LG has been forced to explain why its Smart TVs were collecting viewing information despite owners switching off the privacy-impacting feature, promising a future update will disable the contentious glitch. Reports that records of channel, broadcast source, and TV platform had been transmitted to LG by its sets broke earlier this week, with one owner […]
LG makes a wide variety of products, from home appliances to TVs and smartphones. However, local media reports coming in from Korea suggest that the company feels it may be more successful in the TV business as opposed to smartphones. The report cites sources who claim that LG is moving its focus from smartphones to its TV business as it believes that the latter will be more beneficial in the short term.
While it is said that LG will not reduce research and development investment in the smartphone division, it may reduce the division’s workforce, this according to industry sources cited in the report. They say that the company doesn’t believe smartphones don’t hold any value, its just that it sees its short term success in the TV business. Its not that LG isn’t capable of producing a good smartphone, one that can perform well in the market. LG G2 is a prime example, the device was very well received and it has performed relatively well in the market. LG has not officially commented on this report, so a grain of salt is advised nonetheless. Even if the company wants to focus more on TVs from now on and less on smartphones, hopefully its upcoming television sets won’t be caught spying on viewers.
LG Reportedly Shifting Focus From Smartphones To TVs original content from Ubergizmo. 
     |
Recently it was discovered by an IT consultant based across the pond that his LG smart TV was collecting data about his activity, such the channels he watches and the devices that are attached to his smart TV. It is presumed that the TVs do this to better craft ads for each individual user based on their viewing habits. Huntley dug around and discovered a “Collection of watching info” option that was switched on by default and even when he turned it off, the smart TV continued to send data back. LG says that its working on a fix to end this behavior.
Earlier today the company had said that it was investigating the issue and that it will take action should it need to be taken. In a statement provided to CNET, a representative for the Korean company says that LG “regrets” spying concerns caused by these reports and that an update is being developed which will stop data from being sent once the user turns the option off. It will also remove a feature which read and transmitted names of files stored on USB and other external drives that were on the same network as the smart TV. LG also says that it has never stored data on its servers and that the data did not contain personal information, though it admits that the TVs do transmit viewing information.
LG Smart TV Firmware Update Will Prevent It From Spying original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
In light of accusations that its Smart TVs were sending private data to its servers, LG has admitted that some of its sets are behaving in ways they shouldn’t be. In a statement, the Korean manufacturer conceded that it has been collecting channel, TV platform and broadcast source data from some units, even when the feature was switched off. However, the company said that when the feature operates normally, it helps provide viewing recommendations to other LG Smart TV owners based on what they are watching. In response to claims it was also beaming over names of files located on connected USB keys, LG admits that it actually forms part of an upcoming service that searches the internet for detailed information on a particular film or TV show.
Understandably, both features might leave a nasty taste in your mouth, especially if you own one of the affected Smart TVs. With that in mind, LG says that while it has never stored private data, it is working on a new firmware update that will ensure its data-collection settings adhere to user preferences — that’ll include killing off its file metadata-matching service before it had the chance to live.
LG regrets any concerns these reports may have caused and will continue to strive to meet the expectations of all our customers and the public. We hope this update clears up any confusion.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Don’t you just hate it when your smart TV spies on you? Wait, what? According to a blogby a UK IT consultant, Jason Huntley, it seems that he has discovered that his LG smart TV is actually spying on him, and are sending data about him and what kind of channels that he watches. On top of that, it seems that the TV was also sending data about what sort of devices are attached to the TV, presumably in a bid to better understand consumers as well as potentially craft ads that would cater to a specific type of viewer as well, similar to how Google ads are catered to the type of searches that you perform.
This was discovered when ads started to appear on the Smart landing screen, and further digging found an option called “Collection of watching info” which was set to On by default. However it turns out that despite setting it to Off, data was still being sent anyway. According to the email Huntley received, the LG rep tells him that he has basically accepted the T&C when using the device, and there’s pretty much nothing he can do about it.
However when the BBC contacted LG, they claim that they are investigating the matter, with a spokesperson claiming, “We have recently been made aware of a possible data breach which may involve LG Smart TVs […] We will be making enquiries into the circumstances of the alleged breach of the Data Protection Act before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken.”
LG Investigating Claims Of Spying Smart TVs original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
Americans pining after LG’s G Flex may not have to pick up the curvy smartphone from AT&T if and when it arrives stateside. A new FCC filing has revealed the LS995, a variant of the G Flex that’s likely destined for Sprint. In addition to sporting the same giant dimensions as the AT&T-friendly D959 model, the LS995 includes both CDMA as well as Sprint’s three native LTE bands (800MHz, 1,900MHz and 2,500MHz). It’s still not clear just when LG might release the G Flex in the US, but the rapid succession of FCC approvals suggests that the company is gearing up for a launch in the near future.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Sprint, LG
Source: FCC
If you consider your TV a private safe haven, it might be time to think again. A UK blogger has discovered that LG’s smart TVs seem to collect personal data even when such functionality is explicitly forbidden by its user.
| |
Think you’re safe from prying eyes when you turn off your computer or smartphone and flip on the TV? That might not be the case if you have a recent LG Smart TV, according to a UK blogger called DoctorBeet. He noticed that his new HD set was sending private data, regardless of whether a (rather hidden) toggle called “Collection of watching info” was turned on or off. In scanning through his router logs, DoctorBeet noticed that TV station metadata was transmitted (albeit to a server that appears inactive) each time he changed the channel. More insidiously, even the names of files on USB keys he inserted were being sent — including one he changed to “Midget_Porn_2013.avi” to prove a point. That appears to go beyond what we saw with its Cognitive Networks hookup, which was supposed to supply more features to users, not advertisers. We contacted LG, who made the following statement:
We’re looking into this now. We take these claims very seriously and are currently investigating the situation at numerous local levels since our Smart TVs differ in features and functions from one market to another. We work hard to get privacy right and have made this our top priority.
They said it could take another 48 hours to actually confirm or deny what’s going on — so, naturally, as soon as we know, you’ll know.
[Image Credit: DoctorBeet’s Blog]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG
Via: Y Combinator blog
Source: DoctorBeet’s Blog
While the curved display of the LG G Flex smartphone may be little more than a novelty, the smartphone’s true innovation looks as if it sits elsewhere within its frame — it’s "self-healing cover". And this is more than just a party trick — the G Flex is the mobile equivalent of the X-Men’s Wolverine.
| |
The LG G Flex has a unique feature which is apart from its curved display, will feature a back panel that apparently has the ability to heal itself. While we did not get to try this out for ourselves during our hands-on preview of the device, LG did release a video shortly after demonstrating its healing process. Of course all of this was done in a controlled environment and if you were wondering how the LG G Flex’s self-healing powers hold up in real life, the video above is definitely one you will want to watch, especially if you like the idea of seeing the LG G Flex get knifed and heal itself up in a matter of minutes.
Once again we doubt you will be knifing your LG G Flex anytime soon, but it’s good to know that the device will be able to withstand damages from tools as sharp as a knife, so we can only imagine that resting it on a table or have it scratch inside your bag or pocket with coins or keys should be a non-issue. The video also shares how the healing process can actually be accelerated if you were to heat up the phone, such as rubbing it, or by playing games or movies on it. So what do you guys think? Does this make it a compelling reason to get the device upon its release on AT&T and T-Mobile’s network?
LG G Flex Gets Knifed And Survives original content from Ubergizmo. 
| |
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
