When did TVs get complicated?

[almostwitty]

As far as I can remember, televisions have been remarkably simple things. You switch them on, you get a picture. You can change the channel, watch other stuff but a TV is as simple as it gets in terms of technology. Not any more it would seem.

When I switched it on earlier tonight during the England/Germany football match, my TV petulantly said it needed to download an upgrade. From what, I don't know - does it have a secret wi-fi connection I don't know about? Where does it get the data from?

More importantly, while it was downloading, it wouldn't be able to show me a picture. Which is the raison d'etre of a TV, after all. A TV without a picture is a useless TV. You'd think it'd still be able to provide one whilst downloading data.

Still, ten minutes later, the update was done and ... I've not seen anything different about the TV at all.

Wait till I've forumlated my opinions about the BT Vision box - but so far, it seems like an overtly complicated attempt to do a Freeview recorder. Plus it's a lot slower than the Freeview decoder on my main TV.

Comments

[rhianon76.livejournal.com]

It has a secret satellite linkage ... and "download updates" is code for "it's time for me to report in with Big Brother and let him know about all your nasty viewing habits. you never watch the news! all you ever watch is sports and porn and I'm telling on you! Perv!" ROTFL. Funny shite.

[almostwitty]

How *DARE* you accuse me of watching sports? :P

I'm currently watching a documentary about the beginning of the British motorway. Finding it rather fascinating!