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NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

newpipe.schabi.org

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Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It works well for me on Android TV with Nvidia Shield. At one point I noticed after a Newpipe upgrade I couldn't get the cursor to go down to the list of videos. So I downgraded for a couple of weeks. Then when the next version came out I tried it and it was fine again. One weird thing I noticed was that I used to be able to get a mouse style cursor with the right stick, but that stopped working at some point. Not su…

I have a shield, and I generally just use the TV remote controlling the shield via HDMI CEC. Maybe that's why it doesn't work well for me. I'll have to try it again.

Shield user here, as of 0.19.5 most things work via a Logitech harmony, so I assume most remotes work at this point. The pause / unpause buttons sometimes result in the UI getting into a weird state.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#372
post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's certainly not a popular opinion, but it's definitely an uninformed opinion. The aim of NewPipe is not to "stick it to the man" or even to advertisers, it's to create a superior viewing experience that removes much of the bloat of Youtube's official app, and also being light on system resources. Whereas the official app used to crash and warm up my Moto G5 Plus, NewPipe has been running like a dream for years.

The title of this post leads with "ad-free". Seems like it's the main selling point.

That is really absurd logic. It doesn't take very long to click on the OP's link, visit the project homepage, and see that NewPipe offers far more than just being ad-free. The home-page mentions ads a grand total of 1 times.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#373
post #187

[flagged]

Downvoted this for complaining about downvotes, breaking site guidelines (oh, not only that, it combines snark and insinuation about astroturfing too). Votes swing a lot, so when more votes come in and previously downvoted comments turn positive, complaints like this just end up as pure noise. Happens all the time.

There is snark in your own comment, so I find this criticism ironic. My comment was intended to be light-hearted, although I admit it missed the mark.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#374

YouTube is one of the worst Android apps in regards of usability, accidental clicks, and anoying ads. It would be great if there was a way installing the app without allowing third party sources. Haven't developed on Android since years. Does anyone know if I can build it and upload it via ADB without enabling apps from 3rd party sources.

For Android, I just use the standard YouTube mobile site with fennec Firefox and ublock origin. Seems to work fairly well on my old S6 for 1080p60 content and below.

I suspect that's not very battery efficient though.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#375
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If I want to support a content creator, I do so by donating to them directly, not by allowing a massive and (in my personal opinion) evil company to profit both of my and their backs. Not to mention that both seeing ads and using the official YouTube app is quite unpleasant. I am very grateful to the developers of NewPipe for providing me with a painless way to experience the content produced by creators that I like,…

Honest and serious question, if Youtube were to shut down tomorrow, do people think that whatever alternative (or even better, competing alternatives) would have a different model? I'm curious to know what exactly would you do differently if you were to make a replacement for Youtube.

I believe, based on conversations I've had, that the target audience of NewPipe overlaps with the target audience of solutions such as PeerTube, Mastodon, and other FOSS, privacy-centric alternatives.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#376
post #365

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only unethical if you strongly support the current economic policies and incentive structures for large corporations. I and many others do not. They do not deserve the tax perks and monopolies granted them and their banker financiers that let them build so much wealth on the backs of the lower classes. Also, why don't they just protect their endpoints with authentication? It would be simple. They choose not to.…

"endpoints with authentication" -- Because you don't have to login to watch YouTube... It's not easy to block third party access, it often ends up being a whack-a-mole style game where you block it and then they just get in using a different method. YouTube already has been doing this. On top of this you are taking money from the creators of the content, not just YouTube itself and violating their terms of service. I…

Whether a corporation tells people to do something or not is not a direct mapping to whether something is ethical or not.

It wouldn't be wack-a-mole if they just had proper authentication instead of using the freemium model. It's their choice to open up their APIs to unauthenticated anonymous users due to their shady advertising revenue model, and the costs are calculated in their models.

BTW, I've never once read or signed any agreement with YouTube, so I have no idea what you are talking about when you say "the service tells you not to do it".

Even if there was more prominent messaging of the sort, it's not the job of the user to twist themselves in knots to assist wealthy rent seekers' desires to apply ancient business models based on physical property to modern information systems.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Free as in beer, or free as in speech? YouTube is a closed platform (server-side), so I personally don't see much moral use of using a libre client. And I understand wanting a gratis client. To what extent does the cost of YouTube Premium pay for the client versus the creators? Out of curiosity, if there were a private (but neither libre nor gratis) YouTube Premium client, would you use it?

> YouTube is a closed platform (server-side), so I personally don't see much moral use of using a libre client. How come? If someone sends me an email to my FOSS server, which I open with my FOSS client, I don't care if the server they used to send me is FOSS or not. If YouTube is just sending me data (not running their code on my machines), why should I care what they run? In any case, to use YouTube Premium you hav…

> In any case, to use YouTube Premium you have to login, and therefore have all your viewings tracked.

My understanding is that you can pause watch history, see link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tzY79vqPrk

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm happy to support content creators with patreon when they offer a way to do so. _Especially_ when they offer a way to see their videos off YouTube. I'd never pay a dime for YT itself due to their policies and overall platform. I mostly use YouTube to discover niche content, but only because I've been running an ad-blocker since forever. I cannot fathom how anyone could enjoy it in any other way currently. When I s…

Being semi curious why creators aren't already using any of the other hosts, I poked around a bit. OMG. Whereas YouTube is a toxic cesspool, the others are blackhole hellmouths leading directly to eternal damnation. Meaning the wannabe's complete abrogation of their responsibilities show that YouTube's pathetic attempts at content moderation are better than nothing. I now think there's an opportunity for white label…

I fully retract the implication that YouTube's doing a better job than the other video hosting sites.

I just saw an ad from "Epoch Times" (Scientologists?) about the COVID-19 hoax.

I'm gobsmacked. YouTube is pure unfiltered evil.

Moderation wise, I don't make any kind of distinction between content and ads.

I forgot that I turned off ad blocking. I guess I normally don't see this kind of shit.

Re: NewPipe – ad-free, open-source Android YouTube client

#379

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is absolutely nothing virtuous in watching ads. Nothing. If you want to support someone, buy their product or give them money.

It's not about virtue, is about you getting a service, and paying something in return. If you don't want to pay with your attention, you have the option of getting Youtube Premium and paying with your wallet insted.

I have no problem with paying for a service with money.

I do have a problem in paying for it with my data.

If the content creator wants my money for their service, they'll provide a way for me to purchase it without having to use an intermediate surveillance company.

Since I block the surveillance company by default, the content creator is not at a loss from me consuming their content without ads - for I simply would not be consuming their content at all otherwise.

OTOH, the creator may benefit from me viewing their content because I may find it interesting and recommend it to a bunch of other people, who don't have the same privacy concerns as me.

The Youtube ad model is probably not long-term sustainable. Content creators should be looking to find alternative delivery methods based on pay-per-view, or freemium subscriptions to get people engaged. You'll find many already do, as they have patreon pages in addition to their youtube, but patreon is also a surveillance company, so that's not an option for me either.

I don't mind paying for things with Bitcoin. Any content creator can accept money without requiring me to sign up to work for a surveillance company.

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