I'm hearing about this Sonos controversy, which further illustrates my argument against the need for a second device to operate something that should be accessible for the blind out of the box to begin with, being it's an audio device. But this is more the case these days where one needs a smart phone to operate appliances. Now, in their infinite unwisdom, Sonos has made their app inaccessible. I'm gathering that one can not use their Sonos device unless one has a smart phone? IDK.
@owncast@mxks And hey...this is Kit, the person behind @mxks and the Owncast Newsletter! I'd love to have some friends along for the ride developing the #Owncast#Roku channel! DM me or email me if you're interested in helping!
#Roku#SmartTV#AdTech#Streaming: "Last week, Janko Roettgers, a technology and entertainment reporter, uncovered a dystopian patent filed last August by Roku, the television- and streaming-device manufacturer whose platform is used by tens of millions of people worldwide. The filing details plans for an “HDMI customized ad insertion,” which would allow TVs made by Roku to monitor video signals through the HDMI port—where users might connect a game console, a Blu-ray player, a cable box, or even another streaming device—and then inject targeted advertisements when content is paused. This would be a drastic extension of Roku’s surveillance potential: The company currently has no ability to see what users might be doing when they switch away from its proprietary streaming platform. This is apparently a problem, in that Roku is missing monetization opportunities!
Although the patent may never come to fruition (a spokesperson for Roku told me that the company had no plans to put HDMI ad insertion into any products at this time), it speaks to a dispiriting recent trend in consumer hardware. Internet-connected products can transform after the point of purchase in ways that can feel intrusive or even hostile to users. Another example from Roku: Just last month, the company presented users with an update to its terms of service, asking them to enter a pre-arbitration process that would make it harder to sue the company. On one hand, this isn’t so unusual—apps frequently force users to accept terms-of-service updates before proceeding. But on the other, it feels galling to be locked out of using your television altogether over a legal agreement: “Until I press ‘Agree’ my tv is essentially being held hostage and rendered useless,” one Roku customer posted on Reddit. “I can’t even change the HDMI input.”" https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/04/roku-tv-ads-patent/678041/
I really don't believe in violence, but when a person sets a preference in a piece of software and it gets changed back to what the company would like it to be (no #roku, I really don't want your "recommendations", and I told you that before ), you should be allowed to punch the company's officers in the face.
The is not exaggeration. I really, truly believe physical violence could bring us better software.
Microsoft says it’s starting to test ads inside the Start menu on Windows 11.
“This will appear only for Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel in the US and will not apply to commercial devices (devices managed by organizations),” says Microsoft in a blog post.
Um if they are “testing” it, then that means eventually they will deploy it to the masses.
#Roku way underestimates my willingness to throw away my tv. The only things I consistently watch on tv are netflix and the weather radar. And I don't need a tv for either of those.
I was raging about this very thing last night while watching an FX show and hit the “pause” button and was served a static whisky ad. Soooo, we’re pulling #Roku from our tv now. We recently canceled #Sling for promoting Fox programming through commercials while watching MSNBC. Pretty soon we’ll be acting out news and our favorite shows in our living room. 🙃