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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

#481

Post by eitland »

utopiah wrote: post #334
HumblyTossed wrote: post #151

I have a Shield TV and I really despise this change. I bought a device that did NOT show ads on the home screen, now it does. How is that not... it just should NOT be allowed. Show me ads in YouTube, show me ads in whatever other app, but not my home screen. There's a difference. The home screen is MINE, not Google's.

> The home screen is MINE, not Google's. Android is owned by Alphabet (or Google if you prefer) and you decided to buy a device that runs their OS with their services that are not open source. You probably didn't even pay for the OS. What makes you think it is yours?

> What makes you think it is yours?

That we paid for it in the store?

Nowhere did it say "free OS included" so it is entirely reasonable to think that some of the price was for the included OS and software at the time which has now been substantially degraded.

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

#482

Post by fwn »

sosborn wrote: post #306
wyager wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stealing bread actually deprives someone else of a scarce resource, but the marginal cost of making a digital copy of a TV show is ~zero. So you’re right - it is quite different. Stealing bread is much worse than copying a digital file.

Stealing bread to feed your family when the alternative is starving is not the same as watching Game of Thrones.

You both argue around the question: how does the unlicensed reproduction of media morally compare to stealing.

Argument 1: Sufficiently severe benefits should mitigate the moral fault in theft.

Argument 2: Sufficiently small damage should mitigate the moral fault in theft.

You both seem to at least implicitly agree that both is theft, which would be a traditional point of disagreement in the debate.

I commented because I think one and two might be structurally the same argument: It's a consequentialist idea of utility thresholds.

A key disagreement would be whether there are thresholds that make the quantitative difference in utility a qualitative difference. Think hunger on one side and unquantifiable small loss in profits on the other side.

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

#483

Post by headmelted »

bitwalker wrote: post #287
headmelted wrote: post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

tvOS has the same problem I’m afraid.

Which problem? Because there aren't ads on the home screen, or even in the Apple TV app (other than promos for TV shows, but that's like...why you're there).

You’re wrong and they’re ads.

If I’m on the home screen and I want to search across apps (a core feature) I’m routed through the TV app, which will try to make me buy new services or pay fees to watch content I already have access to on Netflix.

It will also mix in banners for shows/movies I don’t have access to without paying additional fees, and doesn’t allow a way to disable this.

This is exactly the problem people are having with the new Google TV app.

Don’t want Google ads? Cool, uninstall the Google TV launcher and remove massive amounts of functionality you already paid for (including universal search) and crack on with a terrible experience.

Don’t want Apple ads? Cool, move the TV app to your junk folder and remove massive amounts of functionality you already paid for (including universal search) and crack on with a terrible experience.

Even Prime video has a free to me button.

The ATV is not a subsidised device, this is shameless gouging and Apple again get a pass on here that other companies are (rightly) dragged for just because they’re Apple.

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

#484

Post by rglullis »

vladvasiliu wrote: post #477
rglullis wrote: post #424

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only service I subscribe to is njalla VPN, which I can then use to download any movie or TV show I want, in whatever quality I want and I get to keep it for as long as I want... can't get any smoother than that.

I'm not that big of a movie / tv show fan, I mostly watch while eating or when winding down for the day, so I rarely look for something specific. I'm very happy with Prime Video's offer, which is basically free for me, since I had already subscribed to Amazon Prime for regular shopping. For my use, this is much less friction than any searching and waiting around for torrents or whatever to download. There's also the…

Kodi has add-ons (e.g Quasar or Elementum) that provide this ability to browse popular/new movie shows and lets you download a torrent and watch it as a stream. Your waiting time depends only on how many seeders are available, which means that popular files are basically instant.

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

#485

Post by headmelted »

easton wrote: post #246
xibo9 wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

They’re probably talking about the Apple TV App on tvOS, which searches services you don’t necessarily have. You can get rid of it though, so I don’t know what the big deal is.

Exactly - it’s identical to the problem in this thread.

