I do see another thread about this for Apple TV but I am also experiencing this on Roku.
I am getting ads when pausing on Tablo Gen4 via Roku app. I am on the latest version. None of the workarounds Google AI recommended work. I cannot click up or back without losing pause. Clicking down does not cause it to disappear either.
Is Roku going to do anything about this?? At least allow us to dismiss the ad so we can see the frame we paused on! This was a huge miss on considering the customer experience when this change was made.
Ok, I was trying Left Arrow on the pad and it just moved back. Now I tried the upper back button and it cleared the ad. Thank you!
I think it would be best to make it so that ANY remote action clears the ad! I am usually just working from the pad as I watch and navigate. I consider the back arrow to be used to exit current functionality entirely to a higher level menu!
I find that most streaming apps will clear the progress bar (and any ad if there is one) by either the back button or the up navigation button. I wish Tablo did that. Perhaps they will add it in the future.
I have noticed these ads recently as well. They are annoying and, frankly, more frustrating than I expected.
For me, anything that adds extra, unnecessary clicks to any part of my interactions with the Tablo just feels ‘thirsty’ on the part of Tablo. It cheapens the quality of the experience and decreases my appreciation for the product and brand as a whole.
I completely understand the need to generate profit from these devices. That’s Capitalism – and I’m all for that. But charge me a bit more up front and give me a product that doesn’t decrease my user experience when it is updated after my purchase.
If the product alone does not generate enough to keep Tablo profitable, perhaps structure several ownership tiers to enable an ad-free experience for those who prioritize that.
These ads make me want to stop using the device immediately and start watching TV via my 4K alternatives, which also already have ads (might as well…better quality picture than just HD).
I get that most folks probably bought their Tablo in order to save money on cable or other services. But even in that scenario, I have to believe Tablo understands that the addition of the ads does not improve the experience. It makes it worse. 100 percent of the time. For 100 percent of the customers. If they believe otherwise, they are deluding themselves.
All that said, I suspect Tablo is now generating more revenue from the ads than from selling the devices themselves. If that becomes their priority (instead of us, the customers), it will become apparent soon enough. And their business model and bottom line), ultimately, will take the hit.
I get it, but it is a $100.00 box. Today, that is dirt cheap. 90% of the time if I pause it is because I am leaving the room, in which case the ad doesn’t bother me. If I am pausing because I want to see something more clearly, one click and it goes away. I would need to make that one click anyway to clear the progress bar.
I like the device and want Tablo to stay in business and keep offering it. As far as a money making scheme, I don’t find these ads intrusive. In fact, though I see them all the time now, I didn’t realize that they were for Minute Rice until someone mentioned it here.
Also, I don’t know of any other products to “vote” for that are anywhere near as cost-effective or simple for the average person to set up.
I bet the terms of service say they can do whatever they want as far as changing behavior but this is new relative to when I purchased the product. I understand that I am getting free software updates so I have to accept whatever comes with it.
However, I think I should have the right to keep the product as it was back when I purchased it or at any point since then. I should be able to either disable this new feature or revert to a prior version and pause updates.
I am guessing the best you can do to get ride of it entirely is revert to factory settings and turn off updates?
As others have said, I understand the world in which we live and advertising is a part of the landscape. That being said, the thing that is most objectionable about these new Tablo ads is that it covers the screen to the point that the app cannot be used in a normal function without clearing the ad. If anyone at Tablo ever reads this feedback, my suggestion is to change the ad to a wide rectangular banner that runs across the top of the screen above the Tablo screenshot thumbnails. That way, not only is the ad displayed the whole time but it crucially does not prevent the user from using the service.
Haven’t seen them on my ONN 4K pro, I don’t know if they would bother me if I see them, I think I have seen them while pausing HBO Max and Prime Video but they don’t bother me at all.
