What kind of TV is the 55-inch 4K compatible double screen TV 'Telly' that always displays advertisements instead of being able to get it for free?
In May 2023, free TV streaming service 'Pluto' announced Telly , a 55-inch 4K capable double-screen TV that you can get for free in exchange for constant ads. Regarding the details of Telly, which has more than 250,000 users registered at the time of writing the article, overseas media The Verge is interviewing Mr. Ilya Pojin, co-founder of Pluto.
Telly dual-screen TV first look: it's free and may be the future - The Verge
Telly is a double screen TV with 55 inch 4K HDR monitor and smart screen, 5 driver soundbar, 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports and more. It comes with its own stick for streaming 4K-capable Android TVs and is compatible with various streaming apps.
What is characteristic is that ``users can get Telly for free, but ads are always displayed on the second screen, and personal information such as user browsing history and activity history is also collected.'' is. Sure, getting a 55-inch 4K double-screen TV for free is tempting, but there have also been reports of privacy concerns about collecting personal information.
A 55-inch 4K double screen TV ``Telly'' will be distributed for free, always displaying advertisements on the second screen - GIGAZINE
Still, it is reported that the number of Telly registrants exceeded 250,000 on June 1, 2023, and it is known that many people are interested in Telly.
A quarter million households (and growing) have registered to receive the ultimate free television upgrade for the living room! Register for your free Telly today by visiting https://t.co/hw0vd9vpaw https://t.co/pcBnCiqRRE
— Telly (@itsfreetelly) June 1, 2023
So Chris Welch, a reporter at The Verge, interviewed Mr. Posin, who is leading Telly's project at Pluto, and actually showed Telly. As shown in the picture below, Telly has a structure in which video content can be viewed on the large screen at the top, and information widgets and advertisements are displayed on the small screen that exists across the sound bar at the bottom.
To Welch, Posin argued that recent TVs have had only minor features and price differences, and innovation has been sluggish. Therefore, we developed a smart TV equipped with software and a computer, and in addition to high-performance speakers, an HD camera that can make video calls, sensors that can be used for motion tracking fitness and games, etc., we decided to provide it free of charge by displaying advertisements. He explained. Mr. Welch points out that many of the various functions explained by Mr. Posin already exist, and the important point is that they are 'available for free'.
The Telly's two screens are both controlled by an Andrdoid-based OS running on the same processor, with popular apps and games pre-installed. But since the core software wasn't designed to be a hub for streaming services, the Telly comes with a Google TV dongle and can also connect devices like Apple TV and
The two screens are not only divided into ``content viewing'' and ``information display'', but also ``children play games on the mini screen while parents watch news on the main screen,'' and ``video conferences. Display the speaker on the main screen and display the other participants on the mini-screen, 'Play music from the selected streaming service on the mini-screen while playing silent video on the main screen,' and 'Watch with remote friends at the same time.' It is possible to use it properly, such as projecting a movie or sports game on the main screen and projecting a friend's video call screen on the mini screen.
Mr. Welch has not actually tried these features, but Telly is scheduled to reach beta testers in June, and various reviews are expected to appear.
The picture below is an example of an advertisement displayed on a mini screen. As far as I can see, the advertising claims are not so strong, but it seems that some users who get Telly will still try to hide the mini screen. However, according to Posin, the mini screen displays important elements such as volume control, other settings, and the app tray, so hiding the mini screen makes it difficult to operate the TV.
At first glance, Telly's system of ``forcibly displaying advertisements on the TV screen and collecting personal information'' seems to neglect privacy. But Posin said, 'It's a contract. The TV you're buying today collects data behind your back, serves ads without paying you, monitors your viewing habits, We are selling that data without paying you...we are trying to change that model,' he said, arguing that disclosing advertising display and data collection in advance is sincere. I'm here.
In fact, in the past, there were voices saying that ``the advertisement display on smart TVs is too bad'', and it was found that smart TVs secretly sent user information to Netflix and Google. I know there are many problems.
It turns out that the smart TV was secretly sending user information to Netflix and Google - GIGAZINE
Welch says he can't say for certain about Telly's image quality, as he's only seen it vaguely display the Google TV home screen. However, the main screen was vivid and bright, but it felt like a relatively cheap TV, and the mini screen seemed to have a lower pixel density.
Also, Telly comes with a small camera, but this is not used for business, but only for video conferencing and specific use cases where permission to activate the camera is given. Posin explained that the camera is usually covered with a physical cover and does not infringe on the user's privacy.
Mr. Posin said that the future outlook is not to focus on building a new model for Telly, but to continuously update the software. ``I'm a Tesla fan.When I receive a software update, I think, ``What's new?'' We treat Telly that way,'' said Posin.
In addition, as a condition of receiving Telly, users are prohibited from using Telly as the main TV at home, hacking or tampering with hardware. If the mini screen can not be displayed by hacking, the main screen will not be available, and users who violate the terms of service may be required to return Telly or pay tens of thousands of yen.
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in Hardware, Posted by log1h_ik