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FeelThePower ,
@FeelThePower@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

not if I don’t have a smart tv

Aceticon , (edited )

I replaced the TV Box from my ISP as well as the Media Player I already had for local media with a cheap mini-PC running Lubuntu and Kodi and have seen only a handful of adverts on my TV in the last couple of months (which I might see only when I’m watching Live-TV).

(PS: Mind you, there is no way to avoid Product Placement in Movies and TV Series, so I have still probably seen quite a lot of “covert” advertising).

The whole thing is now under my control and hence I don’t have to endure that crap.

Granted, I’ve been a Techie for decades and have for a long time been very aware of how software with Internet access is an agent of the software maker serving their objectives, not of yours serving your interests and how anything you paid for held by somebody else isn’t yours until you take them into Court for it and win (so your “bought” movies held in somebody else’s system aren’t yours) so I never jumped into the Streaming bandwagon and instead kept my eyepatch handy and wooden leg polished, and when I got a TV some years ago - before the enshittification really took off - I very purposefully avoided “smart” ones like the plague.

Frankly even if you’re not technically adept just get a Mini-PC and install LibreElec on it (which is purposefully made for non-Technical users to just to use Kodi) and get used to using Kodi. If you’re into paying for it you can even subscribe to perfectly legit IPTV subscriptions with hundreds of Live-TV channels and it definitelly integrates with the paid streaming services if you can’t do without and don’t want to sail the high seas.

(I’m running Lubunto, a more generalistic lightweight Linux distro where I explicitly installed Kodi, rather than LibreElec, because I use it for more things than just watching stuff on my TV).

PPS: Also, get a generic wireless remote of the kind used for Android TV (which works just as well in Kodi under Linux, as all those things do is send key-presses using the same USB protocol as keyboards), not the voice control crap with just a few “app” buttons but the ones which look like normal remotes. They often come with air-mouse functionality and a full mini-keyboard on the back, but one almost never has to use that even with Lubunto which is not really designed to be unobstrucive and will pop-up “update” prompts once in a while (I’m tempted to fix that, just like I fixed the need to explicitly log-in and start Kodi, but so far I can’t be arsed because it seldom happens)

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Honestly even a chromecast with Google tv and something like Stremio launched on boot would give you similar results for relatively cheap. No techiness needed, just some fiddling with settings.

Zorsith ,
@Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I’ve heard the nvidia shield is/was the gold standard for this purpose

KairuByte ,
@KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com avatar

Huuuuuge price difference though.

Though I guess the chromecast is being killed off so the difference doesn’t matter much anymore.

Zorsith ,
@Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

Fair. Added benefit tho; it’s not a Google product.

Downside: it’s Nvidia and they’ve gone off the deep end into AI bullshit. Arguably went off the deep end several years ago into Crypto bullshit.

Aceticon , (edited )

How sure are you that the Google software and hardware you’re recommending won’t be enshittified at some point, especially in light of Google’s behaviour in recent years?

Because one of the core guidelines in this new setup of mine was exactly to avoid software/hardware stacks from profit-driven companies were the temptation to “make it nice now, enshittify for maximum $$$ once there’s a good installed base” is very much present, hence I went all the way to a fully open source solution with an as generic as possible mini-PC (the fully generic PC, a self-made desktop, would not have looked as good in my living room and use way more power, whilst the mini-PC looks like it belongs there and has a 15W TDP).

I mean, my first try at changing my home media setup was actually getting an Android Media Box (which is much cheaper than a mini-PC), but the mini-PC plus Linux gives me total control over the entire software stack and a lot more than an Android Media Box does over the hardware stack (I can actually add more storage, expand the memory and even change the wireless support) without having to jump through the hoops of rooting an Android to get rid of all the crap (and not just he crap from Google - for example I didn’t want Netflix on the fancy starting menu of the Android box and yet if I uninstalled it, the pretty picture for it would still be there using space whilst not actually working) which is not exactly non-techie friendly and might not even be possible (I do believe it is possible for the Chromecast, though).

Android is an inferior solution if you want to avoid enshittification and are not all that technically proeficient, though if you don’t care about being forced by the software on your own hardware into shit you don’t want (such as watching ads) it is the technically simplest option, but then again that scenario is just enduring the kind of abuse that the post is talking about, and my advice is not at all for people who are fine with ads and other “product promotions” (such as pre-installed software supporting services you have to pay for) shoved in front of them even in their own home and their own hardware.

Whilst I didn’t go for the fully integrated Linux+Kodu solution which is LibreElec and instead went for a self-made Lubuntu + Kodi solution because I have lots of experience with Linux and wanted to do more with that device than just “media box”, my expectation is that a single-purpose packaged solution like LibreElec on top of a mini-PC together with the kind of remote I mentioned above is the simplest “just works” option: so accessible to non-techies and without enshittification or a risk of future enshittification.

asexualchangeling ,

Any remote recommendations? I’ve been thinking about doing something similar.

DJDarren ,

My TV is a smart TV whose smart features I never, ever use because the first thing it does is switch to the input my Apple TV is on.

Ironic really that the reason I chose an LG is because webOS seems less cunty than Android TV and whatever shit Samsung are offering. But I still never use it.

Princeofspace ,

I was pleasantly surprised that my Sony tv has a basic option so you can use it just as a screen. All smart stuff disabled.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

webOS seems less cunty than Android TV

Every time they do an update, things get worse. But my last TV had some dying pixels, so there’s no going back.

