IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

LG Says We're Fake News [video]

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

Three prevalent themes in the discussion

  1. Platforms routinely use A/B testing to optimise engagement
    Users note that YouTube (and similar services) frequently change video titles and thumbnails without a page reload to test what drives clicks.
  2. “It's almost certainly A/B test. Essentially everyone does it.” – kouteiheika
  3. “On several channels I watch, I've noticed the top comment is always along the lines of 'who was here when the video title was XYZ' because you know it's going to change.” – kowbell

  4. “Youtube allows you to AB test with up to 3 titles and thumbnails.” – nodja

  5. Smart TVs (especially LG) employ invasive data‑collection practices justified by a “we own the glass” business model
    Commenters criticise manufacturers for retaining control over hardware after sale, fingerprinting audio, and serving ads or spyware.

  6. “This ‘we own the glass’ idea is completely insane. How does an industry degenerate to the point where they consider acceptable to base their business model on owning part of the product they sell you?” – dgellow
  7. “Marketing executives thinking ‘out of the box’ is how. Ethics cannot contain them inside. They have breached the perimeter and now trample everyone for MRR.” – mc32
  8. “Apparently Sony OLED screens are LG 'glass' but without the spyware.” – dessimus

  9. “Companies are amoral. If killing people boosted their share price they would issue every employee a machine gun in a heartbeat. The only reason this doesn't happen is it's illegal.” – dreamcompiler

  10. A strong desire for simpler, non‑connected (“dumb”) devices and frustration with unnecessary smart features
    Many users express a willingness to pay more for TVs that don’t spy, show ads, or require constant connectivity, and they suggest work‑arounds like external streaming boxes or disconnecting Wi‑Fi.

  11. “I'm so tired of 'smart' tech. I don't want my TV, or fridge, or dryer or anything connecting to wifi and bluetooth and having an app to manage settings.” – notthrows
  12. “Who's selling dumb TV's again, Samsung? Who else? I'll happily pay a thousand bucks to not get screwed by my TV.” – MisterTea
  13. “Disconnect it from the internet, buy a streaming device, and use the streaming device. It’s really not that complicated.” – kelipso

🚀 Project Ideas

YouTube Title Change Tracker

Summary

  • A browser extension that periodically checks the title of YouTube videos you watch and logs any changes.
  • Notifies you when a title has been A/B tested and shows the history of titles for that video.
  • Gives you transparency into YouTube's experimentation and lets you pin a preferred title.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Power YouTube users, researchers, journalists who notice frequent title swaps
Core Feature Detects and records title mutations for any video, with optional desktop notifications
Tech Stack Manifest V3 extension (JS/HTML/CSS), optional backend (Node.js) for sync, IndexedDB storage
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN users complained about titles shifting without reload and wanting to know the original (e.g., “who was here when the video title was XYZ”).
  • Provides a concrete way to satisfy curiosity and could spark discussion about ethical A/B testing.
  • Extension can be open‑sourced, inviting contributions for thumbnail tracking as well.

Smart TV Telemetry Blocker & Inspector

Summary

  • A lightweight router‑based appliance (or Docker container) that inspects outbound traffic from smart TVs, identifies known telemetry endpoints, and lets users block or spoof them.
  • Provides a simple web dashboard showing what data each TV is attempting to send and offers one‑click allow/deny rules.
  • Empowers users to regain privacy without sacrificing basic smart TV functions they may still want.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Privacy‑conscious households with LG, Samsung, Sony, etc. smart TVs
Core Feature Real‑time DNS/HTTP traffic analysis + blocklist for TV‑specific telemetry domains
Tech Stack Linux (e.g., Raspberry Pi OS), dnsmasq/unbound + nftables, Go/Rust agent for deep packet inspection, Vue.js dashboard
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (open source) – could later offer premium blocklist updates as a subscription

Notes

  • Commenters expressed frustration with LG’s audio fingerprinting and desire to “cut off access” or use a dumb TV.
  • This tool gives a middle ground: keep the TV but stop the spyware, matching the ask for “turn off smart TV snooping features.”
  • The dashboard can show quotes from HN like “I don’t trust LG to actually forget the wifi password” and demonstrate concrete mitigation.

Open TV Firmware Hub

Summary

  • A community‑driven repository that catalogs open‑source firmware projects (e.g., Linux‑based, WebOS‑lite, Android‑TV AOSP forks) for various TV models.
  • Includes compatibility matrices, step‑by‑step flashing guides, and pre‑built images where legally permissible.
  • Optionally offers a build‑as‑a‑service API that generates a custom firmware blob for a user’s specific TV hardware.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience DIY enthusiasts, privacy advocates, and users who want a “dumb” TV experience
Core Feature Central catalog of open firmware builds with installation instructions and hardware support matrix
Tech Stack GitHub/GitLab for code, MkDocs or Docusaurus for docs, CI (GitHub Actions) for image builds, optional AWS Lambda for build‑as‑a‑service
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby (donations via Open Collective) – could later sell pre‑flashed SD cards or support contracts

Notes

  • Multiple commenters asked for “open firmware for LGs” and lamented the lack of current projects.
  • A hub would address the desire to “remove the wifi card” or flash a clean OS, giving users control over their hardware.
  • The project could spark lively discussion on HN about firmware legality, DRM, and the right to repair, while providing a practical path to a spyware‑free TV.

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