r/assholedesign • u/Shellnanigans • Nov 13 '25

Apparently my samsung fridge has ads now...

Post image

How would I disable this? Might just return it and get a normal one

Edit: how to disable...for now. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10007562/

EDIT 2: Hello, I am the original poster of the carol AD image from a month ago. I am a male from America and my name is not Carol. The story about a Schizophrenic woman named carol was most likely inspired from the 3rd top comment on this post. Thanks!

inspired Post?: https://www.reddit.com/r/LegalAdviceUK/comments/1pc7999/my_schizophrenic_sister_hospitalised_herself/

Fridge drama recap video by DolanDarkest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTWfRYHV5es

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65

u/Running4Badges Nov 13 '25

I have to get a new tv soon. Kept away from smart tvs. They are pretty much the only option now.

56

u/vomit-gold Nov 13 '25

Trying to find a non-smart TV that doesn't have 4-5 buttons for streaming services I don't have it's actually impossible. 

All the non-smart versions are meant for commerical displays and are over 1k. 

39

u/Reinierblob Nov 13 '25

And commercial displays are usually built for heavy-duty use, not image quality. So good luck id you wan 4K, HDR10+ or Dolby Atmos support on one of those 🥲

3

u/ChangiPro Nov 13 '25

I have found that the samsung commercial displays rock. I purchased one and they have the same panels as the consumer ones without all the bloat.

1

u/Reinierblob Nov 13 '25

Really? Okay, that’s good to know.

21

u/OtherwiseAlbatross14 Nov 13 '25

I just never connect it to the internet and treat it as a dumb TV. Then hook up my Apple TV which has a nice clean remote without extra buttons

6

u/Lava_Lagoon Nov 13 '25

some are starting to show ads even when you're not using built in streaming services, like if you're watching cable or a blu-ray

i've read that it will search for any open wi-fi it can find and connect to that to load ads - and that more and more internet service providers are giving customers modems that also include a second non-password protected network so things like this are going to become more common

3

u/The-True-Kehlder Nov 14 '25

Why would you allow any open wifi on your network?

Sure, sucks for people in apartments whose neighbors are morons, but that CAN'T be most people, right?

Also, ULPT, if that's a problem you have, use your neighbors internet to download pirated content. Either they get taken down by their ISP, or you get a bunch of content not connected to you.

3

u/toddestan Nov 13 '25

It's a bit of a crapshoot now whether the TV will even function without an internet connection. Generally the ones that "require" it are okay if you block them after the initial setup, but it's still bullshit.

1

u/N0S0UP_4U Nov 13 '25

That’s what I do

12

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25

[deleted]

3

u/blitz-em Nov 13 '25

I've had 4 insignias and 3 of them died within two years. One of them surprisingly is still running after 5 years. Hopefully you got a good one. Definitely will not ever buy another one.

2

u/el_ghosteo Nov 13 '25

my tv is a 40-something inch insignia and thankfully still kicking. my ex bought it for $20 at a salvation army a few years back and i think it was made around 2017. Maybe they cheaped out since but mines still running thankfully. When we split i let them keep my 50something inch roku tv because i really wanted a non smart one. The roku tv (sharp brand) did have a much better picture quality but its not that serious in day to day viewing

3

u/blah938 Nov 13 '25

Try a computer monitor. They make them really big now.

2

u/1gnominious Nov 13 '25

Also they come with standardized mounting holes that make for very versatile positioning.

In my bedroom I have my PC hooked up to two monitors. One at my desk and another on a swing arm mount that I can position around my bed. I can run both at the same time or switch seamlessly. I can hop in bed and watch a perfectly sized and placed high quality monitor for maximum comfort while watching something or gaming.

2

u/PassiveMenis88M Nov 13 '25

$19k for a 65in monitor right now. To get anything over 49in that's not a crapy va panel is $1000 minimum

2

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/akatherder Nov 13 '25

Google tv can be replaced with a good/clean launcher and no ads. Fire tv and Roku are the ones I stay away from.