Reverendender ,

Pro Tip: Connect your TV to your Wi-Fi so the TV doesn’t bother you constantly, and shut off access outside your network at the router level.

Fiivemacs ,

Ummm why even connect it at all…let the dumb thing stay offline

asap ,
@asap@lemmy.world avatar

so your TV doesn’t bother you.

Many TVs have a constant “no wifi connection” visual error if it’s not connected.

Reverendender ,

It also bugs me to turn on voice recognition by connecting

TrenchcoatFullofBats ,

LET US LISTEN TO YOU IT WILL BE FINE.

IGNORE ME!

asexualchangeling ,

I haven’t bought a TV in several years, but is this something that is in general TVs? I ask because I plan on getting one soon and would very much like to avoid it having a mic

cupcakezealot ,
@cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

i for one cannot wait for this future

https://www.soundandvision.com/files/_images/200902/2172009173627.jpg

ByteOnBikes ,

I went to a buddy’s house to watch TV and that’s how his Xbox Live looks like.

Like they’re so oblivious and he’s paying for that shit.

Usernameblankface ,
@Usernameblankface@lemmy.world avatar

With that level of ads, they should get paid to watch it.

Hazzia ,

Best we can do is 5 minutes worth of additional in-game currency

AbsoluteChicagoDog ,

Shut up and drink your verification can

Good_morning ,

Huh? Watching TV on his Xbox live? It definitely didn’t look like that

yggstyle ,

*Start menu in windows 11

… both Microsoft products … weird.

Thorny_Insight ,

My 10 year old TV which I watch 10 year old TV-series via HDMI from? I don’t think so.

Tomorrow there’s going to be article about how my car spies on me as if that’s not 15 years old too. Or something about my office job that I don’t have.

I’m becoming irrelevant. Not the target audience for anything.

grue ,

That has also been my strategy (both for TVs and cars), but that doesn’t mean it’s reasonable to pretend that it’s a solution for the general public or that consumer-protection regulation isn’t both abundantly warranted and sorely needed.

someguy3 ,

Unfortunately things wear out and you have to buy new ones.

bobs_monkey ,

It tooke about 6 months to find my truck that didn’t have the connectivity link it. I think everything after 2022 on these you’re pretty much screwed, but it was an adventure to say the least.

chemicalprophet ,

I can barely see the ads whilst sailing the high seas. IP is the fakest of P.

Angry_Autist ,

Yar me hearties! There be booty on that there internet!

Usernameblankface ,
@Usernameblankface@lemmy.world avatar

My cheap projector doesn’t have 4k, but it also doesn’t have ads

HolidayGreed ,

My HiSense Vidaa OS TV shows ads for newer TV’s from their online store.

Is an Apple TV box a good platform choice to avoid this?

Hazzia ,

I’d probably opt for an external streaming box and simply use the TV as a monitor instead of the whole system (as it was originally)

HolidayGreed ,

That’s what I’m planning to do and curious if Apple TV box is a good option. Fire stick is riddled with ads. Not sure about Roku and Apple TV.

OriginalJay ,

I don’t see any ads in my Apple TV interface aside from some shown in the streaming apps themselves. We’ve been very happy with ours, keeping in mind the whole family already had iPhones.

spaghettiwestern ,

Roku is chocked full of ads too, and regularly sets the default for the “Select” button to open those ad sites or apps. Roku used to be great. It has now been completely enshittified.

BlameTheAntifa ,

No matter how you feel about Apple in general, Apple TV boxes are really the only way to go these days. Everything else is designed to aggressive sell to you whether you like it or not.

It’s either that or use something like a Raspberry Pi and settle for websites, which also have a habit of streaming you lower-quality content.

MrSpArkle ,

If you have other Apple devices the Apple TV is the best option.

Plex makes an app for it, and infuse makes a fantastic media server client.

Also enables all kinds of useful home automation integration, and FaceTime via your television(this is a game changer).

Sabata11792 ,

I revived the old LCD my grandparents were throwing out because it had good specs and no built in ads. Tossed in a new capacitor and it was good to go, otherwise I would just not own a TV.

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

I would like a machine that gives me the nice clean 4k resolution without throwing unprompted notifications in my face.

Sabata11792 ,

An impossible challenge.

Darkenfolk ,

What colour do you want your dragon to be?

UnderpantsWeevil ,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Some combination of red, blue, and green

RizzRustbolt ,

And it’s driving up the price of commercial flatscreens.

kamen , (edited )

Since at one point in the near future I’ll be shopping for a TV, is there such a thing as a good quality panel TV that is dumb? I intend to hook it up to a PC or a set top box. Alternatively, is there a smart TV that can be easily bootloader unlocked and rooted without consequences (similarly to how a Pixel phone can)? I realise this is even more niche than unlocking/rooting a phone, but still, someone might have ideas.

SoleInvictus ,

I just bought a smart TV, updated the software, and disconnected it from the Internet, only allowing it access to our local Plex server. No ads and no stupid suggestions. It’s great.

ColonelPanic ,

Get a non-consumer TV if you can. They’re more expensive but are actually but to last, have way more features and you can swap in whatever compute board you want so you’re not stuck with an underpowered Android TV board.

a_baby_duck ,

I’m very interested in this. Any suggestions as far as specific models to look at, or where to source one without needing a fancy business vendor connection? Maybe a trustworthy review site to compare some options?

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