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Does anybody here know a good alternative? A device you can connect to a dumb TV to play streaming content that doesn't spy on you? All of the commercially avai

Does anybody here know a good alternative? A device you can connect to a dumb TV to play streaming content that doesn't spy on you? All of the commercially available options seem to be selecting a giant corporation to send all your data to. As a "small" company that does this and nothing else, you would think Roku would be a relatively privacy-focused option, but it appears to be the opposite. I feel like we're being forced to go the Kodi route, which leads to a disturbing correlation of privacy with piracy.

zamalek 7y ago
A Raspberry Pi has HDMI out and can run Linux, for a more Roku-like experience you could try installing Android on it.
fluxsauce 7y ago
I use an NVIDIA Shield TV and a Pi-Hole, which gives me the advantage / flexibility of the Android ecosystem and the ability to stop some tracking. All subscription streaming providers phone home while you're watching.
- disposition2 7y ago
  I second this while also mentioning that I have not let my TV connect to the internet. It came as a 'smart TV' but I just don't give it access to the internet so it is therefore just a 'dumb' screen with inputs
prklmn 7y ago
It appears that Apple TV is the most privacy focused out of the box option https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/products/apple-tv/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/product... Also I think you might be surprised to learn that ROKU's market cap over $18B and most of that is likely due to their user profiling -- https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony-wood-ads-hardware-business-interview-business-model https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony...
everdrive 7y ago
The best solution is just a computer. Put Windows or Linux on it, whatever you prefer. It can play literally all content. You can install adblockers, whatever you like.
mindslight 7y ago
It seems like you already know the good alternative - anything that can run Kodi, or other software that you control. A company maximizing their revenue will inevitably end up implementing surveillance - it's a way to take more value from a relationship after the price has already been set. And if you're willing to pay more to avoid surveillance, this just means you're a more valuable target to surveil! The only way to overcome is to not play by these given rules in the first place. By definition this means you're being a pirate, whether you're looking for ways to compensate the creators or not.
AznHisoka 7y ago
"As a "small" company that does this and nothing else, you would think Roku would be a relatively privacy-focused option, but it appears to be the opposite." Roku is not just a physical device, or an OS. It's also in the advertising business. They stream video ads and display ads when you watch certain shows through Roku. Thus, they want to know a lot more about you to show you relevant ads.
- CWuestefeld 7y ago
  Indeed. Judging from my PiHole logs, my Roku is trying to phone home quite a lot. Of course, the PiHole is preventing that...

zamalek 7y ago

A Raspberry Pi has HDMI out and can run Linux, for a more Roku-like experience you could try installing Android on it.

fluxsauce 7y ago

I use an NVIDIA Shield TV and a Pi-Hole, which gives me the advantage / flexibility of the Android ecosystem and the ability to stop some tracking. All subscription streaming providers phone home while you're watching.

disposition2 7y ago
I second this while also mentioning that I have not let my TV connect to the internet. It came as a 'smart TV' but I just don't give it access to the internet so it is therefore just a 'dumb' screen with inputs

prklmn 7y ago

It appears that Apple TV is the most privacy focused out of the box option https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/products/apple-tv/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/product... Also I think you might be surprised to learn that ROKU's market cap over $18B and most of that is likely due to their user profiling -- https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony-wood-ads-hardware-business-interview-business-model https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony...

everdrive 7y ago

The best solution is just a computer. Put Windows or Linux on it, whatever you prefer. It can play literally all content. You can install adblockers, whatever you like.

mindslight 7y ago

It seems like you already know the good alternative - anything that can run Kodi, or other software that you control. A company maximizing their revenue will inevitably end up implementing surveillance - it's a way to take more value from a relationship after the price has already been set. And if you're willing to pay more to avoid surveillance, this just means you're a more valuable target to surveil! The only way to overcome is to not play by these given rules in the first place. By definition this means you're being a pirate, whether you're looking for ways to compensate the creators or not.

AznHisoka 7y ago

"As a "small" company that does this and nothing else, you would think Roku would be a relatively privacy-focused option, but it appears to be the opposite." Roku is not just a physical device, or an OS. It's also in the advertising business. They stream video ads and display ads when you watch certain shows through Roku. Thus, they want to know a lot more about you to show you relevant ads.

CWuestefeld 7y ago
Indeed. Judging from my PiHole logs, my Roku is trying to phone home quite a lot. Of course, the PiHole is preventing that...