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Photo courtesy jth10036.
It seems that more and more taxi TV screens are losing the "off" or "mute" button, turning NYC cabs into hell on wheels. Incensed reader (and big band leader) Gregory Moore writes:
I made the very unpleasant discovery this weekend during a $20 cab ride downtown that those hideous backseat televisions are being re-designed so that they can no longer be turned off, muted or have the volume turned down. As I tried to conduct business on my mobile phone, I continued to be barraged with the same horrendous commercials over and over. Please notify your readers to file a complaint with the Taxi and Limousine Commission over this revolting new "innovation".Moore goes on to rail against other modern abominations like "dungarees" and "intendos," (kidding) and adds that the driver "said people have actually been stiffing him because they're so pissed at this 'innovation.'"
Ira Goldstein at the Taxi and Limousine Commission assures us the screens are not being changed to eliminate the "off" or "mute" buttons and explains that it's simply a case of technological malfunction. "We have had reports of a handful or less situations such as you're describing and we're currently investigating that. The reports seem to be isolated to one of the three authorized vendors [who manage the TV screens]."
That would be Creative Mobile Technologies, who broadcast NBC and Clear Channel content in over 5,500 cabs citywide. Jesse Davis, the company's president, tells us that "in very small instances, if the touch screen becomes a problem the area can become non-sensitive. And when that happens the car is brought in for service because you can't use it for payment either." Davis insists the malfunction is "very infrequent and quickly remedied."
We started getting jeremiads like Moore's back in July; has anyone else encountered a similar problem? Moore is urging everyone to file a complaint here; the furious rant he sent to the city is after the jump.
"The new forced advertising inside of taxis is no less than being held hostage and made to listen to unwanted noise. Now that the TLC has determined that most thinking riders choose to turn off these backseat televisions, they have made it so that one is FORCED to watch/listen, with no access to on/off or volume. I conduct business from taxis in New York, and this is no less than a violation of my privacy and ability to choose."I made a list of all the advertisers that participate in this "innovation" and am going to actively boycott their products, starting with WNBC. Absolutely the worst invasion of privacy I've been forced to be subjected to. I plan to ask the driver if there is an on/off button before entering a cab and will refuse to ride in a cab that does not have one. This is absolutely shameful, in light of rising taxi fares. You should all be ashamed of yourselves for thinking this was acceptable."
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"Moore goes on to rail against other modern abominations like "dungarees" and "intendos"
That made me laugh.
$20 cab ride downtown, eh?
what the hell is an intendo?
Welcome to Barack HUSSEIN Obama's Amerikkka, where they have mind control TVs in every taxi cab.
lol stfu
I do notice the missing off buttons on some cabs, but they don't really bother me. You do have the option of during down the volume all the way you know...
nothing like paying to watch commercials.
first it was the movie theaters,
now its the cabs.
Those annoying TVs are Bloomberg's idea to increase revenue production.
This has happened to me several times and it is infuriating. Next time, I'm getting out of the cab.
i seriously wonder how the drivers deal with this day in and day out.
This has happened to me on more than one occasion, the worst of which was a 20-minute cab ride in which the driver told me it had been driving him crazy(ier) all day long! And just last night a good friend of mine was unable to use his credit card to pay his fare despite having specifically asked the driver before getting into the cab if the machine worked and being told it did. Progress, eh? Not so much.
A-8
Happened to me last week -- touched 'off' and the screen went blank with audio still on the whole trip and a 'desensitized' screen as the man said. However once the trip ended the payment screen sure was operational. Hopefully someday I'll become 'desensitized' to this crap.
there is a off button, you just need to know where it is, and that is normally on the main screen or the screen with the eyewitness news window.
duhhhhhhhhh
Is it me, or do some of the systems not allow you to input your own tip amount, just the ridiculous 20-30-40% amounts? I had a shite ride and wanted to give the guy two bucks for a 20 dollar ride, and couldn't do it. Pissed me off!
Look at the photo...it's interesting how the "malfunction" only seems to affect the "Off" button...
Taxis are too expensive... It is a shame that everyone is inconvenienced by these malfunctions.
What? Subways too Baltic Avenue for you?
This happened to me TWICE this week! I hit the off button, and it just stayed on.. no option for mute or off...
It seemed to me more like it was programmed to do this, and not a malfunction.
Happened to me this past weekend for a long ride to a gig (could not risk the subway on a weekend from UES to Chelsea - sloooow service) and I was in hell for the whole ride. Decided to do a comedy routine about it, it was so infuriating...and yes, when it came time to pay, the screen popped back to working order. Sheer, unadulterated HELL.
Those are the worst additions to cabs ever invented. It's happened to me too - specifically when they just continue to turn themselves back on every 30 seconds.
I don't watch TV at home, because its so bad. This way you HAVE to watch, its just so lame.
Who cares...
If you cant deal with them then take the train, bus, bike, drive or walk.
This blows - a friend of mine is prone to carsickness as it is, and when we weren't able to turn off the TV during one late night cab ride, we had to cover it with our hands so she wouldn't barf. O_o
Had one last Thursday. A couple of hard punches to the lower right-hand corner of the screen did the trick.
Anything is better than those audible seat belt warnings in the taxis. Remember "Hi, this is Joe Torre reminding you to buckle up for safety". That was one of the few times I really felt sorry for the drivers, they had to listen to it all day long. Many of them returned to their homeland because poverty, tyranny and oppression was better than listening to that.
Yesterday I just missed the red off button by less than an inch and that was it -- I was in taxi TV hell for the rest of the ride. It never came back on while the stupid thing droned on and on.
Taxi TV = worst invention ever
Those things should really start in the off position to begin with. I bet nobody would complain if the On button wasn't working!
Did someone mention to the guy that the screen isn't becoming unresponsive....The frickin' button is disappearing. Please call that guy back and bring that up.
dimes
I don't think it's a bad initiative, but please put the off/mute back on.
Like the man said, sometimes people are trying to talk on the phone, just don't wanna listen/watch any shit or it's just too freaking loud.
If people are paying (quite a lot of) money, they should be able to decide if they wanna use it.
Carry your iPod and look out the window. Problem solved.
been in at least 5 of these "rare" instances. Fat sharpie- anyone?
I find the TVs quite useful if I'm just coming in from the airport and want a quick summary of what's happening in local news and weather. Granted, it's not the NY Times or NPR, but it's something. As long as the mute button works so I can tune out the ads.
Fuck advertising. They'll be pumping this shit directly into your eyeballs while you sleep before long.
It's no surprise that the "off" buttons are oddly not working.
Simple remedy? You can buy a whole box of 8.5" x 11" label paper at Staples for a couple bucks. Always carry a couple in your bag.
When it fails to turn off, turn it off yourself.
The cabbie will likely thank you.
I got in a cab the other day with my baby - and the TV wouldnt Mute or go off either... It wouldnt let me even lower the volume!!!!
Wow... all the drivers complain about the tv's on the http://www.YellowCabNYC.com website!