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Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

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Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#241

Post by LarryEt »

cs702 wrote: post #67

Where does the "ad invasion" end? Smart toasters that force you to watch ads before getting your toast in the morning? Smart windows that display ads that block your view of your backyard? Smart paints that display ads on your bedroom walls? Smart shower-heads that play jingles as you wash yourself? Smart brain implants that directly induce subconscious desire to buy certain products and services? Is there some kind…

Personally, I would never buy a "smart" anything besides the phone itself.

Such a high % of the population is clinically addicted to the phone though I can't blame anyone who makes a product to cater to these addicts.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#242

Post by brewdad »

vbezhenar wrote: post #225
wccrawford wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At first, I thought nVidia had done this, and I was cursing their name. After some searching, I discovered this is actually the stock launcher from Google instead. nVidia should absolutely get ahead of this to preserve their own reputation.

That's Nvidia's choice to use default launcher. It's not like Google does not allow their partners to adapt OS. I agree about blaming Google first, but it's device from Nvidia, customer will not research where each particular application or part came from. If battery will blow up, nobody will blame some nameless chinese factory.

I absolutely blame Nvidia for this. I fully expect ads on my $25 Fire Stick. It's part of the bargain with Amazon. There is no way there should be ads on a $150-200 device, especially when they have been added in well after purchase.

Regardless of where they choose to lay blame, if Nvidia doesn't fix this I am done with their devices when it's time to replace them.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#243

Post by vlozko »

donohoe wrote: post #221

Roku started doing this (though seems less intrusive so far than this) and its why I ditched it for an AppleTV. My big fear is that Apple will do the same in years to come but for now it is all we have.

They haven’t done so for 14 years. Given their posturing on privacy and their history, it stands to reason it’ll still be like this for another decade at least.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#244

Post by WarOnPrivacy »

bencollier49 wrote: post #213
mctt wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I manged to remove them...you go to All apps..scroll down to "Show system apps"...Android TV Home...Force stop... Uninstall updates => You will have old Home Screen https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...

Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?

Ads are bad behavior they are protecting themselves from.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#245

Post by thereddevil »

rconti wrote: post #189
malcolmgreaves wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Super wrong. Google sold one product then removed functionality after sale. That's very illegal.

A good parallel is the recent Peloton Treadmill update (as a result of the CPSC suit). You used to be able to use the treadmill without video content, it worked as a treadmill; you only had to pay for a subscription if you wanted Peloton content on the screen. This seems fairly obvious to anyone buying the device, and makes sense. I buy a treadmill, I can use the treadmill forever, but if i want content, I pay a mont…

This is a bad take on Peloton. Peloton made it subscription only because the default user experience had bad design in that treadmills can be pin locked only if the customer is subscribed. In order to compensate for the bad design peloton has offered 3 months of subscription for free and has promised to add the pin lock feature to non subscribers soon.

Not that I agree with anything Peloton has done in this situation, but you make it sound much worse than it already is.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#246

Post by easton »

xibo9 wrote: post #239
headmelted wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was really disappointed to find the same problems with tvOS having moved from a pair of Shields. The ads hadn’t rolled out yet on Shield when I moved over but for some reason I just assumed Apple wouldn’t be shilling ads at me constantly for services I don’t have, or trying to sell me content I already have access to. More fool me. Fire TV is worse, but I’ve heard Roku is much the same. The Smart TV ecosystem is ro…

Can you be more specific? I have multiple Apple TV STBs and don't see what you're describing.

They’re probably talking about the Apple TV App on tvOS, which searches services you don’t necessarily have. You can get rid of it though, so I don’t know what the big deal is.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#247

Post by amptorn »

cs702 wrote: post #67

Where does the "ad invasion" end? Smart toasters that force you to watch ads before getting your toast in the morning? Smart windows that display ads that block your view of your backyard? Smart paints that display ads on your bedroom walls? Smart shower-heads that play jingles as you wash yourself? Smart brain implants that directly induce subconscious desire to buy certain products and services? Is there some kind…

> Is there some kind of limit at which we value the right to personal privacy and the right to peace-of-mind over the right to advertise?

Who's "we"? The advertising companies? Then no.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#248

Post by ipaddr »

dagmx wrote: post #168
ipaddr wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the end you didn't you read the fine print where it said google can make changes. You relied on their brand name and popularity and thought you were making a solid choice. You will get outraged today and forget about it tomorrow. You got played. You were scammed. You are a victim of following what society told you. Accept it and think though your next purchase.

This is such an absurd take on things. So every change should just be brushed of and people should just move on? No software company is open to criticism for their changes and it's the consumers fault for not understanding every little nuance?

Trusting google to control your tv experience is not the same thing as trusting any company to provide any service.

These changes were foreseeable so much that it is written in the agreement. You have no legal recourse.

To spoil the next discovery, your tv habits are or will be monitored and recorded now or in the near future. This information will spill into your life in unwanted ways.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#249

Post by gpt5 »

techlaw wrote: post #106

I am hopeful that now that the FTC has a pro-consumer Chair that some of these anti-consumer acts will be curtailed. I would also argue that some of these bad acts could be considered to be false / deceptive trade practices under the various state laws (in the U.S. at least). For example, some people would never have bought a FireTV cube for streaming video if Amazon had revealed that they would be adding advertiseme…

The worst part is that google is abusing its power to limit people choices. They are enforcing terms on their phone partners that if they want Android (their only choice), they have to not use Fire OS or other Android forks on any device they make. You can read more here - https://www.protocol.com/google-android-amazon-fire-tv

The fact that they use the monopoly power on the phone to force Manufacturers to use Android TV is insane to me. The fact that they then quickly made the experience extremely anti consumer is a playbook monopoly play.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#250

Post by mortenjorck »

ArkanExplorer wrote: post #54

Does this also impact Android TVs? Like Sony models, etc.

I want to know this as well. I’m considering another Sony for my next TV (I currently have a pre-Android model), but if this update affects the Sony UI, that immediately strikes them from the list.
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