I imagine one could replace the hardware with something else to drive the display portion. It'd take knowledge and a soldering iron, but I'm sure it's doable.
Probably they have some sort of sensor behind the lower screen that can tell if it's covered. I wonder how sophisticated that is. Perhaps, rather than covering it completely, it could be obscured behind a crystal pattern plastic sheet, like is used for privacy. It would still let the light through, but it would just be an incoherent light pattern. Build a box to enclose the bottom half, and hold the sheet out a few inches in front of the panel.
EDIT:
The correct way to deal with it is to disable the backlight on the bottom display. Found a reddit post about it. It's cheap and easy enough to do if you have a soldering iron.
EDIT 2:
Apparently it does not have a way to detect if the bottom screen is blocked. Fools. Just build a box around the bottom part, and you're done. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qD-jaukv85U
I would have no objections to literally spray painting that lower screen Tremclad Black. Is that all the tv can do though? I would imagine it's also stealing as much data of yours as it can and possibly even listening in. Also what if there's ad sound...?
I read their TOS when this first was announced and they had something like they'll bill you the full cost of the TV if you tamper or obscure it and they deemed the cost of the TV as $1k USD.
There is a camera on the front. That could be used to detect obstructions or for eye tracking. There could also be additional sensors by the bottom screen that can detect obstructions.
If you fail to plug the TV into the internet within 5 days of receiving and keep it connected they'll charge you $1000. If you take it apart they'll charge you $1000.
The video above does not go into detail on the long term implications of obstruction and it's possible the TV does not react immediately to an obstruction.
TVs have gotten really cheap, but even if you can't afford those they are easy to find at thrift shops or even people giving them away if you have a little bit of patience. Suffice it to say, this has a very narrow target audience.
there’s likely very little experimentation needed… ripping the panel out and attaching an HDMI controller from aliexpress to it would likely be extremely straight forward
apple is one of the most proprietary companies in existence and you can do this easily with ipad screens and generic controllers… the same goes for most panels: there’s really not that much difference in the actual “expensive” part, and afaik very little you can do to protect it from this kind of thing
21 Comments
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 33 pts · 208d
I imagine one could replace the hardware with something else to drive the display portion. It'd take knowledge and a soldering iron, but I'm sure it's doable.
Probably they have some sort of sensor behind the lower screen that can tell if it's covered. I wonder how sophisticated that is. Perhaps, rather than covering it completely, it could be obscured behind a crystal pattern plastic sheet, like is used for privacy. It would still let the light through, but it would just be an incoherent light pattern. Build a box to enclose the bottom half, and hold the sheet out a few inches in front of the panel.
EDIT: The correct way to deal with it is to disable the backlight on the bottom display. Found a reddit post about it. It's cheap and easy enough to do if you have a soldering iron.
EDIT 2: Apparently it does not have a way to detect if the bottom screen is blocked. Fools. Just build a box around the bottom part, and you're done. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qD-jaukv85U
Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca · 21 pts · 208d
I would have no objections to literally spray painting that lower screen Tremclad Black. Is that all the tv can do though? I would imagine it's also stealing as much data of yours as it can and possibly even listening in. Also what if there's ad sound...?
givesomefucks@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 208d
The thing is, screens are cheap and there's no real reason to replace unless you're chasing top of the line which this isn't.
Save ~$100 now to always have an ad playing isn't a great deal
unmagical@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 208d
I read their TOS when this first was announced and they had something like they'll bill you the full cost of the TV if you tamper or obscure it and they deemed the cost of the TV as $1k USD.
Saapas@piefed.zip · 4 pts · 208d
How would they know you've done it? Do they have a way to detect you putting a sheet in front of the bottom screen?
unmagical@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 208d
There is a camera on the front. That could be used to detect obstructions or for eye tracking. There could also be additional sensors by the bottom screen that can detect obstructions.
If you fail to plug the TV into the internet within 5 days of receiving and keep it connected they'll charge you $1000. If you take it apart they'll charge you $1000.
The video above does not go into detail on the long term implications of obstruction and it's possible the TV does not react immediately to an obstruction.
p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 207d
Camera inside my house? That's a non-starter for me.
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 207d
Lol, do you know what $1K will get you for a TV these days?
fullsquare@awful.systems · 2 pts · 208d
if there was a way of faking presence of lower display, then you have free tv and extra screen
this is some idiocracy level shit tho
regdog@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 208d
Advertising is a curse on humanity
NullPointerException@lemmy.ca · 15 pts · 208d
And a free tv.
EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com · 11 pts · 207d
Because it's a stupid idea that no one asked for.
TVs have gotten really cheap, but even if you can't afford those they are easy to find at thrift shops or even people giving them away if you have a little bit of patience. Suffice it to say, this has a very narrow target audience.
These are basically e-waste.
BarbecueCowboy@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 207d
So ready for them to become e-waste.
Can you imagine the possibilities on re-purposing these if they get cheap enough to experiment with after the company goes bankrupt.
pupbiru@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 207d
there’s likely very little experimentation needed… ripping the panel out and attaching an HDMI controller from aliexpress to it would likely be extremely straight forward
apple is one of the most proprietary companies in existence and you can do this easily with ipad screens and generic controllers… the same goes for most panels: there’s really not that much difference in the actual “expensive” part, and afaik very little you can do to protect it from this kind of thing
snowgaze@masto.pt · 7 pts · 208d
Marthirial@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 208d
Just mount the soundbar on top of that shit.
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 208d
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVDDbjFCBc
SpacePanda@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 207d
Holy shit this eerie
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 206d
It is from the black mirror episode common people. She is being kept alive by a brain implant but it is a subscription service that enshitifies
SpacePanda@mander.xyz · 1 pts · 205d
Context makes it worse lol
SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 208d
It's as popular as the Fire Phone!
wesdym@mastodon.social · 1 pts · 207d
@bossito TOS says they'll send some goons to your home to kick you in the crotch if they decide they don't like your face.
But hey, free TV!