I have an older Sony TV which has (what I can only guess to be) Google’s Android TV app installed on it. I’m sick of getting new recommendations from Amazon and Disney+ and all those services. Is there a way to strip it down bare bones and get everything I need from another app repo - kinda like with Graphene vs Android?
Another option is using an alternate launcher. I’ve used Flauncher and ProjectIvy to bypass Google’s default launcher.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spocky.projengmenu&hl=en-US
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.efesser.flauncher&hl=en-US
APKs are available wherever you’d like to source them. F-droid should technically work on Android TV, as well. Android TV OS is a different OS from original Android, so I’ve never seen an alternative like Graphene.
Skipping the smart in TV and connecting my own box on a HDMI was a godsend. My current TV has never had network connectivity.
Pretty much the same for me except I use a pc to run the tv, with a wireless keyboard and mouse.
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I use one of those beelink / minisforum boxes with kodi installed. Never seen an ad in forever.
Just a heads up about this approach, non approved boxes are limited by stream providers such as Netflix to 1080p HD:
https://androidpcreview.com/netflix-hd-android-tv-box/
So if you have a 4K TV and a 4K Netflix plan but plan to use a “custom” box your service will be limited to 1080p HD. Not entire bad but can be a frustration point if you get all built and realize it later.
Yes, tho apparently the Netflix plugin does support it
But it is a bit tedious but once setup should be a non issue
Do you have a Netflix plugin 4K setup working?
I ask because even in the plugin page there are a few indications contradictory that indicates otherwise:
First is the warning in the main page: “DUE TO CHANGES TO THE WEBSITE THAT PREVENT THE PROPER PLAYBACK OF VIDEOS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADD-ON HAS BEEN SUSPENDED. THE VIDEO PLAYBACK, WHEN IT WORKS, IS LIMITED TO SD QUALITY AND ONLY ON SOME LINUX/ANDROID DEVICES.”
Second in the section “Reference table of high resolution” there is a footnote saying the following: “*4 Hardware decoding and 4k are supported only to devices with Netflix certification, Widevine Security Level L1 and HDCP 2.2 hardware.”
Third in the list of 1080P 4k Android tested devices we see basically only Netflix approved devices: https://github.com/CastagnaIT/plugin.video.netflix/wiki/List-of-1080P-4k-Android-tested-devices
I’ve stopped using netflix so I can’t verify and am speaking exclusively based on the documentation
do you have to set it up yourself or does it come pre-configured? i ask cause i just got out of setting up my own server and as a non-tech native, it was EXHAUSTING (rewarding, yes - but time intensive).
It would be DIY
You can setup Kodi using libreelec but setting up YouTube and Netflix and all is a bit of work, not as much as setting up a server but it’s definitely not plug and play entirely. Once it’s set up tho it just works.
okay, thanks for this - gonna have to do some research
I used to be annoyed by an old Samsung “smart” TV ('15 or '16 model). Most things didn’t work on it, yet it kept demanding my data and playing ads constantly. So I built my first pi-hole, it stopped most of the ads but broke the TV in the process. Long story short, I went down every rabbit hole I could and no solutions were found. Granted, different brand and era so maybe you’ll have better luck…but the solution for me was simply to ditch the apps altogether
Basically, the only way is to disconnect the TV and use it as a dumb screen. Lineageos supports a few set top boxes (see here).
I heard (take it as hearsay) that some smart TV periodically capture screenshots of what’s on screen and upload it, so it actually disconnecting the tv from the network could (again, hearsay) make a real difference.
I was in the same boat. If on android you can install a third party launcher. It gets rid of everything you are talking about.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/1d3ub1m/recommendations_to_replace_tv_home_launcher_in/
this appear to however only be a frontend ui and doesn’t change anything on the data collection / OS right? still - looks very cool, will definitely check it out.
I installed projectivy on my android tv and it’s great. Just a simple dashboard that only shows the things I put there.
If you buy “digital signage” or “commercial display” monitors, they won’t have built-in ad-tracking; some models have a recent version of Android built-in that makes it easy to load Jellyfin, Kodi, and other such apps; and they’ll be built to commercial specifications, meaning they’ll last longer. They can also have better screencasting features.
On the downside: they are more expensive, you’ll need to check their specs for things like bluetooth, wifi, HDMI, and other things you need; the built-in speakers are not good. The TV of course doesn’t stop any particular app from serving you ads on its own, unless you load in another app to block them.
I have a setup like this, connected to a seedbox with transcoding, and it works great.
Factory reset it and don’t connect it to the network.
If you want to stream, use a Chromecast. I’ve been using the same one for like ten years now, never an issue. Pick the media on my phone, hit cast, done.
I wonder which company makes these Chromecasts 🙃
Google, but it sounds like OP’s issue is the junk, not any actual association with Google.
Fair
Buy a used one
I dont think any smart TV’s even allow you to unlock the bootloader, even if you did somehow find a way to unlock it there arent any custom roms for smart tvs. Apparently some smart tvs have unofficial bootloader unlocks through exploits but unless you want to fiddle with a GSI its useless.
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Afaik they dont do completely custom firmware but just mods
Projectivy app and you can set tv to launch to that and disable the google launcher
Last I checked there is some work being done but it is not prosumer ready.
Hopefully it will get there soon since console are now going down enshitification route… Endless fucking corporate slop being spammed on every section of the screen 🙄
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I do not know but what I’m doing on my “smart” video projector is :
- install F-droid
- install VLC
- install launchonboot https://f-droid.org/en/packages/news.androidtv.launchonboot/ to start VLC
then I basically “ignore” their custom launcher and go straight to my local content instead.
Sorry doesn’t really answer the question, but is it feasible to buy a large computer monitor and use that rather than a TV if you’re going to use a set top box or old PC anyway?
We have them at work in the meeting rooms. Unsure of price however?
I had a hisense TV and I once blocked all of the VIDAA domains in DNS and did a factory reset. The UI didn’t pull in all the crap that it puts on the homescreen.
I should probably try it long-term and see if it’s usable for everything else.
Disconnect it from the network, and maybe do a factory reset. Set up some sort of set-top box (a raspberry pi or similar works great, or any old PC).