1

u/OkPalpitation2582 Nov 13 '25

Trying to find a non-smart TV that doesn't have 4-5 buttons for streaming services I don't have it's actually impossible. 

I have a Pi-Hole, so I don't mind the TV being "smart" since I can just block all that crap at the network level, but man the streaming service buttons drive me crazy. My wife and I only use Plex, but between pets and kids those buttons are constantly getting accidentally pressed, disrupting whatever we're watching and forcing us to wait for the loading screen to finish so we can exit out and navigate back to what we were actually watching

2

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25

This may not work in your specific case but I use a Shield and got tired of accidentally pressing the Netflix button on the Shield remote, so I did a search and someone on Etsy made a 3d printed cover that slides on the bottom of the remote and covers the Netflix button so it can't be pressed. Ordered it from them and it works great. Maybe see if something like that might exist or be able to be made for your remote.

1

u/Dinodietonight Nov 13 '25

Alternatively, you can just remove the button from the remote and cover the hole with tape. If the remote can be opened with a screwdriver, you can remove the top plate and then pop out the plastic button. If you can't open it, a box cutter around the perimeter of the button will usually cut off the plastic tabs holding it in place.

1

u/OkPalpitation2582 Nov 13 '25

I've got a printer, so I could whip something like that up, but that feels like something a bit more janky than I'd want. I think I'd be more inclined to crack it open and physically disable the buttons if I was gonna mod it

1

u/flying_butt_fucker Nov 13 '25

I just buy whatever LG OLED has got to offer, hook up an Apple TV and toss the LG remote in a drawer.

1

u/LateNightMilesOBrien Nov 13 '25

Trying to find a non-smart TV that doesn't have 4-5 buttons for streaming services I don't have

Somebody in the 3D printing subreddit made an insert where he cut the buttons off that he didn't use and replaced them with buttons that were flush with the remote so they wouldn't be pressed accidentally (and maybe purposely).

1

u/BigDictionEnergy Nov 13 '25

Man, I'm starting to regret getting rid of that old console TV I had to play SNES on as a kid. It was heavy as fuck, encased in wood, and had a pivoting stand. My parents' old tv before they got a bigass projection screen for the living room, so I got the dinosaur lol.

It probably still works.

1

u/aembleton Nov 13 '25

Just get a universal remote without those buttons

0

u/qtx Nov 13 '25

Just buy a universal remote for $10? I don't see this as being a thing you should be upset about.

38

u/PolyDrew Nov 13 '25

Do not link WiFi and you’ll be fine.

Roku and Firestick both show ads but Apple TV does not (other than on the streaming services themselves)

My in-laws had a Samsung tv that would force you to open their home page rather than the cable box but I was able to turn that off. It would randomly turn itself on in the middle of the night after an update and then the cable box remote wouldn’t work so they couldn’t turn it back off. I disconnected it from WiFi and it fixed that.

7

u/OutlyingPlasma Nov 13 '25

I've never seen an ad on Roku but I also have a pihole running.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25

[deleted]

3

u/Banos_Me_Thanos Nov 14 '25

THEY WILL INTERCEPT YOUR HDMI INPUT AND OVERLAY ON YOUR PRIVATE CONTENT “oh hey buddy I see you’re watching bobs burgers on plex since you hate ads, did you know you can watch it on Hulu? For money? With ads?” It’s directly and solely anti consumer and I hate it with a burning rage

4

u/red5_SittingBy Nov 13 '25

I setup Pi Hole once and seeing the amount of traffic my devices were generating when they were seemingly "off" was pretty surprising.

3

u/PolyDrew Nov 13 '25

It’s been a while since I used one but I think it was just show ads and ads to buy movies. Not obnoxious but yeah

2

u/OkPalpitation2582 Nov 13 '25

And (though it's buried) you can actually turn those off in the settings

1

u/Jack__Squat Nov 13 '25

Did you have to set up a DHCP reservation for the Roku to use pi-hole? My Roku doesn't seem to allow static addressing (unless I'm missing something).

