My impressions after using the free ad-free TV 'Telly' for three months
' Telly ' is a 55-inch 4K TV that you can get for free in exchange for watching ads. Technology media The Verge has summarized their impressions after using Telly for three months.
I spent three months with Telly, the free TV that's always showing ads | The Verge
'Telly' is a dual-screen TV that has a second display called a smart screen underneath a 55-inch 4K TV. This smart screen always displays ads, but in exchange, users can get Telly for free.
Free 55-inch 4K double-screen TV 'Telly' will be distributed, and ads will always be displayed on the second screen - GIGAZINE
The technology media The Verge also interviewed Ilya Pozhin, co-founder of Pluto, the publisher of Telly. In addition to the idea of 'getting it for free' in a product with little innovation like television, Pozhin also spoke about privacy concerns, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.
What kind of TV is the 55-inch 4K compatible double screen TV 'Telly' that displays ads all the time instead of being free to get? - GIGAZINE
Emma Ross, a writer for The Verge, got her hands on Telly and wrote about her experience using it for three months.
When you launch Telly, a female AI host greets you before opening Netflix or another app. Even if you turn Telly off with the remote, the smart screen remains lit, so you'll need to hold down the power button on the device for three seconds to completely shut it off.
In addition to ads, the smart screen also displays sports scores, weather, stock prices, and news headlines. Users can add or remove content, but they cannot hide ads. Some ads prompt users to scan QR codes or press a button on a remote control to move the content to the top display and view more information. Video ads have no audio, but they are displayed with small subtitles that are 'hard to read unless viewed closely.' Additionally, ads are not necessarily relevant or fresh to the content playing on the TV, meaning users may be shown the same ad multiple times.
To get Telly, users are required to use it as their main TV in their home, maintain a constant internet connection, and watch it regularly. Violating these conditions could result in Telly being recalled. If the user refuses to return it, they will be charged $500 (approximately 75,000 yen). However, Ross said he didn't receive any warnings or requests to return Telly even after leaving it offline for three weeks.
Ross called the image quality of Telly's 55-inch 4K display 'acceptable.' He also noted that the six-driver soundbar 'sounds good, and the RGB backlighting is customizable, though it can get grainy in dark areas.'
The Telly runs a custom Android-based operating system and apparently comes with pre-installed apps like Spotify and Zoom, but you'll need a Google TV dongle to access services like Netflix and Disney+.
Telly has a built-in camera and microphone with a privacy shutter. The terms of service clearly state that the device will detect the video and audio viewed, the channels used, the duration of viewing, and the user's physical presence in front of the TV. Ross worried that 'users' viewing habits, conversations, and camera footage could potentially be sent to Telly.' However, Ross noted that the camera only opens when launching a camera-enabled app, such as Zoom, and that the image quality was comparable to that of the built-in camera on a MacBook Air.
The Smart Screen can also be used as a playbar for music apps, even while streaming videos, though Spotify takes up the entire main screen, making it impossible to display the playbar on the Smart Screen.
It also comes equipped with the camera-based fitness app 'Gofa' and games (Flappy Bird, Whack-a-Mole, etc.), and is capable of detecting the user's body movements like Kinect .
Ross describes Telly as 'a game changer for the traditional TV experience.' He adds, 'While the fact that you get a TV, soundbar, RGB lights, and camera for free is appealing, the constant ads, the lack of software, and privacy concerns leave me with the impression that TV is still worth paying for.'
in Hardware, Free Member, Posted by logu_ii