If you're wondering if TVs are secure, they are! Just don't connect them to the internet! It sounds simple, but the temptation can be real for those who want to use apps to go online. If you keep the television offline, it can't secretly watch you (assuming the company behind it is shady). Get an Apple TV or Roku device, which are kept up to date. If your TV gets infected, the issue can even bleed into your network...which would be a huge problem.
Jerry likes to watch YouTube on his TV, but his TV browser isn't going to be supported anymore. Leo says don't use that browser. It's terrible. Look for a YouTube app available for the smart TV and install it. Better yet, connect a Roku Box, Apple TV, Amazon FireTV or even Google Chromecast and use their interface. They will also be updated regularly. Will Samsung spy on users like they do on a TV? Leo says no. And most malware isn't targeting TV sets. Leo also advises getting a Chromebook for those "sketch sites" and a Chromecast. Then he can cast to the TV securely.
Rich doesn't want a smart tv. Can he get a "dumb" TV anymore? Leo says not really. TV companies actually make money off the TVs online activity, and so they make all TVs that way. You can dumb down your TV by not connecting that TV to the internet. And use a third party box like Roku. Or even an inexpensive Chromecast. The best "dumbish" TV is Vizio, though.
Bob wants to know if it would be faster to use a dedicated Roku box instead of the Roku on his smartTV. Leo says, yes. Smart TV apps are never updated, while your Roku box will be. He recommends the Roku Ultra.
Marty got a message from Netflix that his Blu-ray player won't support Netflix anymore. Leo says that can happen when an upgrade can break connectivity. And it sounds like Netflix isn't going to support that anymore. The good news is, smart TVs have Netflix, as do players like the Roku and AppleTV. He can even get a $35 Chromecast and do it. Go with Roku!
Pat wants to watch Fox News on Roku, and he hates that he has to jump through hoops to unlock it by entering a password. It's a pain. Leo says that many are using activation codes that they can navigate on from a mobile device. But if he's truly cut the cable, he may be out of luck. The true problem, though, is this guilty-until-proven-innocent attitude on the part of the content providers. This kind of protection doesn't stop pirates at all. Just people who do the right thing.
Terry wants to buy a device to cast to his home office TV. Would the Chromecast work or should he buy the FireTV Stick? Leo says that the Chromecast is a great device, but it doesn't stand on its own. He'll have to navigate to what he wants to watch on a phone and then cast to the Chromecast device. Stand-alone devices like Roku and AppleTV can act as their own independent devices. As for FireTV, Leo says it really serves as a portal to sell stuff from Amazon, so he's not much of a fan. Leo says ROKU Ultra is a better choice all the way around and will also stream in 4K.
Jody is having an issue of an annoying hissing sound when he's streaming video through his Roku. Leo says that he thinks it's a decoding error in the Roku. Try using another Roku device and see if the noise is replicated. He can also try different sound settings, but it sounds like that 5-year-old Roku just needs to be replaced.
Skip has been watching TWiT on YouTube live and sometimes it changes to a different show when watching live on Roku. Leo says that there's something about YouTube live that switches after 15 minutes. And not all live channels do it. Look for settings in YouTube to see if autoplay is turned on. Then turn it off.
Michelle has finally cut the cable and wants to know how to stream her movies and TV shows from the internet. Does she need special equipment? Leo says maybe. If she has a smartTV, then she might not. But Leo recommends getting a streaming device anyway and he recommends the Roku. Streaming services include Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. But there's also new services coming from Disney and many others. How does she pay for them? Leo says she would have to give them a credit card.
