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Question

Samsung 'smart tv's'

Apr 2, 2017 10:23AM PDT

I am resident in the UK & have an LT24D390S Samsung 'smart' tv, (which is in my bedroom) that uses the 'smart hub'. I have reset it twice in an effort to get what apps I DO want to use, to work.

Those that DO work (so far - not had tv very long) are BBCiPlayer, Amazon Video, TED, & Youtube.

Youtube does not work very well even connected via ethernet. - buffering, crashing & skipping, every 10 seconds but only randomly not every time, I try to use it.

Vimeo, Daily Motion, College Humour, Tech Crunch & AOLON, apps DO NOT work at all on MY TV, after 5 attempts for each app trying to get them to load properly, so they are all also a waste of space - thankfully I can delete those.

Forget trying to use the 'tv wifi LAN' as that can't even connect to a 'range extender' that is 5 inches away from it, or if it 'connects' videos just crash, buffer & skip like detailed above. Also 'connecting' via WiFi requires network key EVERY SINGLE TIME.

If I try to use WiFI to connect my smart tv to internet, why can't the TV remember what they key is after I have input it? I should not have to leave the TV constantly switched on & leave the 'smart hub, open' just for me to be able to use 'smart features' in the evenings, or when in bed.

Unlike 'obrienaj', who is 'lucky' enough to own an '8000' series tv, (whose post I was trying to reply to - unsuccessfully), I only have a lowly 24" LT24D390S, which the Samsung tech support website does not even recognise as existing.

Why does the 'samsung support' website not recognise my tv? It is a current model (in the UK).

Unlike 'obrienaj', who can only 'get 10 apps' on his TV - and which also do not include ESPN that he wanted, mine has access to HUNDREDS of apps, games, etc - most of which are utter crap as far as I am concerned, assuming they even 'work' at all.

Also 'recommended apps' can NOT be deleted, so are a waste of what little 'space' the TV has, if you don't want to use them.

They include 'All 4' & 'ITV hub' who for some reason require 'registration & login' before they 'work', while 'My 5' (not a 'recommended app', so it can be deleted) will play 'programmes' but there is no sound (except for the first 3 seconds which is distorted) when playing 'programmes'.

Why are these 'smart tv' versions of the apps for 'non subscription' channels demanding I login before they work, and why does 'my5' not work at all (it does not ask for a login), when the work on a PS3 and do not ask for a login on that platform either?

My living room TV which is NOT 'smart', connects to multiple sources, including a PS3 (which has some smart features) and ALL those smart features (that I use) work properly. NONE of them (except Amazon Video) that I use require a login. Those others like 'mubi', vidzone etc (on PS3) are sub's based services, so no use to me so will be deleted.

Others like All4, ITV Hub, MY5 do NOT require a log in and DO work on PS3. So why do they either NOT work, or require a ligin to work on a Samsung Smart TV?

So far, I am NOT impressed with 'Smart TV' features as they are included in these TV's. These 'features' seem to work far better when they are designed as apps on 'other devices/sources' that connect to 'dumb' TV's.

Bob

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Range extenders should be about half way between
Apr 2, 2017 10:35AM PDT

Range extenders go about half way from the device we need to extend and the source (router.) I worry that makers don't tell this.

That won't fix Smart TV issues but at 5 inches it's a definite whoops.

-> As to the required login, Samsung has chosen to do that. It's not a bug. For me it's a shame they did that.

In short, loosely chained apps work better than dictator designed apps. (See what country is north of South Korea and you get an idea why they write apps and systems like this!)

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Range extenders should be about half way between
Apr 2, 2017 12:49PM PDT

Hi R Proffit,

Thanks for your reply.

Have already moved 'range extender' to power socket outside bedroom door - none left in bedroom as bedroom has all used up - smart tv now connected via ethernet cable to powerline product - mobile devices connect to 'range extender'. Connection for BOTH is now better, but not as good as it would be if modem/router was able to be in bedroom, or outside or near to bedroom door. That is what happens when 'phone socket' is rarely where you need it.

As for your point above about 'logins', I assume either I mentioned it, in relation to not being able to 'login' to 'ranger extender SSID', or perhaps you may have read my other looooooong post about some apps working (with or without logins), very badly, and some not working at all?

Can't remember if I mentioned logins (in respect of range extenders) in post you replied to ('Samsung Smart TV's').

Are you saying NORTH Korea make Samsung products and the apps & systems that are supposed to work on them?

I thought that was SOUTH Korea, though I get your point about the difference between 'loosely chained apps' that work, and those apps that do not.

I can't see how NORTH Korea has anything to do with it though, unless that is really where Samsung is located. If it is located there, then I am not surprised that the 'reputation of Samsung' is what it is with some people.

Bob

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North or South.
Apr 2, 2017 12:59PM PDT

In my work I had the opportunity to work with many engineers from Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, Brazil, Canada, USA and other countries.

For some reason the most uptight control folks were from South Korea. When I look at the Samsung Smart TV Hub it makes sense to me they did this. I can only think of the work I did with those engineers and just nod.

App issues are plentiful with Smart TVs. It feels like Windows 95 to me as to that but they did polish the graphics to the Nth degree but forgot the most basic "it should just work" concept (or never heard of it.

So what do I do? I ignore the Smart Hub altogether, turn it off and added an Amazon Fire TV and my old 2009 Sony Vaio laptop to get the smartest TV on the block.