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

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#201

Post by avidiax » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:02 AM UTC

BeetleB wrote: post #192

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…

> 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. Source? Also, do they do it only on Roku TVs, or even Roku devices like their sticks?

Automatic Content Recognition (ACR), it's called, generically.

https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/privacy/how-to-t...

The TV makers don't need ACR when you are using apps on their OS. Those apps all report the currently playing title to the OS maker. ACR is used for when you watch broadcast TV or anything coming in over HDMI.

The margins on TVs are surprisingly small, so being able to show you a few dollars of ads every year dramatically improves that margin, which allows the TV to be either a better value or cheaper compared to other sets you see in the store.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#202

Post by goda90 » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:06 AM UTC

walterbell wrote: post #183

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.

What's the reason for data collection though?

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#203

Post by astura » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:11 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…

People here will absolutely hate this because "Google is evil" but I use a Chromecast and I love it and think it's the best option for your use case.

You select whatever video you want to play on your phone or computer and "cast" it to the TV and the video then plays on the TV. There's no suggestions, no promoted content, no upsells, and no ads. Beyond that, a big advantage is you don't have to navigate clunky UIs with a remote, Chromecast barely has a UI at all. When you aren't casting anything it just shows a random picture (usually landscape or cityscape) and the current time.

Another feature I really like and use all the time is the ability to seamlessly switch the TV I'm casting to. Useful for times I start watching something downstairs and then I wanna finish it upstairs.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#204

Post by kuschku » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:12 AM UTC

lxgr wrote: post #193

amyjess wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The answer is to buy a computer monitor and just watch on your PC.

That doesn’t quite work for a large screen in a living room, though. Or are there 55 inch computer monitors these days?

Aorus FO48U is a 48" computer monitor with an LG OLED panel. Only downside is that any resolution/frequency changes need 7 seconds to negotiate.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#205

Post by KingJulian » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:15 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…

You could get a SFF PC like the other reply mentioned, and install something like Plasma Bigscreen[1] on it.

[1](https://plasma-bigscreen.org/)

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#206

Post by avidiax » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:17 AM UTC

amyjess wrote: post #169

MBCook wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And when they all do it, then what? Every single inkjet printer is trash because they all adopted the same tactics. All the TV makers went to selling your advertising data. What makes you think they won’t all do this?

That's what computer monitors are for. Edit: I'm a big fan of the Cooler Master GP27Q and GP27U. They both have eye-bleedingly gorgeous HDR and won't break the bank. You can get the Q for about $550 and the U for under $900; the difference is that the Q is 1440p and the U is 4K. The only criticism I have at all with them is that the firmware is kinda fucky (you will be spending your first few days with it constantly…

"Smart" computer monitors are starting to arrive, and soon will probably be the only mainstream option. It is just too easy to tell investors "we are not a commodity display manufacturer; we are an ad platform with X% YoY growth, our customers have desirable demographics, and our impressions are available in unique business, academic, and gaming contexts".

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#207

Post by oneepic » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:23 AM UTC

cma wrote: post #197

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…

Samsung was caught sending screenshots of your TV too (if a deaf person was using TV as a monitor and communicating over teletype I'm not sure how this wouldn't violate wiretapping laws). https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/blog/samsung-smart-tvs...

I think from their perspective, the likely $XXm legal settlement wouldn't be worth the time and effort to bring a case against Samsung for this crime. I guess it could go on a backlog somewhere though. Still unfortunate.

Anyway, it doesn't violate wiretapping laws, because the resources/budget to uphold the law isn't high enough. A programmer might say they chose availability over consistency.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#208

Post by polski-g » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:28 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…

Nvidia Shield. Bonus is that you can run Steam Link on it.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#209

Post by happymellon » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:31 AM UTC

goda90 wrote: post #202

walterbell wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Advertising is also convenient camouflage for data collection.

What's the reason for data collection though?

To sell to other data collection agencies.

Ultimately I'm not sure there is an end goal, except figuring out reasons to extract more money out of VC's. Buying consumer data to confirm your biases is probably a good one.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#210

Post by anonzzzies » Sat, Apr 06, 2024, 5:33 AM UTC

rodonn wrote: post #165

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.

This is why targeted advertising is so much more effective than un-targeted. On Facebook/Instagram I frequently see ads for products I was not aware of that are relevant to my interests.

> On Facebook/Instagram I frequently see ads for products

I never have that; it’s always irrelevant stuff OR stuff I just bought (because the ad tracking know I was on that other site looking at that product; somehow they don’t know I bought it so now I get weeks of a product I no longer want to buy aka fully useless) so will definitely not buy again.