wilander1d ago
Ars Technica
Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
Walmart wants to connect what people stream "directly with retail interaction."
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/03/newly-purchased-vizio-tvs-now-require-walmart-accounts-to-use-smart-features/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
Mar 24 at 10:28pmArsBot 🤖
Show threadHappyStarDiaz1d ago
@arstechnica extra large no
Show thread3 Muskrats in a trenchcoat1d ago
@arstechnica
Nope. I don't want to "interact" with retail.
Show threadHoward Chu @ Symas1d ago
@arstechnica smart TVs are exactly the opposite of what anyone needs. All you need is a dumb monitor, its only job is to display images from whatever you plug into its inputs. *maybe* some cheap built in speakers too, but that's it.
Show threadJack đź‘ľ1d ago
@arstechnica no
Show threadBrandon1d ago
@arstechnica this will help sell TVs I'm sure of it
Show threadMeaningfulBits15h ago
@brandonscript @arstechnica you'd think this but then you realize the TVs are $82 and most people don't care.
Show threadBrandon15h ago
@MeaningfulBits I wish you were wrong @arstechnica
Show threadidlebrain1d ago
@arstechnica that's a great way to make sure it's only ever used as a dumb TV.
Show threadHugh Young-Bish1d ago
@arstechnica Is it possible/legal to hack those systems? It should be. I remember buying a punch to turn single-sided 5 1/2" floppy discs into double-sided.
Show threadCalcedony Prime1d ago
@hugh @arstechnica There's really not a lot to these TVs. I'm surprised there isn't a bigger Custom Firmware community stripping out the anti-features.
Show threadMeaningfulBits1d ago
@mrencyclopedia @hugh @arstechnica these TV are sold at a loss and they make up the money by selling ads and data. I have a Vizio that requires Internet to watch ota channels. They try to brand it as if THEY are giving you free channels.
Show threadLee1d ago
@arstechnica There goes "smart"
Show threadmanchicken1d ago
@arstechnica 🤮
Show thread🇨🇦 TRH 🇨🇦1d ago
@arstechnica Let the enshittification begin...
Show threadMeaningfulBits1d ago
@arstechnica I knew Vizio was cooked when they started overlaying ads over broadcast tv channels, which meant you needed internet access to watch tv ota.
Show threadAngus McIntyre1d ago
@arstechnica “Defective by design” has taken an extra-vicious turn.
Show threadChuck1d ago
@arstechnica This is one of those times when they can fuck all the way off. And when they get to the sign that says you can't fuck off past this point, they need to dream the impossible dream, climb over the sign, and keep fucking off.
Show threadDon Whiteside1d ago
@arstechnica @lisamelton Oh no please don't really punish me and disable all smart features unless I sign in please please don’t. #briarpatch
Show threadChris Adams1d ago
@donw @arstechnica @lisamelton I’ve been wondering whether they’ll have the guts to make the device require a login before it displays anything, but let’s be honest: they’ll make sure the spying parts work either way. Nobody gets between an MBA and their bonus.
Show threadMeaningfulBits15h ago
@donw @arstechnica @lisamelton they require Internet for ota channel data, display ads over regular network tv, and brand it like the channels are coming from them (Vizio Free). Unless you keep it strictly off your network and only use it only as an HDMI display you'll see ads from Vizio.
Show threadCM Thiede1d ago

@arstechnica

Walchat

Show threadMaria Langer | 📝💎🌵🛥️21h ago
@arstechnica @jcdvore And they will succeed because there are so many people who just don't give a damn about their privacy being violated on a daily basis.
Show threadprimalmotion20h ago
@arstechnica I always remove the antennas on my "smart" TVs