Dear Roku, you ruined my TV
A recent Roku OS update on TCL and Hisense “smart” TVs has enabled motion smoothing by default and, for many users, removed the option to turn it off, giving films an unwanted “soap opera” look. Commenters see this as part of a broader trend where TV manufacturers use software updates to push intrusive features, ads, and tracking onto hardware people thought they owned. Many advocate never connecting TVs to the internet, using external boxes like Apple TV, Android TV, or Raspberry Pi instead, and in some jurisdictions suggest consumer-protection laws might be one of the few levers to push back.
Roku TV motion smoothing change
- Roku OS 13 on TCL/Hisense TVs reportedly enabled motion smoothing (“soap opera effect”) in a way some owners cannot fully disable.
- Many describe the effect as making films look like cheap video or soap operas, with unnatural camera pans and artifacts, especially in animation and fast motion.
- A smaller group says they like the smoother look, especially for sports and “true-to-life” content, and find default 24fps judder more distracting.
- Several note that other TVs offer interpolation as an optional, off‑by‑default setting; frustration centers on Roku’s forced behavior and lack of timely response or fix.
Smart TVs, updates, and control
- Many say they will never connect TVs to the internet, or block them at the router/VLAN level, to avoid forced updates, ads, and tracking.
- Some regret updating devices that were “good enough,” reporting bricks or lost functionality on TVs, printers, 3D printers, and headsets.
- Others counter that never updating is unrealistic for security‑critical software, but accept avoiding updates on “appliance” devices like TVs.
Privacy, data, and business models
- Strong distrust of ad‑subsidized platforms (Roku, Fire TV, Android TV). Users describe home screens being increasingly filled with ads and tracking toggles that default to on.
- Debate over whether Apple TV is materially better for privacy: some cite Apple’s hardware‑centric business model; others point to reports of Apple analytics and growing ad business.
Alternatives and setups
- Common pattern: buy any decent panel, never network it, and use a separate box (Apple TV, Nvidia Shield, Raspberry Pi + Kodi/Jellyfin, Chromecast).
- Some suggest computer monitors as “dumb TVs,” but note cost, size limits, HDR/eARC gaps, and lack of speakers.
Consumer protection and ownership
- Posters from some jurisdictions (e.g., Norway, Australia) argue that post‑purchase updates that materially worsen a product could be a legal defect (“not fit for purpose”).
- Others push back, saying the TV still “plays video” and laws shouldn’t guarantee freedom from dissatisfaction.
- Broader theme: users feel they don’t truly “own” smart TVs; vendors can unilaterally change behavior to serve advertisers or metrics (invoking “enshittification”).
Analogies to media “remastering”
- Several compare forced motion smoothing to loudness‑war remasters and streaming “remixed” or animated album art: technically “upgraded,” but artistically worse, often with originals removed.