Apologies up front; this is playing out in Dutch media and there do not seem to be English sources available. Nevertheless, I thought the following would be of interest to SN:
Philips TVs are manufactured by TP Vision. Recently, TP Vision announced that it would include more ads on its (Philips-branded) smart-tvs. Comment by Paulo Lopez of TP Vision to the media:
"We know very much about viewing behaviour. Which channels are being watched, which apps are being used. Based on that, we can make ads more relevant in the future." (translation mine).
Well that did cause a few ripples, amongst others with the data protection agency in the Netherlands. They already slapped TP Vision on the wrist back in 2013 for doing basically this. Now the data protection agency is starting another investigation. Moreover, tech-heads also noticed and kicked up a bit of a sh*tstorm at popular Dutch tech site Tweakers.net: more ads, warning, with 555 and 133 comments respectively (on a site where 100+ comments is a lot).
Do you know of any other brands that engage in such sleazy behaviour? And: would it be possible to block the ads while retaining the smart functionality (assuming a user who wants that), when the TV would try to detect/prevent that?
[Ed. Note: All I found in English is a press release from Improve Digital, the advertising company. Typical PR language there.]
(Score: 2) by ShadowSystems on Saturday January 28 2017, @07:23AM
*Nodding sadly*
The ads only make it worse.
You'll have the show at a comfortable volume but then the ads come on & suddenly THE DAMN THING IS SCREAMING AT YOU.
*Scoops up brain & pours it back in through the ear*
Or the "fine print" thattheyreadazillionmilesanhour & there's not a chance in hell of understanding the gibberish.
*Cleans out ears with a Q-Tip*
Or you can hear the voice saying one thing but the singing describing another, making you wonder WTF they were smoking to create it.
*Sniffs for the bong*
At least online I can use an Ad Blocker, Hosts file, & various browser security bits to remove that particular plague from my life.
(They won't get my eyes anyway, I can't see them to interact with them in the first place.)
I've only got a Feature phone instead of a supposedly Smart one.
Given I only have to recharge my phone once every week & a half, I don't have to worry about some random hacker using BlueTooth to pwn me (I've turned it off since I don't use it), it doesn't run apps so there's a security screen door that's been replaced with an air tight blast door, & it only cost $40 (full price!) so I'm not too terribly chuffed if it gets lost, stolen, or destroyed.
(If my phone cost $400+ then I'd be right bloody pissed.)
TV sucks.
I'm glad to be a Cantankerous Old Fart.
Now get off my damned lawn.
=-)p