Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI • Hacker News Board

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#181

Post by Buttons840 » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:29 AM UTC

koolba wrote: post #168

On this topic, what’s the best hardware and software to connect to a TV (assuming via HDMI) that allows for running apps for all the usual streaming platform suspects? It doesn’t even have to provide a combined search list. Just something to act as the base OS and launcher for each platform. I know what I want to watch and presumably which one provides it. I just want something to attach to my dumb TV that can play t…

Sounds like the answer is no, such a thing does not exist.

I wonder if this is because consumers wont actually pay for it, or because the market is unable to deliver it (due to money grabs, etc)?

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#182

Post by walterbell » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:29 AM UTC

duskwuff wrote: post #179

koolba wrote: post #168

On this topic, what’s the best hardware and software to connect to a TV (assuming via HDMI) that allows for running apps for all the usual streaming platform suspects? It doesn’t even have to provide a combined search list. Just something to act as the base OS and launcher for each platform. I know what I want to watch and presumably which one provides it. I just want something to attach to my dumb TV that can play t…

Apple TV is a decent option. It's got default apps for Apple's content platforms, of course, but they're easy to ignore. Default screensaver is tasteful aerial videos (no ads), and the home screen layout can be customized to stash the default apps away in a folder. You don't need to own other Apple devices to use an Apple TV. If you do, though, there's some convenient integrations, like being able to use an iPhone as…

The recent addition of VPN support, including Tailscale, has made Apple TV even more compelling. VLC exists for Apple TV.

For purchased movies, Apple TV does not impose silly geo-restrictions, unlike Vudu and MoviesAnywhere.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#183

Post by walterbell » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:31 AM UTC

locallost wrote: post #159

I don't get this bombardment with ads anymore. For all the talk of targeted ads I routinely get them for products like tampons which I definitely do not need. Most of the time it's some noise I hear until I can press the skip button. I can't really remember what's the last time I bought something I saw on an ad.

Advertising is also convenient camouflage for data collection.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#184

Post by dragonwriter » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:31 AM UTC

add-sub-mul-div wrote: post #177

walterbell wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's transient: a vendor goes too far, countermeasures follow, then economic consequences.

It doesn't work that way anymore and people need to understand the old rules are gone. We've passed an inflection point where a few companies have dipped their toes into extreme enshittification or excessive price increases and survived, so we're seeing the start of a free for all. Think of Reddit and Twitter doing user hostile shit starting last year, and fast food raising prices beyond the point where it's a discou…

> fast food raising prices beyond the point where it’s a discount relative to better food anymore.

Fast food has usually been more expensive than (not just “not at a discount to”) better food, ceteris paribus, because you are paying for “fast” in both money and quality.

It is less expensive than better food that also has higher grades of service when the demand for service at the level at issue is sufficiently great compared to the demand for speed.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#185

Post by ok_dad » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:34 AM UTC

walterbell wrote: post #182

duskwuff wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple TV is a decent option. It's got default apps for Apple's content platforms, of course, but they're easy to ignore. Default screensaver is tasteful aerial videos (no ads), and the home screen layout can be customized to stash the default apps away in a folder. You don't need to own other Apple devices to use an Apple TV. If you do, though, there's some convenient integrations, like being able to use an iPhone as…

The recent addition of VPN support, including Tailscale, has made Apple TV even more compelling. VLC exists for Apple TV. For purchased movies, Apple TV does not impose silly geo-restrictions, unlike Vudu and MoviesAnywhere.

I’ll also vote for Apple TV. It also acts as a hub for simple home automation if you just want a few light bulbs or something, or you want to store security camera footage directly to iCloud.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#186

Post by amyjess » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:34 AM UTC

koolba wrote: post #168

On this topic, what’s the best hardware and software to connect to a TV (assuming via HDMI) that allows for running apps for all the usual streaming platform suspects? It doesn’t even have to provide a combined search list. Just something to act as the base OS and launcher for each platform. I know what I want to watch and presumably which one provides it. I just want something to attach to my dumb TV that can play t…

First thing that comes to mind is a NUC. Just install the desktop OS of your choice.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#187

Post by gedy » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:34 AM UTC

smt88 wrote: post #164

locallost wrote: post #159

I don't get this bombardment with ads anymore. For all the talk of targeted ads I routinely get them for products like tampons which I definitely do not need. Most of the time it's some noise I hear until I can press the skip button. I can't really remember what's the last time I bought something I saw on an ad.

Just because ads don't work on you doesn't mean they don't work. If ads are cheap and margins for your product are high, you don't care if your ad bounces off of 1,000 people as long as it turns 1 into a paying customer.

Then why the "targeted" ads and data harvesting? For all the effort, ads are still mostly totally irrelevant and may as well be random.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#188

Post by duskwuff » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:34 AM UTC

walterbell wrote: post #182

duskwuff wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple TV is a decent option. It's got default apps for Apple's content platforms, of course, but they're easy to ignore. Default screensaver is tasteful aerial videos (no ads), and the home screen layout can be customized to stash the default apps away in a folder. You don't need to own other Apple devices to use an Apple TV. If you do, though, there's some convenient integrations, like being able to use an iPhone as…

The recent addition of VPN support, including Tailscale, has made Apple TV even more compelling. VLC exists for Apple TV. For purchased movies, Apple TV does not impose silly geo-restrictions, unlike Vudu and MoviesAnywhere.

Ooh, I forgot to mention VLC! Their Apple TV app is great -- if you've got a SMB file server, it can browse the server and play videos in basically any format.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#189

Post by walterbell » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:37 AM UTC

duskwuff wrote: post #188

walterbell wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The recent addition of VPN support, including Tailscale, has made Apple TV even more compelling. VLC exists for Apple TV. For purchased movies, Apple TV does not impose silly geo-restrictions, unlike Vudu and MoviesAnywhere.

Ooh, I forgot to mention VLC! Their Apple TV app is great -- if you've got a SMB file server, it can browse the server and play videos in basically any format.

In addition to SMB, it even supports SFTP (password auth only).

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#190

Post by heyoni » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 4:37 AM UTC

autoexec wrote: post #176

Anyone who cares at all about their privacy wouldn't have a roku TV to start with. Roku is one of the most invasive companies there is. Their devices take multiple screenshots of whatever is on your screen every second and then uploads those images to their servers to be scrutinized so that they can make assumptions about you as a person. If you have a Roku TV they can do that for any non-roku device you're using too…

With LG it can all be turned off and as a PC user using their TV’s it works perfectly offline. ACR is fairly easy to opt out of on LG while nearly impossible with Samsung. Their monitor/tv hybrid ultrawide would basically force you to connect to the internet once a month or else DRM content from my Apple TV would stop working.