Roku Tests Autoplaying Ads Loading Before the Home Screen 59
Roku is testing autoplaying video ads that play before users can access the home screen. While Roku claims this is just an experiment, users are threatening to abandon the platform if the change becomes permanent. Ars Technica reports: Reports of Roku customers seeing video ads automatically play before they could view the OS' home screen started appearing online this week. A Reddit user, for example, posted yesterday: "I just turned on my Roku and got an unskippable ad for a movie, before I got to the regular Roku home screen." Multiple apparent users reported seeing an ad for the movie Moana 2. When reached for comment, a Roku spokesperson shared a company statement that confirms that the autoplaying ads are expected behavior but not a permanent part of Roku OS currently. Instead, Roku claimed, it was just trying the ad capability out.
Roku's representative said that Roku's business "has and will always require continuous testing and innovation across design, navigation, content, and our first-rate advertising products," adding: "Our recent test is just the latest example, as we explore new ways to showcase brands and programming while still providing a delightful and simple user experience."
Roku's representative said that Roku's business "has and will always require continuous testing and innovation across design, navigation, content, and our first-rate advertising products," adding: "Our recent test is just the latest example, as we explore new ways to showcase brands and programming while still providing a delightful and simple user experience."
This must stop (Score:5, Insightful)
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Raspberry Pi is cheap and Pi OS (Debian) is stable.
So, unfortunately, the Raspberry Pi is stuck between a rock and a hard place, which is sad, because it's perfect for the role.
The problem is that things like Kodi and LibreElec and OSMC will never have official support from any of the streaming services. There are workarounds to get Netflix and Hulu and Youtube added, but they are all CLI-based and take an afternoon to set up, and it's the cat-and-mouse game between those companies and the hopefully-well-meaning individual who managed to reverse-engineer an
Re:This must stop (Score:4, Informative)
Netflix was pretty painless too at one point, though it broke for me ages ago and I never bothered looking into it. Personally I found Kodi's menus to just be a terrible way to navigate Netflix the way I use it (I want the discoverability and recommendations, unlike YouTube where I just want the latest videos from my subscribed channels) .
We desperately need an open source/locally hosted alternative to something like Roku or Google TV. But besides the fact open source projects have historically been terrible at 10ft user interfaces and being intuitive enough for the average user (or the advanced user who just wants to switch their brain off and watch some damn videos), it's destined to fail without the cooperation of major providers and/or some set of standard APIs.
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We desperately need an open source/locally hosted alternative to something like Roku or Google TV
You absolutely cannot have this and still watch DRM content, because the copyright cartel absolutely will not cooperate. The best you can do is using alternate interfaces and apps on an existing system. Google TV is the best one to pick (so far) because it is (so far) the one which does the least to prevent you from running your own software on it. You can run your own launcher, and launch your own choice of apps.
We use Smarttube on Google TV for Youtube with the stock launcher. Every so often (not very oft
If this continues, (Score:3)
If this continues,
That is not how it works. If you wait for it to continue, you already show you have accepted it. The time to leave is now.
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Already done, that piece of shit is in fucking pieces.
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Can't you make a warranty claim or return it?
It's an evolving area of law, but my Nvidia Shield was replaced under warranty at 4 years old because a software update broke it. Nvidia were good about it, but the general principle that software updates must be warrantied stands.
Legally, you had something that worked, the manufacturer did some maintenance work on it, and now it's broken. Their work must be warrantied, just like if you had a car mechanic do something to your vehicle and it then immediately broke
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Can't you make a warranty claim or return it?
You cannot, because it is not broken. Just because you don't like the direction the company may be going, does not mean that the product is broken. It is working exactly as Roku intends it to. You may not like the functionality, but it is still functioning correctly.
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Interesting that my post was modded troll. The law is pretty clear in Europe, but I guess some salty American must have taken issue with our consumer rights.
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This is why consumers keep getting crapped on, not enough care to talk with their wallet or even voice an opinion to the company. And yes it is getting harder to talk with your wallet when all the companies are trying to merge into one so that there is no competition.
Just trying to go out of business (Score:5, Informative)
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Out of curiosity, what streaming platform would you switch to? Google TV and Fire TV have been plastering full screen ads on their streaming products for months now. Is there still a streaming platform outside of Apple TV that hasn't been fully enshittified yet?
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Some people still like to watch media on their big TVs. Count me among them. Fucking with an OS and a Browser is just not on my list of things I want to do when I want to just watch a show.
I've had a LOT of devices. A few Rokus are now in the drawer, along side of two Shields, a couple of Kodi boxes, and some miscellaneous answers to the problem. But now I've actually settled on... two Apple TVs. And they are by far the least intrusive, easiest devices I own that fit the purpose. I have Infuse for my media
Re:Just trying to go out of business (Score:5, Informative)
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I watch it without ads now, and I'm not interested in relocating my computer to watch stuff.
As I said, the Apple TVs do it perfectly, right up to uncompressed audio and HDR. Involving my computer or laptop in any way is a usability downgrade.
Great with international content too (Score:2)
I've imported DVDs and Blu-rays of shows from Europe and with Match Frame Rate [apple.com] turned on I no longer experience the 50 fps to 60 fps conversion judder that would show up with my prior setup. The judder was most noticeable when a scene would pan.
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I wonder if Valve is going to add streaming front ends as native services rather than relying on 3rd parties. SteamOS running Big Screen Steam client on PCs could be an interesting market perhaps?
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I just threw one of my Roku devices in the trash. It looks like Apple TV is the only one that doesn't enshittify too much and I just ordered one. But they don't play from local media servers (DLNA) natively, so you need an app.
