Topic: Smart Tv

John Dvorak reviews the Channel Master Stream Plus, a $99 DVR for over-the-air digital television. He also shares his impressions of Newsmax, describing it as a "Mickey Mouse channel" with dated production values that nonetheless appeals to viewers hungry for specific political narratives.

The "Off the Grid" segment warned of the surveillance capabilities built into modern Smart TVs. Manufacturers use Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) along with hidden cameras and microphones to track who is watching and their reactions to content. The segment referenced the CIA's "Weeping Angel" project, which explored using TVs as listening devices, and noted that users often unknowingly grant permission for this data collection in fine-print user agreements.

SambaTV is identified as a service that tracks viewing habits on 13.5 million smart TVs by analyzing pixels on the screen, bypassing traditional content data. In a separate privacy story, it is reported that "Juggalo" face makeup can successfully fool facial recognition systems by confusing the chin and jawline sensors. The hosts discuss various ways to visually disrupt biometric tracking.

The high cost and advanced engineering of microphone arrays in devices like Alexa are discussed as a target for hardware hackers. Additional concerns are raised about the potential for smart TVs to monitor household activity through similar sensor technology.

A new LG Smart TV featuring WebOS 3.0 is praised for its fast interface and seamless integration with 4K streaming services. The TV's software automatically recognizes 4K content on Netflix, providing a superior user experience compared to external streaming sticks. This upgrade followed an accidental screen failure of a previous 4K set caused by improper handling during a hardware setup.

The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) featured "wearable tech" and curved televisions, which the hosts dismiss as "duds." A specific LG advertisement for "Home Chat" appliances is mocked for claiming people "rush home to turn on the washer and dryer." The segment concludes with practical advice on dishwashers, recommending simple manual controls and plastic interiors over expensive, failure-prone electronic models.

The hosts suggest that the threat of cyber-terrorism will be used as a pretext to funnel money into a "smart grid" and mandate specialized routers for home users. They compare this potential move to the recent digital television transition, viewing it as a way for the government to increase control over private communications.