Ya, so… They didn’t GIVE me the Google TV device, I had to buy it. Therefore they got their money from me for that hardware. I’m not using other ‘free’ google products that cost them money on that device so why would they be showing ads? What cost are the recouping?
For the record, I have not seen this and we do have a number of google TV’s in our house. However our primary TV uses an Nvidia Shield.
I’m a product designer who has worked on a lot of products that have been monetized with ads.
It’s pretty common for a company to split their revenue targets between register sales and monetization deals. You break even on the hardware, and make profit on the ads.
Agreed, this tends to be why I keep going back the Apple. It’s performant, will be supported for a decade, and can be configured as a minimally annoying app launcher.
Biggest problem is that a lot of the setup and security stuff isn’t as nice if it’s not paired to an iPhone.
Yeah, we’re also a “blended family” with regards to platforms. Some of the stuff in my house is in Google’s ecosystem, some is in Apple’s, and I have a Pi in the house that plays mediator between the platforms.
I have a box of chrome cast devices in many different flavors. I mostly only use them for traveling. Home media I keep on the bulkier AppleTVs.
That’s the one problem. Apple pushes AirPlay, and Google pushes casting. Neither company supports each other’s protocols by default.
There are a few applications that allow you to airplay from Android. That said, my TV has both AirPlay and casting support built in, so I haven’t looked into the third party apps in a while. And before that, I used to have a vanilla chrome cast behind the TV in addition to my Apple TV.
Oh, we’re all in google here (because of me) except the two outcasts (even though I’m outnumbered)
We have 6, and about to have 12 chromecast audios that run speakers all through the house.
All tv’s have google TV dongles except the main tv that has Shield TV (still android)
Google mini’s in every room
You say “Pi” to mediate? What do you mean there? (Raspberry pi?). I run Pihole in our house for ads,trackers etc.
Fun fact: Amazon actually have you this option with the original Kindle. They sold two different versions where the only difference was that the cheaper one would show ads.
Typically they’d be recouping the cost of the tv they sold at a loss. They sell it at a loss because they know they’ll make more money in the long run via the ads.
And personally, If they are doing that, I want two versions, one I can pay the actual cost w/some profit for them, and no ads. The ads keep making them money long after they recoup any hw costs as they continue to profit off users. When I bought an amazon Kindle way back when, I chose the one without ads for the same reason. I’m ok paying for a product vs. being the product.
I still use The audios, and just got 5 more unopened from Japan (eBay) that are tested/setup for the second 6 zones of audio as we finish our basement :)
Ya, so… They didn’t GIVE me the Google TV device, I had to buy it. Therefore they got their money from me for that hardware. I’m not using other ‘free’ google products that cost them money on that device so why would they be showing ads? What cost are the recouping?
For the record, I have not seen this and we do have a number of google TV’s in our house. However our primary TV uses an Nvidia Shield.
I’m a product designer who has worked on a lot of products that have been monetized with ads.
It’s pretty common for a company to split their revenue targets between register sales and monetization deals. You break even on the hardware, and make profit on the ads.
I sure would like the option to pay for the HW/profits up front and not have perpetual ads.
Agreed, this tends to be why I keep going back the Apple. It’s performant, will be supported for a decade, and can be configured as a minimally annoying app launcher.
Biggest problem is that a lot of the setup and security stuff isn’t as nice if it’s not paired to an iPhone.
Ya I’m an android user but my wife/kid use iPhones and I actually have a MacBook. I hate iPhones, and don’t love apple but I do really like my mbp :)
Yeah, we’re also a “blended family” with regards to platforms. Some of the stuff in my house is in Google’s ecosystem, some is in Apple’s, and I have a Pi in the house that plays mediator between the platforms.
I have a box of chrome cast devices in many different flavors. I mostly only use them for traveling. Home media I keep on the bulkier AppleTVs.
How well AppleTV works with Android? Can you cast stuff from Android or is it strictly for AirPlay?
That’s the one problem. Apple pushes AirPlay, and Google pushes casting. Neither company supports each other’s protocols by default.
There are a few applications that allow you to airplay from Android. That said, my TV has both AirPlay and casting support built in, so I haven’t looked into the third party apps in a while. And before that, I used to have a vanilla chrome cast behind the TV in addition to my Apple TV.
Oh, we’re all in google here (because of me) except the two outcasts (even though I’m outnumbered)
We have 6, and about to have 12 chromecast audios that run speakers all through the house. All tv’s have google TV dongles except the main tv that has Shield TV (still android) Google mini’s in every room
You say “Pi” to mediate? What do you mean there? (Raspberry pi?). I run Pihole in our house for ads,trackers etc.
For example, things like home bridge running on a pi so Google products can be controlled like HomeKit products for the Apple-verse family members.
Ah, I run Home Assistant (on a Pi) :)
Fun fact: Amazon actually have you this option with the original Kindle. They sold two different versions where the only difference was that the cheaper one would show ads.
Hah, ya I had one of the ad free Kindle and even commented on it form a second thread in here
https://infosec.pub/comment/6149270
Typically they’d be recouping the cost of the tv they sold at a loss. They sell it at a loss because they know they’ll make more money in the long run via the ads.
In this case, these are not TV’s but small HDMI plug in devices. $30 device that I’d be surprised if they’re selling at a loss https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv
And personally, If they are doing that, I want two versions, one I can pay the actual cost w/some profit for them, and no ads. The ads keep making them money long after they recoup any hw costs as they continue to profit off users. When I bought an amazon Kindle way back when, I chose the one without ads for the same reason. I’m ok paying for a product vs. being the product.
I worked on the original Chromecast and I was told the price point at launch was specifically set at the break even point.
I still use The audios, and just got 5 more unopened from Japan (eBay) that are tested/setup for the second 6 zones of audio as we finish our basement :)