Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV • Hacker News Board

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#131

Post by GrinningFool » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:31 PM UTC

sneak wrote: post #45

gpspake wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's not a comparable device short of plugging a pc in to my tv and I'm not going back to that life. I play retro arch installed from the play store, stream my pc from my office in to RDP, and connect a wireless kb to one of two usb ports in the back. I also generally like the Google stuff including the assistant integration. The device is perfect in every way and I shouldn't have to throw this $300 device that's…

The recommendation if your fridge starts showing ads one day is indeed that you throw it in the trash and get a fridge that, you know, doesn't do that. Same goes for an STB, or car, or any other thing that abuses you. You don't have to sit and take it simply because "that's the modern world". Consumer choice is an important and powerful tool. Don't buy or use crap that abuses you, and don't shop at vendors that think…

> Same goes for an STB, or car, or any other thing that abuses you. You don't have to sit and take it simply because "that's the modern world".

So you're saying as soon as you're abused just toss a few hundred/thousands/tens of thousands of dollars of hardware out the window and spend a like amount somewhere else -- hoping that /this/ time is different? Even though when you bought the equipment this wasn't the state of it?

It must be nice to live in that world. Wasteful and expensive, but nice.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#132

Post by gjsman-1000 » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:32 PM UTC

swiley wrote: post #128

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Take a look at what just happened with Audacity. Open Source is no protection, unless you were aware of the situation and downloaded a fork.

My copy of Audacity hasn't auto-updated to include any of that crap and it looks like future updates will come from a fork where it's stripped (if muse group even bothers to continue) so I'd say that's an example of it working.

Unless you were unaware of what was happening with Audacity. If you didn't hear about the news, you'll update and have no idea.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#133

Post by tokamak-teapot » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:34 PM UTC

bound008 wrote: post #99

djrogers wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple is seems almost as bad too. There's recommendations that I don't want. The main AppleTV UI doesn’t have any recommendations for streaming apps you don’t own - the only thing that’s even close are when you highlight one of the apps in the top bar.

Just to clarify. The Apple TV (tvOS) interface gives extra functionality to apps on the top row of the launcher. (you have full control over ordering the apps). This functionality allows the apps to show whatever preview content they want per the SDK. Some show continue watching, and then suggestions, others show nothing. But you are in charge of what apps are on the top row.

Thanks. I didn’t know why I was somehow immune to the Apple TV+ advertising and why I just saw Spotify recommendations.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#134

Post by hitchhikerr » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:34 PM UTC

pizza wrote: post #58

What's the best alternative launcher?

I switched to FLauncher. It's very basic but I think that's what most of us are looking for. It's built with Flutter and it's open source: https://gitlab.com/etienn01/flauncher

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#135

Post by 6510 » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:34 PM UTC

syntheticnature wrote: post #65

swiley wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pushing people to use "apps" instead of the web where poor behavior just makes your own product crappier.

If you want a computer connected to your TV instead of a streaming box, you know where to find it.

My HP mini is to crappy to play youtube videos on its tiny poor resolution screen even playing them on the lowest resolution (which shouldn't even count) but if I download the videos and attach a huge monitor to it VLC just cruises though GB+ sized HD video files without dropping a frame. Transmission is good enough. Spend another 7 euro on a TB storage device[0] - you deserve it! More movies to watch than your health can take.

The digital prison builders are less offensive than their supporters. Remember to point and laugh when they complaint about their self-funded captivity. Its an important public service to point and laugh as they are paving the way for our imprisonment. We clearly didn't laugh hard enough in the past.

edit:

[0] - for the pun ill add a promotional link: https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/311843/bestmedia-platinum-my...

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#136

Post by yardie » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

moepstar wrote: post #66

I wonder if a Pi-hole with a good adlist could stop those ads from appearing - sadly/luckily i don't own a NVidia Shield. Maybe someone else can weigh in if that approach does work (maybe with additionally setting up your router to redirect everything DNS back to the Pi-hole)?

I have a pihole and it stops them from appearing but leaves blank/black spaces. Not just on the launcher but in the app as well. For example, IMDBtv will have 15-30s of blank air where nothing happens. The first time this happened I thought the app crashed because FF/Pause/Play didn't do anything. And then the movie resumed and did it again 30 minutes later.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#137

Post by mumblemumble » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:36 PM UTC

swiley wrote: post #68

Despegar wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Websites are unregulated. iOS apps have to abide by Apple's terms. This is exactly why developers are mad about any number of things: paying Apple's commission, but also complying with their privacy dictates.

Apparently Apple's terms aren't that great for some users.

I've noticed, for example, that they seem to be particularly upsetting to Android users.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#138

Post by wizzwizz4 » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:36 PM UTC

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #132

swiley wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My copy of Audacity hasn't auto-updated to include any of that crap and it looks like future updates will come from a fork where it's stripped (if muse group even bothers to continue) so I'd say that's an example of it working.

Unless you were unaware of what was happening with Audacity. If you didn't hear about the news, you'll update and have no idea.

On Debian, updating won't add unwanted internet connectivity.

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#139

Post by TeMPOraL » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:37 PM UTC

loosescrews wrote: post #69

sdflhasjd wrote: post #6

My shield updated to this the other day. I'm pretty furious about it, it's not a cheap device, and it's certainly not Google's. To be adding these "features" without asking, irrespective of whatever agreement between me, Nvidia or Google exists, is ridiculous. I know it's in whatever terms I, uh, "accepted", but there's just no escaping it in this day and age. Fortunately, I know how to use ADB and just installed ano…

One aspect of modern hardware products which contain a lot of software is that they need a steady stream of software updates in order to remain useful and functional. Security updates are essential. Not only is a device full of unpatched vulnerabilities dangerous to use, but as we saw with the recent Western Digital scandal, is a serious risk to the continued functionality of the device. Because the Shield is a strea…

> One aspect of modern hardware products which contain a lot of software is that they need a steady stream of software updates in order to remain useful and functional.

No, they don't need it. They get them, because they can. This allows the vendors to:

- Sell buggy, half-baked alpha versions to customers as finished products;

- Turn a product into a service, to seek subscription rent from users, under the guise of "security";

- Justify the need for persistent Internet access, providing plausible deniability for data collection (if anyone asks, it's to support "security" and "improving the product").

Don't fall for this. The hardware and software we buy doesn't need to be like this. The vendors push it, because it's locally optimal for them, and it's self-supporting through competitive pressure ("because my competitors do it, I have to do it too").

Re: Nvidia Shield TV Owners Are Pissed About the Banner Ads in Android TV

#140

Post by fffrantz » Mon, Jul 19, 2021, 5:38 PM UTC

sdflhasjd wrote: post #6

My shield updated to this the other day. I'm pretty furious about it, it's not a cheap device, and it's certainly not Google's. To be adding these "features" without asking, irrespective of whatever agreement between me, Nvidia or Google exists, is ridiculous. I know it's in whatever terms I, uh, "accepted", but there's just no escaping it in this day and age. Fortunately, I know how to use ADB and just installed ano…

No need to sideload anything. Just remove all updates of the Android TV launcher in the settings and disable auto updates. You'll get the good ol' launcher.