Please be nice to the noob!

[bcsteeve]

Hi.

I was curious if my TV had a firmware update and I saw that it did. I was curious what that update was for so I tried finding some official changelog. As I'm sure you can guess... I couldn't find one. Googling eventually brought my attention to this site.

I had no idea my TV could be rooted. That's cool.

But (and please forgive me for this question that is sure to be thought of as "stupid" by people familiar with all of this) what seems to be missing from the WIKI is... why? What I'd like to know is what benefits, specifically, I might get if I go through the risk, trouble, and (due to my firmware version) donation expense?

Can you give me some examples of what I can do with my rooted TV? Just give me some highlights please, if you don't mind.

[the following is just some ideas that might give you ideas of what examples you could give. I'm not asking for specific support]

Really the ONLY thing I use my Samsung for is Plex. What I've always wished I could do is have the TV automatically start in the Plex app rather than having to push the SmartHub button then choose the Plex app. Is something like that possible if I root it?

Another thing on my wish list would be to be able to arbitrarily install a version of the plex app rather than being reliant on Samsung's (God aweful) app manager. If a new version of the Samsung Plex App is released and it has a bug... we're stuck with that bug until it is fixed because going back to an older version is impossible. But rooted, is it possible? In theory?

Thanks.

[zoelechat]

Almost whole forum is dedicated to what can be done with a rooted TV, so it can't be explained in a few words.
You didn't give at least your TV model (and firmware), so you first have to determine which TV "serie" you have which is the letter in the middle of model name, then check corresponding forum section.

[bcsteeve]

Well, I did that. Briefly. I didn't want to spend hours scouring through threads for some inspiration that may or may not be there. I figured a quick summary of some examples of what can be done could be provided very easily (and really should be in the very beginning of any wiki... the "why are we here" section). In the 10 minutes or so I spent looking through the Wiki and first few threads in my series' section, I found exactly one thing I could do - install a more recent version of Skype than my TV (I guess) has. If that's the extent of the power of rooting then... well...

Keep in mind that someone finding your information for the first time - especially when they weren't specifically looking for it like me (remember I said I found your site Googling for what the official firmware changes were) - haven't been following along since he beginning. A few lines about WHY this information exists wouldn't be a bad idea, right? Most threads (of any forum) are going to be very disjointed and/or very specific, full of jargon that noob's aren't going to understand, and leaves out all the basics that the parties discussing take for granted. Ie. it doesn't exactly read like a book!

And I deliberately didn't give you my series or FW info because I was NOT asking you to do the work for me and provide me with specific information to my situation. Just some in-general examples of what could be done. When I mentioned Plex, I realize that might look like I was asking for specific help - now that I read it again - but really I was just trying to give someone that might be giving me an answer a little prod for what kind of examples they could provide (I've now edited a little).

But since you asked. I have a UN60F8000 with 1120 (was about to update to 1204 when I found this forum).

[sectroyer]

A few lines about WHY this information exists wouldn't be a bad idea, right?

Imagine some function (any function) that you would like your TV to do. And answer were simple question: Is this function supported by official samsung firmware? If NOT than samygo is your ONLY hope

[bcsteeve]

Only hope, but is it a realistic hope? I mean, I would suspect we don't have access to their source code repositories, so we're still stuck with whatever binaries they're using (or am I wrong?). Anyway, my suggestion stands: provide some examples => more people interested. Maybe you're trying to avoid that. That's your business.

[sectroyer]

Only hope, but is it a realistic hope? I mean, I would suspect we don't have access to their source code repositories, so we're still stuck with whatever binaries they're using (or am I wrong?).

For "some stuff" we have sources. For "other stuff" we reverse.

Anyway, my suggestion stands: provide some examples => more people interested. Maybe you're trying to avoid that. That's your business.

Examples are in ever series subforum E->Software, D->Software, F->Software, etc. If you don't know (or not willing to tell) which series are you using no examples are possible). Also we can't provide examples for future stuff that ideas are ONLY in your head

[bcsteeve]

Your ability to miss a point is astounding!

I actually did tell you what series I have already, but its not really relevant because - ONCE AGAIN - I'm not asking for MYSELF.

Thanks for finally telling me what sub-forum the information I might be looking for might be buried. In case you're wondering, no, the "software" subforum isn't the obvious place.

Now that I scan through there, it seems to me that the point of rooting a Samsung is to gain greater functionality and control from the built-in PVR (which, interestingly enough, I didn't even know the Samsung had, so that is interesting but still of no use to me) and to update some of the already-existing apps such as Netflix and Skype. While that is of no interest to me, I'm sure most people would be very glad to know that's what they can do with this.

I still suggest you put a general entry in your wiki to let people know and get excited about what they can do.


Don't worry, I'm done. It was a bit of constructive criticism which you're free to continue to completely ignore.