Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen • Hacker News Board

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#81

Post by tyingq » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:30 PM UTC

milankragujevic wrote: post #66

tyingq wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the Nvidea Shield TV come with this Google controlled "Android TV Home" as the home screen / launcher? Seems like a miss on Nvidea's part to let someone else control the default experience, if so. Edit: It appears so. https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/support/shield-tv/introd...

Yes, it is required by Google for Android TV devices.

Ah, okay. That does make for a confusing consumer experience. I would guess most non-tech users would assume this is something Nvidea can control.

Edit: You can see some complaints flowing in on Nvidea's forum: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/

Lots of comments on this specific thread: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#82

Post by Ansil849 » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:30 PM UTC

cs702 wrote: post #67

Where does the "ad invasion" end? Smart toasters that force you to watch ads before getting your toast in the morning? Smart windows that display ads that block your view of your backyard? Smart paints that display ads on your bedroom walls? Smart shower-heads that play jingles as you wash yourself? Smart brain implants that directly induce subconscious desire to buy certain products and services? Is there some kind…

It will never end so long as consumers will keep buying the products. In other words, it will never end, period.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#83

Post by setpatchaddress » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:31 PM UTC

rattray wrote: post #60

jmacd wrote: post #49

The new Apple TV 4K is a absolutely better than any of the high end android tv devices. I’ve been through them all (at considerable expense) and am now totally happy on the new apple tv

Would use of an Android phone have any cause for frustration with an Apple TV? I'd assume not but I've never used one.

No, Apple TV doesn't require any other Apple devices. It will prompt you for an iCloud account during setup, but you can create a free one or just not have one.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#84

Post by cf100clunk » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:31 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #77

Question to HN users: I have a dumb display attached to an nvidia shield. The Shield is nice: It's powerful enough, runs decent version of the common apps I care about (netflix, plex, youtube, spotify are the ones I use), and the remote is minimalistic and nice to use. Let's say I want to opt out of Google for this. What the hell do I do? I do have a Windows PC attached to the TV, for gaming, but if I wanted to run t…

That's a great Ask HN question actually, as opposed to a comment here.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#85

Post by fermentation » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

jmacd wrote: post #49

The new Apple TV 4K is a absolutely better than any of the high end android tv devices. I’ve been through them all (at considerable expense) and am now totally happy on the new apple tv

I've been looking into getting one, but my one hangup is still the lack of audio passthrough support. I have some UHD disks that I've digitized and without passthrough, the Atmos metadata will be lost on playback.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#86

Post by tguvot » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #77

Question to HN users: I have a dumb display attached to an nvidia shield. The Shield is nice: It's powerful enough, runs decent version of the common apps I care about (netflix, plex, youtube, spotify are the ones I use), and the remote is minimalistic and nice to use. Let's say I want to opt out of Google for this. What the hell do I do? I do have a Windows PC attached to the TV, for gaming, but if I wanted to run t…

you can replace launcher on shield

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#87

Post by syntaxing » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #77

Question to HN users: I have a dumb display attached to an nvidia shield. The Shield is nice: It's powerful enough, runs decent version of the common apps I care about (netflix, plex, youtube, spotify are the ones I use), and the remote is minimalistic and nice to use. Let's say I want to opt out of Google for this. What the hell do I do? I do have a Windows PC attached to the TV, for gaming, but if I wanted to run t…

Not being snarky but an Apple TV

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#88

Post by username4567 » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

jmacd wrote: post #49

The new Apple TV 4K is a absolutely better than any of the high end android tv devices. I’ve been through them all (at considerable expense) and am now totally happy on the new apple tv

After a few weeks of my 3 year old Android TV having ads and having choppy animations, I bought the new Apple TV. In the last month we haven't watched anything on the base Android TV interface. Apple TV is smoother, easier to find what we want, and interfaces for HBO Max look better.

This is supporting my believe that expensive (durable) goods like TVs, cars, and appliances should have an external control hardware for their smarts that can be upgraded every few years. This would allow the good to last 10+ years without a crappy experience after the first 2 years.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#89

Post by Jackson__ » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

Ansil849 wrote: post #35

jordemort wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you don't like the option of it happening, and as this example illustrates it can clearly happen, then do not buy products that have the capability of having ads added retroactively to the product. So, don't buy anything capable of receiving a software update?

> So, don't buy anything capable of receiving a software update? Not quite. Don't buy anything that forces updates. Updates are obviously important for security, compatibility and a slew of other reasons. But updates which are forced on the user are no bueno.

Literally any device can force you to update, by the simple means of not letting you access the service without the latest version of their app.

Re: Reviews of Android TV launcher after Google added ads to the homescreen

#90

Post by sandgiant » Sat, Jun 26, 2021, 5:33 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #77

Question to HN users: I have a dumb display attached to an nvidia shield. The Shield is nice: It's powerful enough, runs decent version of the common apps I care about (netflix, plex, youtube, spotify are the ones I use), and the remote is minimalistic and nice to use. Let's say I want to opt out of Google for this. What the hell do I do? I do have a Windows PC attached to the TV, for gaming, but if I wanted to run t…

Apple TV?