News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by christop on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @09:13AM (#9420119)
The sticker-on-screen hack seems a bit easy to detect.

I've always wondered why there isn't (or maybe there is?) a black market for a wee box that takes the Sky box video output and overlays a pint glass icon in the corner.

But I didn't know until this article that the pint glass volume and colour changes each day; that would make it a lot tougher. Plus I guess the pint glass isn't always shown, e.g. during adverts.

Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by Jugurtha on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @09:55AM (#9420393)
Maybe there can be a server with a genuine subscription that would capture the video (genuine), process it, and extract the pint's features.

Then it'd broadcast that information to the other wee boxes that would have 3G and will always overlay the "right pint".

The cost of Sky pub subscription is €1,224 (about $1314.65).. I think you can go wild on the box's features and still be cheaper than a one month subscription.

That could be interesting..

Oh, the publicans have to pay you, of course, a subscription for your subscription avoiding scheme.. You could send inspectors to verify the box is operating properly, and have a drink with Sky's inspectors.

Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by yaur on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @12:56PM (#9421760)
You would need an HDCP license... I don't see that happening.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by zumtar on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @01:25PM (#9421987)
> You would need an HDCP license...

The suggestion is for an illegal device, no need for licenses in that case ;)

The easiest way would be to extract the pint glass graphic over the wire (sitting in middle of the HDMI cable the set top box to the TV) then transmitting that to other establishments and overlaying that graphic in between the set top box and the TV (the best bit is that you wouldn't even need to decrypt the video, just overlay the graphic).

Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by Varcht on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @09:52AM (#9420377)
Startup opportunity - Capture pint glass logo from commercial feed in real time, Chroma key it, stream over internet to small overlay device, profit.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by pdpi on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:01AM (#9420441)
A startup with an offering based entirely on making fraud easy. That's... novel.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by alpaps on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:09AM (#9420497)
but it's "disruptive" :-)
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by tonyblundell on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:30AM (#9420650)
Ask for forgiveness, not permission!
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by keenerd on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:21AM (#9420589)
It was how Jobs and Woz got started.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by TeMPOraL on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:00AM (#9420437)
Sky will then start to geo-code the pint glass shape and colour...
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by SpaceInvader on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:14AM (#9420533)
Via satellite? Good luck...
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by jamesbrownuhh on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @12:38PM (#9421635)
The pint glass is generated by the box software, so it already knows the viewing card number and, potentially, can ascertain where that card should be, geographically. So it's absolutely possible.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by TeMPOraL on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @10:29AM (#9420643)
Oh, right, I forgot about that. Disregard my comment.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by theintern on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @11:39AM (#9421197)
They could though, your subscription is tied to a viewing card, which should be tied to your address. They could use firmware on the box to generate a modified pint glass based on that. It'd be a fun game of cat and mouse.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by Jugurtha on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @09:57AM (#9420409)
Beat me to it. In one sentence. You're another Dirac, only human.
Re:Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner? by TeMPOraL on Wednesday April 22, 2015 @09:58AM (#9420420)
> The sticker-on-screen hack seems a bit easy to detect.

Probably a little harder when you're in a crowded, bar with low illumination and TV hung from the ceiling. Maybe that was enough for the hack to work.