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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

#231

Post by distances »

banana_giraffe wrote: post #114
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…

Maybe not at home, but this was just at HN frontpage: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27636773

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

#232

Post by TingPing »

sureglymop wrote: post #224
matthewrobertso wrote: post #95

I ran into this last week on my nvidia shield. Here's a summary of the workaround I found (apologies for not having the specific package names offhand): 1. Install a new launcher from play store (I found one called "Basic Launcher" that matches the aesthetics of the default one). This doesn't solve the problem though, because Google disabled changing the default launcher for some user hostile reason, until you delete…

Do you know of any Android TV / smart tv box which has a USB port? I am currently building a magic mirror like smart map. Basically, the goal is to have a big touchscreen with Google maps or Google earth running. For touch screen support I bought a cheap USB infrared frame. I have tested it with the USB C port of my Android phone and it works well, but I have sadly not found any Android TV box which has an USB port.

I believe many that use usb for power, like Google's, are real ports that can be split with a hub.

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

#233

Post by [deleted] »

davidcuddeback wrote: post #163
jmacd wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The plex client is rock solid

I bought an Nvidia Shield because the Plex client can switch the display's refresh rate to match the content (no judder for 24p content). Based on [1], it sounds like that should be possible with the Apple TV, too. Can anyone confirm if this works well? [1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208288

[deleted]

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

#234

Post by SixDouble5321 »

headmelted wrote: post #222
matthewrobertso wrote: post #95

I ran into this last week on my nvidia shield. Here's a summary of the workaround I found (apologies for not having the specific package names offhand): 1. Install a new launcher from play store (I found one called "Basic Launcher" that matches the aesthetics of the default one). This doesn't solve the problem though, because Google disabled changing the default launcher for some user hostile reason, until you delete…

I was really disappointed to find the same problems with tvOS having moved from a pair of Shields. The ads hadn’t rolled out yet on Shield when I moved over but for some reason I just assumed Apple wouldn’t be shilling ads at me constantly for services I don’t have, or trying to sell me content I already have access to. More fool me. Fire TV is worse, but I’ve heard Roku is much the same. The Smart TV ecosystem is ro…

On Roku, not sure of the others, standard router-level adblock worked.

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

#235

Post by qwertywert_ »

Ansil849 wrote: post #125
dasyatidprime wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't actually have to be in the same update, the security fix just has to come after the ad antifeature with no separate patches presented, only a linear series of versions. And that linear model is extremely common. Anything using the linear model that has both antifeature updates and security updates at unpredictable times is very likely to run into the “can't install the security update without accepting the…

Again: > I don't see the point of this stretched hypothetical. If it were to come up, then you could deal with accordingly - for instance by getting the update and then blocking the ad server somewhere upstream in your network path. And then not buying that brand's products in the future. And advising others not to buy them.

And now you have reached the exact point these same Android TV customers have reached :)

Can you admit you are wrong now?

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

#236

Post by qwertywert_ »

Ansil849 wrote: post #31
milankragujevic wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't make sense as this was added additionally, so when people purchased their devices the ads were not present. To quote one review verbatim: > I purchased two premium-priced Nvidia Shield TV's and loved them until yesterday. That was the day Google began forcing huge dominating ads on the home screen. These ads are for content in services that I haven't eve subscribed to or installed, they're totally irrele…

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.

So you are suggesting you should never purchase an android phone like a Pixel because google has the capability of putting tons of ads in?

Customers can and should complain here, that's like saying don't purchase any software ever? People like smart TVs for good reasons.

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

#238

Post by vlozko »

Aaargh20318 wrote: post #128
syntaxing wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not being snarky but an Apple TV

I would have gone for an Apple TV in a heartbeat if not for one, huge, problem: no support for bitstreaming audio. This means no DTS:X or Dolby Atmos in apps like Plex.

It supports Atmos (not sure about DTS:X) but the reasoning behind decoding on device is for audio mixing for things like Siri. That said, I wouldn’t have minded having a setting to let my receiver do the decoding.

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

#239

Post by xibo9 »

headmelted wrote: post #222
matthewrobertso wrote: post #95

I ran into this last week on my nvidia shield. Here's a summary of the workaround I found (apologies for not having the specific package names offhand): 1. Install a new launcher from play store (I found one called "Basic Launcher" that matches the aesthetics of the default one). This doesn't solve the problem though, because Google disabled changing the default launcher for some user hostile reason, until you delete…

I was really disappointed to find the same problems with tvOS having moved from a pair of Shields. The ads hadn’t rolled out yet on Shield when I moved over but for some reason I just assumed Apple wouldn’t be shilling ads at me constantly for services I don’t have, or trying to sell me content I already have access to. More fool me. Fire TV is worse, but I’ve heard Roku is much the same. The Smart TV ecosystem is ro…

Can you be more specific? I have multiple Apple TV STBs and don't see what you're describing.

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

#240

Post by samtheprogram »

banana_giraffe wrote: post #97
rattray wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Not really, you lose the remote app on your phone, which is useful to enter passwords, but using the voice dictation to enter a password a character at a time works surprisingly well. You'd also not have airplay and mirroring. That might be a bigger deal for some, but for me, it's a feature I basically never use.

The YouTube apps on Android and iOS support streaming to the Apple TV YouTube app, which seems to be the bulk of what my guests and I want to actually stream. If you have a local media library, or tend to want to stream your computer screen to your TV for unsupported media/sources (or for plain mirroring), lack of AirPlay might be more important to you.
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