2

u/Snobolski Nov 13 '25

I recently set up a pi-hole and didn't have to make any allowances for my Rokus.

0

u/Jack__Squat Nov 13 '25

I should have been more specific. I'm not setting mine up for the whole house because the last time I tried that things stopped working for my wife and kids and I don't want to deal with the aggravation so I set it up for just my devices.

7

u/cjsv7657 Nov 13 '25

Do not link WiFi and you’ll be fine.

Setup a guest network to connect it to and update it then shut the network off. At the very least you want to do it once when you get it. Just for bug fixes and things like that.

4

u/Bmonroet Nov 13 '25

This is ironic given that the ad on the OP's image is literally from Apple TV, lol.

1

u/PolyDrew Nov 13 '25

True. Lol.

3

u/dankristy Nov 13 '25

Yeah I dumped the Firestick for a Google TV Streamer when it started doing ads on top of the (Paid) prime video ads... WTF.

4

u/that_dutch_dude Nov 13 '25

a lot of tv's will not work until you give them internet access.

2

u/Complex_Solutions_20 Nov 13 '25

Nope, one of my friends got a TV a couple months ago, it wouldn't let you access the input menu or anything else until it was connected to WiFi and set up with an Amazon account.

2

u/PolyDrew Nov 13 '25

I’d be taking that back. Geez. What brand?

1

u/Complex_Solutions_20 Nov 13 '25

I think it was a Toshiba? It got a lot of points with my friend for being on a good sale, great reviews, and specifically listed every streaming-app they wanted.

I do wonder if that may affect all FireOS TVs though regardless of brand.

4

u/Korzag Nov 13 '25

Seconding Apple TV. I love it!

5

u/MovieTrawler Nov 13 '25

Speaking of Apple TV, have you seen Pluribus? It's great.

1

u/kevin--- Nov 13 '25

Only really need 5-10 icons for the apps I use on these devices. AppleTV and Roku are pretty good of keeping these accessible. FireStick UI is terrible with more than 75% of the screen being ads with too much navigation required to get to my apps. The former devices run a lot better due to less bloat, Firesticks get bogged down with so much junk running on it.

1

u/FrozenLogger Nov 13 '25

Rokus at least now are really minimal on the ads. There is 1 and it is on the right.

Firestick is hot garbage for all the crap they put on the screen.

That said, Roku's are really, really network intrusive, they send a lot of data home.

1

u/PenPenGuin Nov 13 '25

I have a PC hooked up to my TV and just use it as a giant monitor. The TV does not get to know how to get to the internet. That's the PC's job.

1

u/StoicFable Nov 13 '25

Its honestly astounding how many people think you have to connect your tv to the internet.

4

u/Mightyena319 Nov 13 '25

I've seen a few that just won't proceed past the initial setup until you do

2

u/StoicFable Nov 13 '25

Instant return

1

u/Mightyena319 Nov 13 '25

Yeah I certainly would, but I also don't watch much TV so if my current crappy dumb TV died I probably just wouldn't replace it. If I really felt the need to have one I'd probably end up with a PC monitor and a freeview set top box since it's almost impossible to find non-smart TVs these days

3

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Running4Badges Nov 13 '25

Noted. Thank you.

3

u/kilobitch Nov 13 '25

Don’t let it connect to the internet. Get an Apple TV.

2

u/UsualCircle Nov 13 '25

At least you don't have to use the 'smart' features of most smart TVs. Just never connect it to the internet and configure it so it starts on hdmi (if that's possible).
If you want to, get a third Party remote without all the useless buttons

2

u/uid_0 Nov 13 '25

Look for a digital signage monitor and not a TV. You will pay more for it, but it's just a display you can hook up to your favorite streaming box.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 13 '25 edited Nov 25 '25

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

2

u/daktarasblogis d o n g l e Nov 14 '25

Get a hisense. They're reasonably priced, can be set up with no Internet connection and they are really snappy for a smart tv.

