this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2024
40 points (78.6% liked)

Privacy

31789 readers
186 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I just received a new Fire TV cube gen 3, because my old one is malfunctioning. I know, I hate these devices myself, but it's the only option right now, since a new version of the Nvidia shield isn't coming in the foreseeable future.

So, I plugged in the power chord and the HDMI cable into the cube.

When it booted up it showed a screen that it's downloading the newest update. At first I thought this must be some typo-bug on the initial boot steps, because I haven't even connected it to the internet yet, neither via cable nor did I go through the wifi setup.

After the update has finished, I was greeted with my real name and the cube indeed had the actual WiFi settings!

WTF?! How's that even possible?

top 38 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] __init__ 64 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Did you order it using your Amazon account? I think they pre-configure them for you unless you say “this is a gift” when ordering.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 8 months ago

if you got it from Amazon, they can preload your account and wifi details that you previously used with their products

[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I mean I get why its a thing but like ew , very uncomfy , ugh

[–] darkmatternoodlecow 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It's not the "only option", not by a mile. It's just convenient for you to say that it is so you don't feel so bad about giving money to the worst of the evil megacorps.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

alright, what's a 4k hdr alternative then, that supports hdr and dolby vision?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I've been using an intel NUC for like 5 years now. It does 4k no problem.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

yeah, but does it do HDR? I suppose not.

I would love to use my own setup of hardware/software, but it's simply not possible without making sacrifices

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Anything that supports HDMI 2.0 or Display Port 1.4 can do HDR. My intel nuc does hdmi 2.0, that was why I bought it. So yes, it does. Stop being a naive consumerist and learn what you are actually consuming.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

https://r-htpc.github.io/wiki/faq#what-is-hdr-video-and-what-do-i-need-to-take-advantage-of-it

DOLBY VISION AND HDR10+ MEDIA PASSTHROUGH IS NOT SUPPORTED ON HTPCS; If you need support for these, you’ll need a media device/non-PC, like a Nvidia Shield, Fire TV, Dune HD, etc..

I did learn a lot about my consumption, and believe me when I say, that I wish my options were broader. But it is how it is. And most of the content I watch is in HDR10+ or DV.

But yeah, everyone's milage may vary.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Media passthrough isn't the same as streaming from the HTPC. IF you look directly above the quote above.

For a HTPC, this means HDR support must be in the video, GPU, video interface (HDMI/DP) and ultimately your output device (typically a TV). HDR10 is supported on HTPCs under Windows, macOS Catalina, Android and (usually) libreelec/coreelec operating systems. Linux is NOT supported.

So you if you have a HDR10+ source on your IntelNUC, or whatever, you can play that over HDMI 2.0 to a compatible TV without an issue.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

yes, playback might work, but it will fall back to HDR10 or even SDR, since not all metadata is passed through.

So to fully take advantage of hdr10+, dolby vision, 5.1, atmos, and what not... each device in the chain, from the source to the output, and the hdmi cable, have to fully support it.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago

What is the purpose of the device? I'm almost certain that there is another option, which is just a small PC running whatever software you need.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

Don't buy an information vacuum if you don't want your data sucked up. Definitely don't buy multiple generations of information vacuum from the same company.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Hmm

Two possibilities:

Is the old device still plugged in while you setup the new one? Perhaps they connected to each other. My previous Samsung phone did this with my new one without prior setup of the 'feature', though after I signed into my Samsung account onnthe new phone.

Or it could have come pre-loaded with data on your account...

I'm not very comfortable with either option really.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago

Probably the same they use for setting up Kindles since ages albeit there was an option to get it iunconfigured too if you want to use it as a present.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

When I set up my Amazon devices there was an option for it to save my WiFi details but I always declined.