Roku is exploring ways to show consumers ads on its TVs even when they are not using its streaming platform: The company has been looking into injecting ads into the video feeds of third-party devices connected to its TVs, according to a recent patent filing.
This way, when an owner of a Roku TV takes a short break from playing a game on their Xbox, or streaming something on an Apple TV device connected to the TV set, Roku would use that break to show ads. Roku engineers have even explored ways to figure out what the consumer is doing with their TV-connected device in order to display relevant advertising.
Enshitification gold rush continues. It’s like now there is a word for, all these companies are exploring how they can do it.
This is gross. I cut my cable because of ads. Have about 3 types of adblockers on my computer to stop them. This hyper marketing is why so many have turned away from traditional entertainment to begin with.
I am more than the ability to spend money and it’s goddamn time everyone say this and boycott companies that do shady garbage like this
Man… My personal list of banned companies not to buy is getting scary long.
Would you mind sharing the list? Or is it just inside your head?
At this point just start using a white list.
You wanna DM me that list? And some decent alternatives would be nice too :)
That’s a hypothetical list in my head :P
As for alternarives, I use so many “alternative”/FOSS things daily that compiling one list would just be a waste of time at this point.
Lmao rip.
Amazon seems the hardest to get away from. The shipping is so fast compared to everything else, and prices are usually good.
I’m sure someone has made a list of all of the popular services and alternatives
If Roku actually does this I would definitely never use them again. Completely asinine behavior. Especially because most people aren’t even using stand alone boxes with their smart TVs.
I don’t know. If done well this could be a much better option than pausing whatever you’re watching to show an ad.
If youtube showed ads on the corner of the screen while you’re browsing around searching for something to watch, it would be a much better platform than what it is today and it would probably make more money too. If Netflix did this they would triple their revenue.
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you’ve described youtube in 2008 and it was a much better platform.
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the issue isn’t what time to show ads, or where. It’s the furthering invasion of marketing into private spaces and lack of apparent concern for end-user consent. There are security concerns when devices can hijack eachother. This technology is likely to rely on some means of detecting idle time, like comparing consecutive frames as the article states, so you try reading a long text on screen in an RPG, and then you’re local kroger brand ad plays.
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That is definitely way too invasive. Plugging something on to a Roku TV shouldn’t enable them to show you ads through that other device.
I was actually thinking about getting a Roku once too. Really dodged a bullet.
The article says Roku is attempting to detect breaks, which are the only places Roku will try to show you an ad. So you open your inventory in the pause screen to fight a boss and an ad pops out.
Alright, time to stay with Google Chromecast. At least I know they inject me with ads in their apps
I was permitted to close my account…without any hassle. Sign into my.roku.com and delete account is as the bottom. Selecting “don’t want to use this anymore” gives you a box with 255 charachter limit (because of course they don’t want to hear a real reason) and then when you hit send you just get “Thank you, account closed, if you come back you will need a new account”
Surprisingly, suspiciously, painless.
If they decide to go through with this I will literally replace every Roku TV I own, fuck that shit!
You should probably plan on that anyway. I’ve already seen screenshots of ads popping up over DVDs, offering to sell you what you’re already watching.
This isn’t a threat from Roku. This is a promise to their real customers, the glorious advertisers.
Great, so Smart TVs won’t even function as basic displays anymore.
I swear I’m like going backwards with tech, I found an old ipod to use at the gym, I’m pirating shows, and I don’t bother with blu tooth keyboards and mice for work.
Tech didn’t get better or hassle free. Getting a haircut needs an “app” ffs.
What’s wrong with the wireless keyboards and mice?
I can’t explain it, a high tech wireless mouse glitches out on me in a year, and keyboard had phantom typos, I was just done with all of it I’m on a wired mouse and keyboard for 3 years and no problems
Nothing.
Imagine being the guy working on this and how much you hate yourself anytime somebody asks you what you are working on.
Even worse: Imagine being the guy working on this and being proud of yourself.
I think the former situation is worse for the person working on it.
Unfortunately, I bet these guys don’t care. I used to work at a company you might have products from and I would constantly hear “Hey, we’re a business” as an excuse to degrade the user experience. :(
We had to listen this C-level guy give a speech how good the last couple of years have been. We’ve increased the price of services by 50% and the amount of useless upsell shit we push to people has gone up as well. While our wages are still the same and people are getting laid off constantly. But I need food and shit.
“Yeah, I know it’s shitty, but it pays the bills 🤷🏻♂️”
Some people also have no qualms in doing the dirty job. They get paid and they don’t care.
I knew a guy who went to work for palantir. I asked "what if you end up working on like domestic spying or other sketchy stuff?’
He was like, shrug, iunno. Guy did not give a shit about anyone outside his immediate friend and family group.
And when it turns out the thing he made is used to hurt his friends?
I’m going to guess he values himself more than his friends, and he’d find justifications, but maybe he’d surprise me.
Imagine a world where talented engineers would put their minds to work for solving big problems instead of … I’m not sure wtf this is.
You underestimate how many talented people are in the world. I get that being on Lemmy for so long though lol.
Just because they patented it doesn’t mean it will happen. Sony patented this evil idea.
We are not far from “please drink verification can”
error! user is attempting to steal lemmy premium™
If Sony patented this idea, does it mean nobody else can use it until it expires? Good guy Sony always looking out for us
If McDonald’s needs a surefire way to make me not go to a McDonald’s ever again, that’s perfect.
MCDONALD’S!
I will buy any other brand or a try to find a dumb TV if they do this.
Last tv I bought was a few years ago. My god is a dumb tv rare these days. Especially one that supports modern HDMI and audio
With all these mini PCs now it’s time to go to a giant computer monitor and an HTPC
The shittiest of enshitifications.
We need an anti-awards show for shit like this.
Lmao, Roku can go suck on a lemon… Never buying any of their shit ever again.
