Telly’s free 55-inch 4K dual-screen TV sets are set to arrive at users’ homes this week — but of course, there’s a catch. The start-up, which plans to ship some 500,000 free…
To receive the free TV, Telly users must submit detailed demographic info (such as age, gender and address), as well as purchasing behaviors, brand preferences and viewing habits, and they must agree to let their data be used for serving targeted ads. Telly’s TVs include a sensor that detects how many people are in front of the screen at any given moment.
So what’s the catch? Telly users must agree to several conditions under the company’s terms of service. If someone doesn’t abide by the TOS, Telly reserves the right to demand the TV be shipped back — otherwise, it will charge up to $1,000 to the credit card associated with a given account.
Among the Telly TV requirements: You must “use the product as the primary television in your household”; you must keep the TV connected to the internet at all times; and you are not allowed to use any ad-blocking software. In addition, users may not make “physical modifications to the product or attach peripheral devices to the product not expressly approved by Telly,” the company says in its terms of service. “Any attempt to open the product’s enclosure will be deemed an unauthorized modification.”
Why don’t we just invite big brother right into our living rooms, eh?
Also, I guess you need approval to connect an Xbox, Playstation, or set-top box? What about my htpc?
If I’m blocking ads with e.g. a Pi Hole, does that violate this? In that case I’m not running ad blocking software on the unit itself. Can they realistically dictate what people do outside of the product?
Edit: and for that matter, if my internet goes out but I still use my TV, am I then liable for my ISP’s outage?
(a) Use the Product as the primary television in Your household;
(b) Keep the Product connected to WiFi and internet; and
(c ) Not use any software on Your WiFi network that with advertising blocking capability.
(d) Not make physical modifications to the Product or attach peripheral devices to the Product not expressly approved by Telly. Any attempt to open the Product’s enclosure will be deemed an unauthorized modification.
If we discover that You are not abiding by the requirements above or have disconnected the Product from an internet connection or WiFi for more than short periods each month, You will no longer be able to use the Service and You must return any Products in your possession to Telly. Failure to return Products to Telly will result in Telly charging the credit card on file. If you do abide by the Terms of Service, your credit card will not be charged.
Did you miss the fact that this TV has a camera that can count the number of viewers and can detect obstruction? Obstructing the ad screen broke the ToS and when they detect it, they can cancel your account and demand you too send the tv back or get charged $1000. Oh, and it’s also have a microphone in addition to the camera, which will double the fun.
This is obviously tongue-in-cheek but I didn’t find anything on the TOS about obstructing the screen - a curtain isn’t software, nor is it a modification to the TV, and could possibly be hung in a way that doesn’t obstruct the sensor.
They can change their ToS at any time, so this doesn’t really matter.
You’re right. Perhaps they count on their users to not obstruct the secondary screen because the smart tv features are controlled from the secondary smart screen, so you won’t be able to operate it if you obstruct the secondary screen.
Interesting that it specifically says WiFi network. I wonder if you could circumvent by having something on your physical network. Or maybe upstream from your own network
The part about keeping it connected to internet also struck me - what happens if my internet goes down for hours? Or my power, which will take my internet with it?
Why don’t we just invite big brother right into our living rooms, eh?
Also, I guess you need approval to connect an Xbox, Playstation, or set-top box? What about my htpc?
That’s a weird mix between 15 million merits and 1984. Holy shit. Makes me feel kinda uneasy
If I’m blocking ads with e.g. a Pi Hole, does that violate this? In that case I’m not running ad blocking software on the unit itself. Can they realistically dictate what people do outside of the product?
Edit: and for that matter, if my internet goes out but I still use my TV, am I then liable for my ISP’s outage?
Yes, using pihole would violate their ToS: https://www.freetelly.com/terms-of-service
Hold on, let me just hang a curtain in front of the secondary screen.
There, so much better :)
Did you miss the fact that this TV has a camera that can count the number of viewers and can detect obstruction? Obstructing the ad screen broke the ToS and when they detect it, they can cancel your account and demand you too send the tv back or get charged $1000. Oh, and it’s also have a microphone in addition to the camera, which will double the fun.
This is obviously tongue-in-cheek but I didn’t find anything on the TOS about obstructing the screen - a curtain isn’t software, nor is it a modification to the TV, and could possibly be hung in a way that doesn’t obstruct the sensor.
They can change their ToS at any time, so this doesn’t really matter.
You’re right. Perhaps they count on their users to not obstruct the secondary screen because the smart tv features are controlled from the secondary smart screen, so you won’t be able to operate it if you obstruct the secondary screen.
solution, route your network through a VPN with advertising blocking. It isn’t your network that does the blocking
Interesting that it specifically says WiFi network. I wonder if you could circumvent by having something on your physical network. Or maybe upstream from your own network
Damn. That’s some crazy shit.
The part about keeping it connected to internet also struck me - what happens if my internet goes down for hours? Or my power, which will take my internet with it?
You send it back or get charged.
So basically, you can “buy” one of these for $1000.