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.
Imagine being the guy working on this and how much you hate yourself anytime somebody asks you what you are working on.
Any company trying to use the HDMI-CEC protocol in such a subversive manner should lose their license to the HDMI standard IMO.
The shittiest of enshitifications.
If they can do that, then nobody can say anything about devices doing the reverse.
I wish I could find a TV for sale that isn’t a Smart TV. It’s not necessary and you get issues like this down the road. I’m sure it isn’t too long until the other TV manufactures do the same thing.
Samsung smart TVs already show a small ad on the home menu.