07 am

Is Unlocator a Russian ponzi scheme that is going to steal my identity?
Please advise
I don't use any VPN service, so I can't help here. I know a number of others do, though. @nocera, perhaps?
I used www.unblock-us.com. Full disclosure, that was at least 5 years ago now so I don't know if the service has changed, but when I used it, it was extremely reliable and easy to set up. They have start-up tutorials for basically any device you could think of. Their support team was also great and responded quickly to any issues. The other good thing was the price ($5/month).

DigitalGypsy66
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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Thu Aug 13, 2020 11:39 am

unblock.us was good, but Netflix and other streaming services actively combat their technology. So it may work for a month, and then Netflix changes something in their backend, it no longer works until unblock fixes. Rinse, wash, repeat. Again, it's been a few years since I've used it, but it was frustrating to watch half a movie on Netflix UK and come back the next night and get "Do not use VPN" warnings from because Netflix updated their backend code to block whatever the VPN was doing.

eddy
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Postby eddy » Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:12 pm

I am trying to find a portable speaker that has Alexa built in and also has an aux input (need it for hooking Roku controller via 3.5mm cord for outdoor theater). The built in Alexa isn't absolutely necessary, but would be nice. I really like the Sonos move, but no aux. I like the Amazon echo studio, but it's not portable.

Might just go with another Bose SoundLink and continue pairing with Alexa and be done with it, but it would be nice to get something with both. Any suggestions?

scb147
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Postby scb147 » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:33 am

Is Unlocator a Russian ponzi scheme that is going to steal my identity?
I've used it for the last ~4 years... However, I only use it to watch the Pens games via NHL.tv, but it works well for that. And they are based in Denmark.

willeyeam
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Postby willeyeam » Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:52 am

YouTube TV tells me it knows I'm using a VPN and to turn it off. Am I wrong in thinking that's not a feature of a good VPN

tifosi77
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Postby tifosi77 » Thu Aug 20, 2020 8:14 pm

Are you using a proxy server that's located in the US?

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