Google TV launcher == Apple TV app on tvOS

You can remove the Google TV launcher but with it huge amounts of device functionality (including search). Same as for the TV app.

Literally zero difference other than the customary Apple free pass they always get.

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

#486

Post by fartcannon »

wutbrodo wrote: post #191
alisonkisk wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still vandalistic destruction of property Google doesn't own. Google and their hardware partners owe refunds to all these customers.

I'm sympathetic to the idea that there are implicit expectations during a purchase that shouldn't ideally be violated. But I'm curious if you truly believe this, or if it's just hyperbole. In this "fully my property, not a service I'm using" framework, would an update that patches a security vulnerability be "altruism"? Would refusal on Google's part to patch vulnerabilities be a completely acceptable refusal to futz…

They should be legally required to supply security patches and legally required not to reduce the functionality of the device.

If they can't do that, then they need to stay out of the space.

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

#487

Post by wyager »

fwn wrote: post #482
sosborn wrote: post #306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stealing bread to feed your family when the alternative is starving is not the same as watching Game of Thrones.

You both argue around the question: how does the unlicensed reproduction of media morally compare to stealing. Argument 1: Sufficiently severe benefits should mitigate the moral fault in theft. Argument 2: Sufficiently small damage should mitigate the moral fault in theft. You both seem to at least implicitly agree that both is theft, which would be a traditional point of disagreement in the debate. I commented becau…

I’m actually arguing from a slightly different consequentialist position; I don’t think intellectual property law in general is socially efficient. You have to consider whether the (putative) benefit of IP-based R&D funding exceeds the loss associated with the introduction of artificial scarcity, social cost of IP enforcement, etc. For something like rocket engines or metallurgy, I would say “maybe”. For the latest Star Wars spinoff, I would say “strong no”.

Even for rocket engines or whatever, it’s not clear if the patent system is still producing acceptable returns.

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

#488

Post by jbluepolarbear »

headmelted wrote: post #483
bitwalker wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which problem? Because there aren't ads on the home screen, or even in the Apple TV app (other than promos for TV shows, but that's like...why you're there).

You’re wrong and they’re ads. If I’m on the home screen and I want to search across apps (a core feature) I’m routed through the TV app, which will try to make me buy new services or pay fees to watch content I already have access to on Netflix. It will also mix in banners for shows/movies I don’t have access to without paying additional fees, and doesn’t allow a way to disable this. This is exactly the problem peopl…

You’re wrong and confused on the Apple TV. There were is a home bar on tvOS, apps in this bar directly represent the ads you’ll see. If you highlight tv then you get ads for shows in that app. Likewise, highlighting the App Store shows ads for popular apps and services. You can remove any of these apps from that bar.

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

#489

Post by schmappel »

skinkestek wrote: post #475
jbluepolarbear wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If history taught us anything it’s that people will move to less friction platform. I was long time Google, but over the last few years I’ve almost migrated completely to Apple. I know a lot of developers in my field (video games) that have done the same. Google is using its size and reach to fill my products with ads. I’m not an ad id and I want to be treated as such. Also, why is android such a bad development plat…

Same here, although my reasons were a bit more mixed. My wife and I went from flagship Android phones (latest and greatest Samsung or Sonys) to mid-range iPhones (XR) over the last few years and it feels like a massive improvement. I'm not going back anytime soon and next week two more of my kids are getting (refurbished) iPhone 8 to replace their aging Samsung Galaxy S7 and Huawei .

I'd love to move to Apple, but muscle memory is a real PITA. I just can't seem to overcome that obstacle, no matter how small. I always seem to find my way back to 'good old' Android/Windows. It's almost like an abusive relationship.

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

#490

Post by dave_walko »

So here is the fix for nvidia... I just did this and it works:

1. Go to Settings (the cog at the top right)

2. Click Apps

3. Click See all apps

4. Scroll to the bottom of the list - click Show system apps

5. Scroll down and click Google Play Services

6. Click Force Stop

7. Click Disable

8. Click Clear Cache

9. reboot

10. go back and uninstall google play updates

11. make sure apps are not set to auto update

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