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

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

#111

Post by yellowfish »

techlaw wrote: post #106

I am hopeful that now that the FTC has a pro-consumer Chair that some of these anti-consumer acts will be curtailed. I would also argue that some of these bad acts could be considered to be false / deceptive trade practices under the various state laws (in the U.S. at least). For example, some people would never have bought a FireTV cube for streaming video if Amazon had revealed that they would be adding advertiseme…

there's nothing wrong with ads on stuff like this; televisions aren't sacred ground.

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

#112

Post by Ansil849 »

Jackson__ wrote: post #89
Ansil849 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

> 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.

This is literally not true.

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

#113

Post by herbst »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #101
designium wrote: post #5

I suggest using an old laptop or desktop and install Kodi or Plex to solve for this.

I suggest a compact, fanless, low end Win10 pc with air mouse. No ads and forget Kodi unless you happen to have a large amount of media files. Almost anything you do with Kodi as far as streaming can be done straight from the web browser. https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-x5-Z8350-Processor-Windows10-...

Controlling a Windows 10 desktop is literally the last I want to do from my couch when I can have a unified interface for nearly all my streaming needs that works perfectly well with a remote AND keyboard (people give Kodi a try ;)

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

#114

Post by banana_giraffe »

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…

A quick search found this article in the marketing press:

https://martechseries.com/mts-insights/guest-authors/why-ref...

It's from 2018, and no progress has been mad on this wonderous world for ad-subsidized fridges that I know of. Still, it's clear people are thinking along these lines.

And I remain adamant that any appliance I own like this must not have wifi or bluetooth functionality. After my TV started showing ads when I switched inputs, I'm done giving these people an inch.

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

#115

Post by pedrogpimenta »

NietTim wrote: post #29

If history has taught us anything: this will blow over in a few weeks or months and everyone will get used to it in the end. The small percentage of users who (sometimes only temporarily) stop using the service is offset by the new income and the majority of users do not care.

As is with everything like the uproar Facebook as had with their changes. They even admit it with "we will not apply these changes for now" becauae they know it will die out.

That's why we need alternatives.

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

#116

Post by jmacd »

CharlesW wrote: post #75
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

It's nearly perfect now that they've fixed the remote, and absolutely the device to beat at the moment. Most of the "channel" apps are also very nice, the exception being Amazon's clunky Prime Video app. The Plex client is quite good too.

The plex client is rock solid

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

#117

Post by Ansil849 »

milankragujevic wrote: post #59
Ansil849 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People still bought products that had the capability of ads being inserted retroactively. If you don't want the potential of ads being inserted into hardware you purchase, then don't purchase hardware that allows it. It is very straightforward.

It is absolutely not straightforward and you are arguing a black-or-white fallacy. As was discussed ad nauseum on HN before, in threads about "smart" vs "dumb" TVs, telling consumers to "not buy smart devices" is putting an disproportionate burden on them, given the market conditions as well as the actual consumer expectations and desires. As ads are not required for the functioning of smart devices, compared to for…

> telling consumers to "not buy smart devices" is putting an disproportionate burden on them, given the market conditions as well as the actual consumer expectations and desires.

This is true for all consumer goods. The disproportionate burden has and so long as capitalism exists, will continue to be on consumers. Companies selling products have millions or billions to spend on advertising and lobbying. Consumers do not. Being a responsible consumer and carefully researching your desired product is true for everything you buy, TVs are no exception

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

#118

Post by scrollaway »

syntaxing wrote: post #87
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

I briefly considered it. I've been entirely out of the Apple ecosystem so far (save for airpods). It sounds like Apple is gaining traction over time because the competition keeps getting worse and worse.

I'm frankly not sure opting into Apple is a solution to the problem at large. It might be a temporary fix, but at the end of the day you're still using a proprietary system which might decide that ads are lucrative tomorrow.

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

#119

Post by jmacd »

tmccrary55 wrote: post #65
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

Is the Apple TV better than the Nvidia Shield? I bought one of the tubes and that thing is slick as hell.

I have the tube sitting right beside my new Apple TV right now. No comparison to me. Apple TV is smoother, voice input is way ahead, and the Dolby stuff is way better than the Nividia processing

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

#120

Post by simonh »

yellowfish wrote: post #111
techlaw wrote: post #106

I am hopeful that now that the FTC has a pro-consumer Chair that some of these anti-consumer acts will be curtailed. I would also argue that some of these bad acts could be considered to be false / deceptive trade practices under the various state laws (in the U.S. at least). For example, some people would never have bought a FireTV cube for streaming video if Amazon had revealed that they would be adding advertiseme…

there's nothing wrong with ads on stuff like this; televisions aren't sacred ground.

There's nothing wrong with it, if you are told about this up front and it's part of your purchasing calculation.

Retroactively adding ads to an ad-free device after the customer has purchased it, sometimes buying it specifically to avoid competing devices with ads, is inexcusable bullshit.

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