Hacker News Reader

So they can use Netflix or HBO apps and whanot.

The vast majority of consumers are not going to spend another $100-300 on a media player device like an Apple TV, Roku, or nVidia shield. They will use the built in app functionality.

And even those who don't - a very surprising to me number people use the "free channels" most TVs ship with. It's like the streaming version of broadcast OTA I guess for a certain consumer segment.

It's convenient and people 1. don't think it spies and 2. wouldn't care if it did.

> Or are these TVs auto connecting open WiFi or the neighbor’s Xfinity WiFi?

Yup. How does that make you feel? Because for me, it was the moment when the border to not only blatantly, but also actively evil was passed.

Do you have any evidence of this? The video expose that kicked off this firestorm said that if you don't actively connect to the internet, then the system is largely inert.