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.

  • @[email protected]
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    243 months ago

    I’ve tried pressing every button at every pump I’ve used in my area and this trick doesn’t work. I want to epoxy the speakers and screen and glitter-bomb the entire thing.

    I won’t. But I want to.

    • @[email protected]
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      163 months ago

      Sometimes it’s multiple presses. Around here for example I find that at my local Shell station it’s the second button down on the right side, two or three times.

      • Semi-Hemi-Lemmygod
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        33 months ago

        I was trying to figure out how to shut the one at my local grocery store up and discovered that you can get into the administrative menu if you push two buttons at the same time.

    • @[email protected]
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      103 months ago

      If there’s an exposed speaker hole, a long enough push pin or coat hangar wire can probably ruin the cone and coil.

      • @[email protected]
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        33 months ago

        I really can’t afford to commit a crime by damaging the pumps, but if I found a way to temporarily disable them I’d be all for it.

        • @[email protected]
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          33 months ago

          I reckon you could kill it with a pin in a casual enough way, maybe make it look like you’re just putting a hand there to lean? Also you have like 4 other people come throughout the day and get gas at that same pump, and they do a similar casual hand movement around the speaker.

          You’d be safe as houses, probably!

          • @[email protected]
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            23 months ago

            Appreciate the response, but I will stick to my non-criminal protest against the ad industry.

    • @[email protected]
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      43 months ago

      Definitely had to resist the urge myself a few times to jam my keys into the speaker when the mute button method didn’t work.