Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

play.google.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

391–400 of 507 posts

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

#391

Post by kmonsen »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #255

The one thing I like about Google's now many-years obsolete "do no evil" slogan is that it shows how it is impossible for companies to not eventually become "evil" once that's their only open easy revenue stream. Without debating what "evil" really means in this context, in the early days of a company there are plenty of ways to grow without being actively user hostile. Once those avenues are thoroughly maxed out, an…

Another one of Google’s tenets that have been forgotten is focus on the user. First it meant just focus on the user, then it became well we are focusing on the user when we do deceptive ads because then they get other services for free, then it was completely forgotten.

I think there was a time when Apple was screwing up for a while and just making things shittier with new releases that Android actually was better. That time is now gone.

Edit: the iPhone keyboard really hates swearing though.

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

#392

Post by balozi »

andrei_says_ wrote: post #270

Who made these decisions, who worked on the implementation, who launched it? Would they have agreed to it if they were not anonymous? Would they have agreed on it if they were in a union?

Management, product designers, devs, everyone - including the customers whose ads you are seeing. They are all in it together, making money. Union or no union.

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

#393

Post by emptyparadise »

rglullis wrote: post #376
billyhoffman wrote: post #335

I hate to be that guy, but this is exactly why I happily paid for an Apple TV. Yes, it’s $100 more than basic streaming sticks, but I have never had to worry about ads suddenly appearing after an update. This whole space is a race to the bottom with sticks being sold at or below cost because you are the product. For example, Vizio revealing in their first quarterly report as a public company that they get nearly as m…

You know what else can give you a smooth, ad-free experience and freedom ? Any cheap mini-pc with Kodi installed.

https://hard-drive.net/spend-80-snes-classic-can-install-emu...

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

#394

Post by afavour »

whitexn--g28h wrote: post #326
afavour wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course there is. Pirating streaming media isn’t like stealing bread to feed your starving family, it’s entirely optional. If you don’t agree with the terms of service (i.e. DRM) then don’t use the service. Deciding on your own terms of service is just entitlement. I personally don’t care either way but you can’t say there is no argument against it.

Then why do public libraries exist? Reading a book is optional. Artists who make TV and movies gain nothing from google being hostile to the people trying to view their work. It’s the publishers and middlemen that are doing this.

I don’t understand the logic here. Libraries pay money for the media they lend out so how is it comparable?

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

#395

Post by fshbbdssbbgdd »

billyhoffman wrote: post #335

I hate to be that guy, but this is exactly why I happily paid for an Apple TV. Yes, it’s $100 more than basic streaming sticks, but I have never had to worry about ads suddenly appearing after an update. This whole space is a race to the bottom with sticks being sold at or below cost because you are the product. For example, Vizio revealing in their first quarterly report as a public company that they get nearly as m…

A correction - the article says Visio makes almost as much profits on ads and data ($38M) as hardware ($48M). In my view, the surprising thing here is how little money the hardware business makes. TVs are a low-margin product, so the revenues there are certainly higher. Visio sold 7 million TVs last year, and TVs last some years, so I’d estimate they have an install base of tens of millions and are making about $1 per TV per year in ads and data, which is obviously less than a TV costs. My takeaway is that this is a terrible business to be in, given that a leading brand is making so little per TV.

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

#396

Post by joombaga »

TingPing wrote: post #232
sureglymop wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know of any Android TV / smart tv box which has a USB port? I am currently building a magic mirror like smart map. Basically, the goal is to have a big touchscreen with Google maps or Google earth running. For touch screen support I bought a cheap USB infrared frame. I have tested it with the USB C port of my Android phone and it works well, but I have sadly not found any Android TV box which has an USB port.

I believe many that use usb for power, like Google's, are real ports that can be split with a hub.

That's correct. The Chromecast w/ Google TV works with the same USB-C hub I use with my MacBook Pro and Nintendo Switch.

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

#398

Post by ypcx »

fny wrote: post #356
billyhoffman wrote: post #335

I hate to be that guy, but this is exactly why I happily paid for an Apple TV. Yes, it’s $100 more than basic streaming sticks, but I have never had to worry about ads suddenly appearing after an update. This whole space is a race to the bottom with sticks being sold at or below cost because you are the product. For example, Vizio revealing in their first quarterly report as a public company that they get nearly as m…

Unfortunately Apple TV remotes are a nightmare to use. The touch UX is an absolute pain.

On the Apple TV 2021 4K's remote you can disable the touch and just use the buttons, like I have done. Works a treat.

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

#399

Post by Engineering-MD »

gambiting wrote: post #386
prepend wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all companies are equal. Some make money by selling things so they have an incentive to keep happy customers. Some companies don’t.

Of course. But companies change all the time - today Apple is very privacy focused and we can reasonably say they wouldn't do such a thing. Can you absolutely guarantee that they won't in 2 years? In 5? in 10? What if the CEO changes and they think that ad-derived value is the best thing ever? Like, this isn't meant to be a post against Apple btw. Just that I don't see a point in saying "company X did a bad thing, th…

The future is uncertain, that is life. But while a company is privacy focussed, reward that behaviour so they (or their new competitors for when they stop supporting privacy it) know people vote with wallets.

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

#400

Post by unethical_ban »

yellowfish wrote: post #111
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…

there's nothing wrong with ads on stuff like this; televisions aren't sacred ground.

If I know about it, then yes. Like Amazon putting ads on their Kindle lock screens unless you pay an extra $20.

I bought my Shield as a premium device, not expecting the launcher to change substantially - much less to put ads on the screen.

Post reply on HN