I get why you'd disable it completely—honestly, good call. I've done the same thing myself. At first, it felt like I was losing some fancy feature I'd paid extra for, but after a few days, I realized I didn't even use it much anyway. Plus, one less thing to worry about privacy-wise. Transparency from companies would be nice, sure, but taking matters into your own hands is probably the safest bet.
Yeah, I totally get that. I disabled mine too after a couple weeks of feeling weirdly self-conscious every time I talked to it. Like, I'd catch myself lowering my voice or glancing around the room first—ridiculous, right? Plus, half the time it misunderstood me anyway, so I'd end up repeating myself louder and slower like some kind of frustrated tourist.
Honestly, the privacy thing was the tipping point for me too. I mean, I'm not exactly discussing state secrets in my living room, but still... knowing there's a mic always listening just feels off. And you're right about transparency—companies could definitely do better there. But until they step up their game, taking control yourself is probably the smartest move.
Funny thing is, after disabling voice commands, I realized how little I actually needed them. Sure, it's cool to say "turn on Netflix," but grabbing the remote takes literally two seconds. And now I don't have to awkwardly repeat myself or wonder who's listening in.
On a side note, I've noticed friends who visit seem relieved when they find out I've disabled it. Guess I'm not the only one who feels weird talking to a TV after all...
"Funny thing is, after disabling voice commands, I realized how little I actually needed them."
Exactly this. When I first got my smart TV, I thought voice control would be a game-changer, especially since I'm into home automation and all that. But honestly, after a few awkward attempts at shouting "volume down" while guests stared at me like I'd lost it, I went back to good old-fashioned remotes. Sometimes simpler really is better... Glad I'm not alone in feeling weird about it.
Same here. I initially thought voice commands would streamline things, especially since I'm big on integrating tech into daily life. But honestly, it felt more awkward than convenient. One evening, I had friends over for movie night, and the TV kept mishearing me—ended up loudly announcing random YouTube searches instead of just turning down the volume. Everyone laughed, but it was pretty embarrassing.
After that, I realized that pressing a button is actually quicker and less disruptive than repeating myself three times to a stubborn TV. Tech should simplify life, not complicate it or make you feel silly in your own living room. Voice control might be great in theory, but in practice... it's just not there yet for me. Glad I'm not the only one who ditched it.
"Tech should simplify life, not complicate it or make you feel silly in your own living room."
Haha, exactly my thoughts. I remember setting up voice control for my lights, thinking it'd be perfect for cozy evenings. But half the time I'd end up awkwardly shouting "dim lights!" repeatedly, only to have them turn bright purple or something random instead. Eventually, I just went back to good old-fashioned switches—less futuristic maybe, but way less frustrating and definitely less embarrassing when guests are over...
