Why are smart TVs so dumb when the problem is so easy to fix?

February 5, 2022

Smart TVs are pretty dumb when you think about it. I mean, sure, it seems nice to have access to Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, CartoonCartoon, fuboTV, Crunchyroll, Britbox, Paramount+, TubiTV, Screambox, and more working on your TV straight out of the box**. But the problem isn’t when you first get your TV; it’s six months to a year down the road.

If your TV is older than a year, you probably know what I’m talking about. As your smart TV ages, it quickly gets slower and more unreliable. But just in the “smart TV” area of things. It still plays Netflix fine! If you can get Netflix to open. And that “smart” part will probably die long before the actual display does. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The problem could be easily solved. Hit up the top story for more.

**One of these streaming services isn’t real. Can you guess which? Let me know at josh@reviewgeek.com.

Other Highlights:

• I took a look a the new Cricut Maker 3 and made some really cool projects.
• This Android 12 and Swiftkey bug is pretty bad.
• Microsoft plans to forcibly update some Windows 10 PCs, a choice I am sure will go over extremely well with people.
• …and more!

-Josh

Because they contain advertisements and tracking tools, smart TVs are much cheaper than the “dumb” TVs of our past. They also provide a convenient path to our favorite streaming services—at least, that’s what they’re supposed to do. Smart TVs aren’t smart enough, and their built-in software often becomes useless after less than a year. Read More »

Now that you’ve saved an offline version of Wordle to your PC or Mac, it’s time to save the game to your iOS device. This offline version of Wordle will update with new words every day, even if your iPhone or iPad never connects to the internet. Read More »

Only a handful of Windows 10 releases are still supported by Microsoft. And that’s a big problem for people who refuse to update, as older iterations of Windows 10 no longer receive important security patches. To remedy the problem, Microsoft will force an update on customers who are still running Windows 10 version 20H1. Read More »

Ready for the full Stadia experience? Google is now running a $19 discount on the Play and Watch with Google TV Package, a starter kit that includes the Stadia controller, Chromecast with Google TV, and one month of Stadia Pro (for new users). Usually priced at $118, this kit now costs just $99. Read More »

Oops, no more keyboard! Trying to use Microsoft SwiftKey’s voice-to-text function may crash your Android 12 phone’s keyboard, leaving you without the ability to type text in any app. This bug appears to affect all Android 12 smartphones, including Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. Read More »

A wooden bed tray table is one of those things that’s always great to have around. Yes, you can use it to serve breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day or on a birthday, but you can also use it to work from your bed (it’s comfy, so why leave, right?) or to more easily display or store items. This tray is made of bamboo, and features convenient carrying handles and folding legs for more comfy use. It also has a lip around the edge that’ll stop small items like silverware or pens from slipping off. It’s water-resistant design makes it easy to clean, too—just use a damp cloth to wipe it when you’re done.

Get it at Amazon →

When a car slides on ice, you have to make many decisions quickly to avoid making things worse. You shouldn’t brake, you need to steer into the slide, but you shouldn’t oversteer. Or, and hear me out, you could let this car take over and drift out of the situation. At least, maybe someday. Read More »

Music streaming services are a welcome modern marvel; long gone are the days of lugging around CD cases or spending an entire paycheck buying CDs or individual songs. And while having so many streaming options to choose from can feel overwhelming, we’ve compared them all, found the best picks, and shared a bit about what makes each great. Read More »

I love woodworking, but my artistic skills are lacking, and I’m not much of a crafter. So when I had the chance to review the new Cricut Maker 3, I turned to my wife for help. And along the way, I found the new Cricut can create beautiful things of seemingly infinite size—with some limitations. Read More »

There are a lot of fantastic book-to-movie adaptations out there, but our list doesn’t showcase any of them. Here you’ll find a roundup of the very good books behind some very bad movies. Read More »