- Disconnect from network
- Factory reset
- Use HDMI to plug into a device that actually respects your privacy and does what you want (Jellyfin, Plex, Pihole for even more goodness, and simply run other streaming services via privacy enchances browser)
- Enjoy life without enshittified asshole OS no one asked for by going back to a time that was better.
“Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen
Submitted 2 months ago by flop_leash_973@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/
Comments
muculent@lemmy.world 2 months ago
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Anybody notice on Max with roku you have to click twice to pause and then twice to unpause? Very annoying.
_stranger_@lemmy.world 2 months ago
FWIW Roku doesn’t make the apps. That’s on Max. The Paramount app is trash too, resume doesn’t work.
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Yeah I just thought the two-click bug on the Max app might be specific to Roku, the way some browser glitches only happen on one OS. Having to click twice is such an obvious bug, it’s like did anybody even tested this?
OceanMew@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
none of this is a big deal, simply never connect your TV to the internet
Sl00k@programming.dev 2 months ago
I see this thrown around a lot.
90% of us watch Netflix, Plex, YT TV or some other streaming service, how do I watch these with 4k quality without connecting to the Internet? That’s just an unrealistic request for 90% of TV users.
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 2 months ago
Use a separate, not ad-riddled device plugged in via HDMI. If you have a game console it can do this.
I don’t know what’s good for Android TV boxes it used to be the NVIDIA Shield was a well regarded streaming device but it’s really old now. Google makes one (Google TV Streamer) and you can install a custom launcher if you’re a bit technical and the “suggested content” of the stock launcher bothers you. Same for other Android TV boxes.
Apple, like them or not, makes a really decent TV box with no system level ads and an interface that mostly stays out of the way.
Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
Whomp whomp. You get what you pay for.
Afflictedlife@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
This kind of garbage is why I’ve never connected my tcl tv with bulit in roku to the internet.
MiDaBa@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
Think of any invasive streaming devices in your house. Samsung, Google Chromecast, ATV, LG etc. Roku is by far the worst.
JiveTurkey@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Won’t hurt my feelings to throw their shit tv right in the trash.
Cyber@feddit.uk 2 months ago
I’m just glad I’ve still got my MythTV running.
melfie@lemmings.world 2 months ago
Anyone successfully installed LineageOS on Nvidia Shield or Onn devices? I ran the Konstakang AndroidTV build of Lineage on a Raspberry Pi 4 a couple years ago, and it was nice in how uncluttered and non-spywarey it was, but I ended up buying a Shield because hardware decoding never worked well and the frame rate drops were unbearable.
muculent@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I was just looking into this and saw this comment. I’m just using Xubuntu on an old laptop at the moment but this sort of thing is what I really want to go for so I might test it out when I get more time.
danc4498@lemmy.world 2 months ago
What’s the best alternative? I have a fire cube, and I’m getting sick of it. Apple TV? Is there a FOSS solution that’s close to the same quality interface?
underisk@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
The best is unironically to pirate and use something like KODI on a SBC that can run libreElec.
ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Some good options already listed. But here’s another.
Hey an Android TV box (Onn brand or similar) and install an open source launcher on it, like Projectivity. You have to use adb to disable the default launcher after the new launcher is installed, otherwise it keeps defaulting back to the default one. But once don’t it’s smooth sailing. You have a dedicated streaming device with a remote control and a nice UI with zero ads on the home screen.
SuperNerd@programming.dev 2 months ago
AppleTV is very easy, and what I did. I haven’t seen any ads in the home screens.
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
invent.kde.org/plasma/plasma-bigscreen
A tv-like front end for Linux but the project doesn’t see enough support yet
deadkennedy@lemm.ee 2 months ago
thank goodness pi hole can block the majority of roku ad sources
Sprocketfree@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Ughhh just unsubscibe
tomjuggler@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Libreelec on raspberry pi 4 (Kodi) works for me but it really needs a new YouTube app. That’s the only issue really
Veneroso@lemmy.world 2 months ago
So this is the Moana garbage?
I have a pihole blocking most of it, but these were playing.
There’s surely a way to jailbreak these things.
PeteZa@lemm.ee 2 months ago
It’s 1000% worth it to spend a little extra on a TV to get one that runs Google TV. Android is just superior compared to Roku in this regard. I actually have an Apple TV 4K as well, and regularly switch between the two.
Glitterbomb@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Manufacturers need to put the cheap ass software on a cheap ass $20 stick. Stop fucking up TVs with it. Stop accepting any ‘smart’ features and stop calling them smart. They’re invasive advertisement platforms, full fucking stop. It is in fact NOT worth it to get a google TV, because they’ll pull this shit or worse next week. We had perfectly functional TVs for decades before this shit, stop acting like the only choice is to surrender your hardware.
PeteZa@lemm.ee 2 months ago
I’m not surrending shit. It’s really Android TV, they just call it Google. But whatever man, go off.
0x0@programming.dev 2 months ago
I prefer a dumb TV.
PeteZa@lemm.ee 2 months ago
That’s such a cool and novel opinion. Wow. My Android TV does everything I need it to right out of the box. Never fucking shows me advertisements, and actually made it easier for me to stop paying for an overpriced Hulu subscription.
Amanduh@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Nvidia shield is android and works like a roku or chromecast
dan1101@lemm.ee 2 months ago
So far. And I actually prefer the Roku UI even though the Google TV will do more things, like let you sideload apps. Roku is propietary.
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 2 months ago
The sad thing is Roku’s UI was pretty dang good before they added a row of ads at the top, a half screen ad on the left and replaced the background with an ad every 2 weeks, waiting a full minute for it to load the latest nonsense the highest bidder paid them to shove in my face. The ads absolutely ruin a good platform.
PeteZa@lemm.ee 2 months ago
So far what?
Even if they do start putting ads on Android TV, all I have to do is switch over to my Apple TV. That’s the best performing streaming device on the market, regardless of your opinion on Apple.