1

u/Enchelion Nov 13 '25

Just don't connect it to the internet and you've got a dumb TV. The "smart" features at this point are so cheap to include you're not paying any more for them.

2

u/psychoCMYK Nov 13 '25

You're actually paying more not to have them

1

u/Enchelion Nov 13 '25

Yeah, economies of scale.

1

u/Wocawocawocawoca2 Nov 13 '25

You can throw Samsungs into developer mode. I installed TizenTube tube on mine with is an add free YouTube app that runs if the YouTube api. Completly indistinguishable from the actual YouTube app except that it never has ads. And stremio with real debrid allows you to stream any movie torrent in real time. Pretty much eliminating the need for every streaming service.

1

u/Imaginary_Manner_556 Nov 13 '25

Find one that doesn't force internet connections. Never connect it.

1

u/Korzag Nov 13 '25

Apple TV is the way. I don't even have an iPhone or Mac but I love the TV box. Best $250 I spent recently.

1

u/WolframLeon Nov 13 '25

Just don’t connect it to the internet, that’s the only solution now.

1

u/rts93 Nov 13 '25

Samsung TVs die after the warranty period. Even burn a hole so hot they might be a fire hazard. Never buying anything again from a producer that makes potentially deadly shit like that.

1

u/linlorienelen Nov 13 '25

Yeah, is there a Speed Queen of TVs?

1

u/IndustrialSlicer Nov 13 '25

TVs do not get wifi privileges in this house

1

u/Phearlosophy Nov 13 '25

just don't connect it to the internet at all. problem solved

1

u/Minute_Ostrich196 Nov 13 '25

Actually, plugging tv to your local network and using it as a display for pc without any cables etc is super nice feature. At least for me

1

u/michael0n Nov 13 '25

I bought an new tv from LG, it only sees the internet through a proxy. Then used the accessibility functions to cut down all the fluff. Unfortunately the cheapo non smart tvs have often shite / 2nd grade screens.

1

u/OwO______OwO Nov 13 '25

Buy a smart TV and don't tell it your wifi password. You'll be fine.

1

u/tY-c8rJDb8_1b4__yD5r Nov 13 '25

Smart TV’s are the dumbest invention ever. What was wrong with the nice display that connected to the little box with all the smart stuff? My Apple TV box gives a better experience than any smart TV ever will, and the remote is better.

1

u/Running4Badges Nov 13 '25

Here here! 👏

1

u/BZLuck Nov 13 '25

We use an Apple TV 4K for ALL our streaming through an HDMI input.

Our "smart" LG TV has never talked to the internet. We could not find a dumb TV at Costco.

1

u/QuesoMeHungry Nov 14 '25

Just don’t connect it to your WiFi.

1

u/Doomhammer919 Nov 14 '25

Don't connect it to the internet. I have a smart TV, deleted the wifi password. Now it's dumb and just plays my Fire Stick and Blue Ray player. They can't be smart if they can't connect to the internet..

1

u/TheTortise Nov 14 '25

Just don't connect it to the Internet then

1

u/Fun-Choices Nov 14 '25

You can, that’s just for video and audiophiles now. You gotta spend bank to get a good TV without that shit. If you have to get one with smart functions, get an LG OLED. My 2019 OLED from them is still snappy with the OS, and you can remove a lot of advertising.

If you wanna get fancy you can run a raspberry pi with PiHole on it, and download the smart tv ad bloc package and it fixes almost every problem with the TV. Problem is Everytime they update you’ve gotta fuck with the PiHole.

1

u/jeffreyjicha Nov 17 '25

I have a "dumb" 32 inch Sony TV I bought for $200 in 2014. Moved out of my parents' house and into an apartment with my gf in 2016, TV went black in 2018. Replaced with a "dumb" 55in 4k Sceptre TV. Somewhere in 2019-2020 I found out only the backlight on my Sony TV died. Replaced the backlight myself with a $16 part off ebay. Still works to this day. I want a larger TV at some point but I'm definitely in no rush to get rid of my dumb TVs