I feel guilty for the people I recommended use a Roku over the years. They used to be a pretty good product. At least Apple isn't likely to be purchased by a predatory private equity firm.
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Can you just disable updates?
Okay, potential security risks, but are they an issue for your TV box?
And they wonder why the film industry is dying (Score:5, Interesting)
as they actively irritate *paying customers*
Dipshits.
Tivo is bad enough with their text ads popping up telling me to buy more shit...
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Roku had the option to become the de facto 'cable box' of the modern times ... and instead they seem in a race to the bottom of stuffing ads in every square inch of the screen.
Instead of, idk, offering more and better features like easy consolidation of streaming apps? There's so much potential and they missed it entirely.
Internet of Shit (Score:3)
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a child holds a dollar on a string and is later shocked by the inevitable
on the one hand, believing a digital device is "yours" admittedly involves more intangibles
on the other hand, ye sweaty neckbeards warned you about the string
Control the computer or it controls you.
the device answers to you second
a headline of people who couldn't comprehend this, not until it hit them in the face
I'll say what everyone is thinking (Score:4, Insightful)
Enshittification
In future Roku news ... (Score:2)
Roku devices play pre-home-screen ad for Roku showing it playing a pre-home-screen ad, for Roku ...
"it was just trying the ad capability out." (Score:5, Insightful)
"Trying the ad capability out" is testing it in a lab under controlled conditions.
This is "seeing what we can get away with."
What I hate the worst about this (Score:3, Interesting)
Most of us old timers laughed at horse armor. Well guess what One world of Warcraft mount made more money than all of starcraft 2. I saw an interview of one of the starcraft 2 Devs complaining about it. Gently so as to not piss off their masters.
They don't have to get us all on board for the next piece of shit they're going to do to us They just have to get a slim majority.
Trash awaits (Score:5, Insightful)
>"users are threatening to abandon the platform if the change becomes permanent"
I will absolutely rip my Roku Ultra out and throw it in the trash if it forces *any* video or audio or *any* kind of content on me before I can go to the home screen, launch a "channel", or start a stream.
>"Our recent test is just the latest example, as we explore new ways to showcase brands and programming while still providing a delightful and simple user experience."
Please explain how annoying your users with content they didn't ask for, and then cannot abort, provides a "delightful and simple user experience". Waiting....
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Same here.
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>"users are threatening to abandon the platform if the change becomes permanent"
I will absolutely rip my Roku Ultra out and throw it in the trash if it forces *any* video or audio or *any* kind of content on me before I can go to the home screen, launch a "channel", or start a stream.
>"Our recent test is just the latest example, as we explore new ways to showcase brands and programming while still providing a delightful and simple user experience."
Please explain how annoying your users with content they didn't ask for, and then cannot abort, provides a "delightful and simple user experience". Waiting....
While us folks around here will complain about it, and some may even abandon ship over it, most folks will probably just get in the habit of turning on the Roku before heading to the bathroom or the kitchen and then coming back once the stream of bullshit is over. People in general have just gotten used to the idea of advertising everywhere.
You know, I had a dream about the self-driving car movement, and why there's *SUCH* a concerted push for it to happen. I know I've heard some sales/marketing types daydr
mpv feature request (Score:5, Funny)
Open Source and Free Software are getting their asses kicked when it comes to features. mpv still doesn't insert ads. When will we get this? I can't be the only user who is desperately asking for this, can I?
Never Turn It Off? (Score:3)
If it runs on boot, then never turn it off.
If it runs before every access of the home screen, even between Apps, round-file it and make the 86 inch TV a really large monitor for your PC running your internet browser. Also embrace OTA TV as much as possible.
This really needs to fail, the more expensively for Roku, the better.
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Haha, with OTA, ads are *injected* every few minutes while watching the content stream!
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Well, at least there's a valid reason, they're paying for everything with the money from selling those ads. Nothing's perfect. If you don't want ads, you're going to have to pay for the content somehow. The problem with Roku is that we've ALREADY paid them, there was no hint of this up front, and it is simply an opportunistic money grab that, again, deserves to fail in the most expensive mode possible for the Roku pirates.
Enshittification (Score:2)
The wave of enshittification has reached Roku.
Delightful simple user experience... (Score:2)
continuous testing and innovation (Score:1)
I had one a very long time ago. (Score:2)
A Roku 2 XS. It was clear then the direction they were going in. I dropped them at that time and they've popped up periodically in the news since like this doing something progressively anti-consumer and vile.
Quit Roku years ago, content paywalled (Score:2)
Of course, users will leave ... (Score:2)
Of course, the users will leave. At least they write that on Facebook for two weeks until they are used to see even more ads.
Nope (Score:2)
I have been a long time Roku customer, but this is a line that I will not cross.
I would rather allow my Samsumg "smart" TV access to the Internet than continue with this type of thing.
Wait For It... A NEW FEE (Score:5, Insightful)
On this path, Roku will soon introduce a wonderful new feature, where you can pay a few scheckles every month to have an 'Ad-Free Experience'. Before they get there, they have to make the current experience worse, and that's what we're seeing now.
Show up early for popcorn and a good seat (Score:2)
This doesn't sound so bad. Presumably, it'll play while I'm clicking-through my TV's obligatory power-on license agreement, else while I'm switching inputs because the manufacturer decided that I should only ever use their crappy inbuilt streaming apps. I'll, of course have plenty of time to spare anyway since I'll have turned everything on 15 minutes before I intended to watch because, after having previously watched from a different room, I'll need to sign-in and MFA with every streaming app. Throw in som
Everyone is doing it (Score:2)
Yo ho ho (Score:1)