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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

#251
post #7

The way to combat this is not to buy products that have this and then complain about them. The companies that make them do not care, they have already gotten your money. The way to combat this is to not buy products that have this in the first place. edit: a lot of comments are saying that the ads were added later, after purchase. This doesn't change my opinion at all, because people still bought products that have t…

Just admit you posted a bad take and move on.

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

#252
post #124
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My experience is different. I love it especially now that I can install VPN. I can access US-version of Netflix, Disney+, etc while traveling.

I am not saying smart TVs are bad. Just that android really isn't the best example. You can do this with Kodi or any alternatives too. Even my dump smart TV has VPN. Also taking your TV put to travel definitely is a rare edge case ;P Edit:// wait? Was that just a subtle Nord placement?

I think he means he can access US Netflix in hotels because I had a similar experience somewhere.

You can get pluggable Android TV which plug into HDMI ports in Hotel TVs and things like this.

Last few times I brought my laptop and HDMI cable to a hotel and it was nice. We usually go to places for outdoorsy things and in the night there's not much to do

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

#253
As an alternative to a different launcher you can block the domain responsible for the ads [0] in your DNS resolver. The Launcher will then fallback to less intrusive "ads" for the standard apps: YouTube, Google Play, Google Movies, etc.

I've added it to the adaway.org list [1], so it might find its way into blocklists you are already using soon.

[0] androidtvwatsonfe-pa.googleapis.com

[1] https://github.com/AdAway/adaway.github.io/pull/261

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

#254
post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think it supports DD + Atmos, not TrueHD + Atmos.

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

#255
The one thing I like about Google's now many-years obsolete "do no evil" slogan is that it shows how it is impossible for companies to not eventually become "evil" once that's their only open easy revenue stream.

Without debating what "evil" really means in this context, in the early days of a company there are plenty of ways to grow without being actively user hostile. Once those avenues are thoroughly maxed out, any company that is basically only measured by growth (i.e. every public company) will have to slide more and more into things that only boost revenue to the detriment of users.

I mean, this change is so blatantly abusive and user hostile, and something that never would have been greenlit in, say, the 00s, just shows how far Google has decayed.

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

#256
post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I manged to remove them...you go to All apps..scroll down to "Show system apps"...Android TV Home...Force stop... Uninstall updates => You will have old Home Screen https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...

Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?

Are you afraid of someone remotely pushing an update that pushes ads disguised as content to your device?

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

#257
It's astonishing to me that anyone who bought an Android or Google-centric TV product of any kind would expect anything other than that. They exist to track you and sell you ads. Period, paragraph.

This is their business model. Accept it, or buy Apple TV plus a dumb TV (or a stupid "smart" TV with all network features permanently disabled).

Those are the only options.

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

#258
post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I manged to remove them...you go to All apps..scroll down to "Show system apps"...Android TV Home...Force stop... Uninstall updates => You will have old Home Screen https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/4579...

Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?

> Wouldn't that mean you had an insecure device?

So you mean ads are increasing security ?

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

#259

Was deeply frustrated last year when it became clear in the US market at least that dumb TVs no longer exist, not unless one wants to pay the 4x premium for buying a gaming monitor and using it as a TV. Decided to buy an Android TV, one that would not need a network connection on the Android side for HDMI input mode to work, and just keep a computer plugged into it. Lack of sensible remote control is annoying. But fo…

From an older comment I made:

Find the hospitality version of whatever you want from CDW (Samsung and LG do a lot of them, idk about Sony). They are designed for hotels and hospitals, and have the same picture quality but no smart stuff. An example from Samsung: https://www.cdw.com/product/samsung-678u-series-55-4k-uhd-le...

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

#260

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.

Of course it is not. We shall have ads, microfones and cameras everywhere.
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