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Roku explores taking over HDMI feeds with ads (www.lowpass.cc)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

These days a lot of utilities have 3 components - hardware, software and backend hosting e.g. Ring door bell - you need all three to be able to DIY it. So DIY options are so complex that only highly motivated technical folks can do it. There need to be open source glue (OSG?) to make it simple, only then we can hope to reduce enshittification.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

I can put together a diy ring with shit I have on my desk in about five minutes. It won't be pretty, but a printed case would solve that. Cost would be ~10$+battery and microsd card.

And while I'm more capable than average here, I'm not much more capable than average.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I am not sure how you are thinking of building it. I am thinking you would need a server hosted somewhere that can send a doorbell or video to your phone? It needs security, server to phone push ... it gets complicated.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Why would you need any software, server or phone for a simple door bell?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Ring and a bunch of these devices are convenience machines. The doorbell itself at minimum has a microcontroller, camera and mic with WiFi access, the server controls the doorbell, stores footage and makes live feeds available over the Internet for when you are away from home, a phone app lets you see who is at the door and let them in even when you're not home.

For anyone interested, a self-hosted home assistant will get you 80% of the way there, depending on how paranoid you are you can also set up POE cams and frigate.

Or just have a pot someone can bang really loud that works too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Thank you. So it's not just a doorbell, rather a remote controlled surveillance and communication system. That is a bit more complicated than a bell at the door.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Doorbell send video to server on my desktop. Or wherever, I'll trade server space with a friend or something.

Id probably use an esp32 board so: The software to view it live is already written. The software to automatically send it is, I think, already written; just need to configure desktop. The motion trigger is already written.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Whilst the 5 minutes are total bullshit (having been a software dev for decades I was torn between laughing and crying at a variant of the good old "this should take 5 minutes") the point is entirelly valid:

You can get an ESP32 with a camera and there are a ton of tutorials out there about making it send video over the Internet.
To pull power from mains there are these tiny modules that do all the work and cost $3 or so a pop. Batteries are easier but need changing.
3D printing (for the shell) is a bit of a craft but not too bad to learn. Alternativelly, just get a box with the right size and drill/saw some holes in it. Just keep in mind that in needs to be waterproof.
It is stupidly easy to rent a VPS somewhere on the Internet for peanuts if you want "access from anywhere" functionality. If all you need is recording and access at home, use whatever you have around always on (a NAS, a good router with storage, an old laptop or cheap mini PC as a Linux server).

That said, it's definitelly not "5 minutes" and the combination of skills needed to do the various parts (microcontroller programming, server programming, electronics, 3D printing) is not at all common, hence why Amazon is selling their Ring doorbells which were designed by an actual team of people rather than solo individuals.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean, the code is written, most of that 5 minutes is soldering.

You can use a USB cable, I wanted to replicate ring functionality (aside from snitching), so i chose battery (also on my desk), but I already have the tools to draw from mains. Special module is cheaper, I guess. Plus I'm not using it to charge my phone right now.

And yeah I'd probably fuck up the configuration first try, so I concede on five minutes. But also, if your door is covered (mine is) you don't even need waterproof.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

My criticism of the "5 minutes" comes from decades of professional experience.

That said, I totally agree with you that it's definitelly doable for a capable hobbyist and I would even say it fits the definition of a "fun project".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Yeah. I still say the hardware and the upload (of the program) I could handle in about 3 if I planned it right.

Less if I soldered during upload and didn't break anything, but that feels like a really stupid idea.

But I would absolutely fuck it up server-side at least once.