I thought #Samsung #SmartTag worked with all #Android phones with the Smartthings app installed, but no, it only works with the Galaxy phones. Apple-level vendor lock-in. Can't recommend it.

at this point what's the purpose of Smart TVs? they've been completely enshittified, and you can easily have it replaced with a huge monitor

https://www.techradar.com/televisions/infuriating-pop-up-appearing-on-your-samsung-tv-youre-not-alone-but-there-may-be-a-fix

The 2021 Samsung TV I have in my living room is only mildly annoying. However, the 2024 TV I bought late last year for my bedroom is *really* annoying. The enshittification of Samsung devices has come a long way in those years!

So, I'm considering disconnecting them from the internet and replace the smart feature with a TV box. But which one? There's no point buying one with the same level of enshittification.

Suggestions? Is Nvidia Shield any better?

Invasive Israeli software is harvesting data from #Samsung users in #WANA

https://smex.org/invasive-israeli-software-is-harvesting-data-from-samsung-users-in-wana/

Tell me you own a Samsung Smart TV without saying that you own one.

Glad I have Pi-Hole set up.

If you have an old(er) phone you may extend it's usefulness, e.g. install LineageOS on it.

Got a used #Samsung S10. Received no updates any more. Removed Google's & Samsung crap. Now it's useable again. Less e-waste & happy new owner

Initially I messed up:
https://mastodon.social/@BjornW/113902843544611061

Thanks to tsterbak @openandroidinstaller

We fixed it:
https://github.com/openandroidinstaller-dev/openandroidinstaller/issues/678

Will try to add it into @openandroidinstaller

This morning a customer told me that the new Samsung Galaxy S25 (and probably also the previous ones – but I hadn't noticed this on my S24) run, by default, a background service called "Meta Services," which belongs to Meta. And it runs even if you don't have any Meta apps, as it's the result of an agreement between the two companies. I don't have any information about this – does anyone know more?

So-called #SmartHome products are not even smart enough to be interoperable. With free software, you can tailor the software to your needs instead of having to watch out for 'works with' badges and the acceptance of certification of other producers by proprietary software companies like #Apple, #Google, or #Samsung.

So-called #SmartHome products are not even smart enough to be interoperable. With free software, you can tailor the software to your needs instead of having to watch out for 'works with' badges and the acceptance of certification of other producers by proprietary software companies like #Apple, #Google, or #Samsung.

#phone #librem5 #tech #pinephone
I’m looking for a new option for a phone. No #iPhone no #samsung.

I’m thinking the librem5, but not sure. Are there any good non mainstream phones that have extended security updates and are overall decent?

Would love boosts and recommendations on new phones.

I'm sitting near the #Samsung store here in #CencoCostanera (A.K.A #CostaneraCenter), less than an hour away from this summer's #GalaxyUnpacked!

I'll be replying to this post for any insights that intrigue me.

Stay tuned! (Or something like that)

So-called #SmartHome products are not even smart enough to be interoperable. With free software, you can tailor the software to your needs instead of having to watch out for 'works with' badges and the acceptance of certification of other producers by proprietary software companies like #Apple, #Google, or #Samsung.

So-called #SmartHome products are not even smart enough to be interoperable. With free software, you can tailor the software to your needs instead of having to watch out for 'works with' badges and the acceptance of certification of other producers by proprietary software companies like #Apple, #Google, or #Samsung.

2025-01-10: I get a used #Samsung SNH-V6110BN camera from ~2017, see that it connects to xmpp.samsungsmartcam.com via #XMPP and has a GPL notice. I request the GPL source from Samsung

2025-01-16: Samsung refuses the OSS request because the camera was not manufactured by Samsung

2025-01-18: the DNS records on xmpp.samsungsmartcam.com are gone, the app doesn't work any more.

Did I make them notice and shut it down?

so, am reading VPNs are not working for Americans trying to use #Tiktok.

some say the problem lies with the #geolocation data tied to the account at the time of signup. others say TikTok is most likely blocking VPNs en masse.

may i suggest another reason? IT’S THE PHONES.

for example #Samsung phones with Snapdragon & serviced by TMobile are unrootable. Knox isn’t security software. it’s backdooring software.

phones sold in the USA most likely are all backdoored & beaconed.

I had to buy a new phone yesterday as my previous one broke beyond repair. Found out that #Google now took over the Messaging app in #Android on a #Samsung. Not only does that add 250 Mb clutter for a basic app on your phone, but they now suck in your SMS messages into their data collection.

You can make the standard messages app hte default (you should) but you can't remove the app. Anyone tips for phones that can avoid Google intrusion?