tag:dreamwidth.org,2017-01-13:2749664 You are coming to a sad realization. Cancel or allow? The Wayne 2026-03-28T02:26:38Z tag:dreamwidth.org,2017-01-13:2749664:1507678 2026-03-28T02:26:38Z 2026-03-28T02:26:38Z public 14 You may not be aware of this, but Walmart is getting into the advertising business in a big way. And one of their moves was buying Vizio in December '24. Now if you buy a Vizio TV, in order set it up and use any "smart" features, you'll have to configure a Walmart store account and sign in to your TV, so you can get personalized ads and offers.<br /><br />Oh, brave new world that has such things in't!<br /><br />Theoretically this only applies currently to 'select' models, but it probably won't be long until it's all the way up and down the product line. You might be able to sign in, configure the TV, then unplug or disconnect the WiFi, but I have a feeling that it's going to want to check in with its mothership on a regular basis and will plague you with popups until its reconnected.<br /><br />Recommendation? Don't buy Vizio products. A few years ago they started making more money selling analytics on their users than on the TVs themselves. THIS is what Walmart wants to spur their advertising, just like Google does with search results and "anonymously" analyzing your email.<br /><br />This is also why I will do my best to avoid buying a smart TV and will stick with an Apple TV for my streaming needs. Apple does not sell advertising. While you will need an Apple account to configure the Apple TV, you don't actually need any other Apple devices if you don't want them.<br /><br /><a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/">https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=thewayne&ditemid=1507678" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments tag:dreamwidth.org,2017-01-13:2749664:1383754 2024-02-21T15:23:53Z 2024-02-21T15:23:53Z public 8 A recent post mentioned that it's also seen as an adspace thing for Walmart, they can get their ads seen on Vizio's smart screens for free if they own the product.<br /><br />Kinda sneaky way to spread their advertising. Of course, if the TV isn't plugged in to the internet, them ads ain't gonna appear.<br /><br />Not that I'd buy a Vizio product if they're owned by Walmart.<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=thewayne&ditemid=1383754" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments tag:dreamwidth.org,2017-01-13:2749664:1383149 2024-02-16T15:49:12Z 2024-02-16T15:49:12Z public 4 I can't remember if it was Vizio or LG that said they made more money on data gathered from their smart TVs than from selling the TVs themselves, personally I think this is what Walmart is after.<br /><br />Unfortunately the article itself is behind a Wall Street Journal paywall, so about all I can easily link to is the Slashdot post. I will quote one reply on Slashdot: maker of cheap shit being purchased by seller of cheap shit.<br /><br /><a href="https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/24/02/13/2041215/walmart-in-talks-to-buy-vizio-for-more-than-2-billion">https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/24/02/13/2041215/walmart-in-talks-to-buy-vizio-for-more-than-2-billion</a><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=thewayne&ditemid=1383149" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments