Some Taxi TV Screens Always, Always On

Photo courtesy jth10036.

Notice anything unusual about this photo? If you were riding in the back of this cab you might immediately realize – as you reflexively move to liberate yourself from the tyranny of ubiquitous commercial television – that there is actually no way to turn the bloody thing off! The reader who sent us this photo wonders if this is the beginning of a new trend, or at least a stepping stone to the day when all citizens receive frontal lobe TV monitor implants at birth. Or something.

Either way, this is a horrible development, and we've now heard multiple reports from people who have not been able to turn off their taxi TVs. A TLC spokesman is looking into it, but we're assured that "every unit is required to have an off button." So perhaps the screen seen here is just malfunctioning, or maybe cabbies are hacking the TVs to hold our serenity hostage until they get their fuel surcharge – in which case we'll gladly pay them whatever they want. Please just let us turn off Channel 7!

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By John Del Signore in News on July 24, 2008 3:34 PM

Comments [rss]

glennQNYC

i went from dowtown manhattan to park slope, a lengthy enough ride, and had to hit the off button every 30 seconds because it kept coming back on.

Whaaa!

Tell your sob story to coalition forces dealing with IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan and see if you get any more sympathy than I'm giving you for complaining about being distracted by a TV in a taxi.

Get real people! :rolleyes:

myfigurefemale

i went from dowtown manhattan to park slope, a lengthy enough ride, and had to hit the off button every 30 seconds because it kept coming back on.

Asphyxia8

I also had this happen a week ago -- during a long 20-minute cab ride, no less. Was beyond annoying for both me and the driver. Felt bad for the poor guy, though. He said it was driving him (more) nuts!

A-8

talos

yes. I would pay a tiny fraction more to avoid commercials. I'm already paying for the damned cab, might as well be unharassed.

Reflect

At first I thought it was ok. Until I put it on the GPS, and found it wont stay on GPS map. It just goes back to commercials.. Im gonna start tagging them with a fat sharpie that says advertising sucks.

glennQNYC

Megs, those commercials are actually an ally in the fight (financially speaking) against fare increases.

Would you pay a tiny fraction more not to have a TV "playing in your face?"

bowelmovment_man

I am a zombie, and I put my iPod on when the thing won't shut up, and I like Tostitos.

megs

Who takes a cab three blocks?

I don't. But I would hate paying for commercials in my face, no matter how long the ride.

glennQNYC

What a great country we live in when we have the balls to complain about a TV being on during a 3-block cab ride.

Get some perspective people.

neckbeard

new yorkers. the biggest fucking cry babies in the world. are people really wasting their time complaining about this? fucking pathetic.

sinisterteashop

Maybe they could add a hook above so you could hang your Anthropoligie bag on it... or Century21 bag... or Whole Foods bag...

TimSPC

The lowest volume setting is also too loud.

Wow, that sounded old and cranky.

Sir Jimbob

luddites.

kinojesi

the off button is in the main window, the "eyewitness news" window, geez!

PBRK

You can't just put it on map anymore?

nickv

Was in a cab last night that had this exact same problem. Was also an eyewitness news 7 tv (not an NBC one)...

I find it absolutely hilarious that the GPS map they have installed on the WABC taxi tvs highlight ONLY parking lots. Talk about the stupidest lack of user interface design/thought ever...

mmlanglie

Last time I was in a cab, I had the same problem. Damn thing wouldn't stay off--besides being quite annoying, they make me carsick, too. Blarg.

soleilseven

That's obnoxious! Also, I get extremely car sick if I watch the t.v. so I would have asked to sit up front with the driver at the next stop light. Ugh!

Tgirl

a heinous development, for sure. At times I have had to turn it off multiple times before it finally stayed off. Hate TV in general, esp chattering talking head telepromptor readers.