[koolba]

On this topic, what’s the best hardware and software to connect to a TV (assuming via HDMI) that allows for running apps for all the usual streaming platform suspects?

It doesn’t even have to provide a combined search list. Just something to act as the base OS and launcher for each platform. I know what I want to watch and presumably which one provides it. I just want something to attach to my dumb TV that can play the video.

No suggestions. No promoted content. No ads. No upsell.

Does such a thing exist?

[chihuahua]

Yes, a small-form-factor PC. You can get a decent one for under $200.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/what-i-learned-when-...

[happymellon]

You can get a used Wyze which is fast enough for any media consumption, and fanless, for <£50.

However I wouldn't say that the streaming services make the interface suitable for consuming via a TV. Windows lost it's Media Centre interface, and most services are hostile to Linux.

Video is still an area where piracy provides the best experience.

[duskwuff]

Apple TV is a decent option. It's got default apps for Apple's content platforms, of course, but they're easy to ignore. Default screensaver is tasteful aerial videos (no ads), and the home screen layout can be customized to stash the default apps away in a folder.

You don't need to own other Apple devices to use an Apple TV. If you do, though, there's some convenient integrations, like being able to use an iPhone as a remote, play audio through your AirPods, or stream audio/video from your phone or computer to the TV.

[walterbell]

The recent addition of VPN support, including Tailscale, has made Apple TV even more compelling. VLC exists for Apple TV.

For purchased movies, Apple TV does not impose silly geo-restrictions, unlike Vudu and MoviesAnywhere.

[duskwuff]

Ooh, I forgot to mention VLC! Their Apple TV app is great -- if you've got a SMB file server, it can browse the server and play videos in basically any format.

[walterbell]

In addition to SMB, it even supports SFTP (password auth only).

[ok_dad]

I’ll also vote for Apple TV. It also acts as a hub for simple home automation if you just want a few light bulbs or something, or you want to store security camera footage directly to iCloud.

[sneak]

That requires iCloud, which is a privacy nightmare even if you opt in to their sometimes-kinda e2ee option (which nobody does). In the default config it is even worse.

If you want privacy don’t use iCloud.

[lloeki]

Please enlighten me as to how:

- iCloud is a privacy nightmare

- iCloud e2ee with ADP is sometimes-kinda e2ee

[sneak]

iCloud by default allows Apple to read and see all of your photos, files, and iMessages, as the iMessage sync keys and message history are backed up in non-e2ee fashion. Everything you send and receive via iMessage is visible to Apple and they turn over 70,000+ user accounts of data per year to the USG without a search warrant.

To operate in China, Apple has to run parts of iCloud on CCP-controlled hardware. Presumably this is to preserve the same government surveillance access that Apple explicitly preserved in the USA at the behest of the FBI (as reported by Reuters).

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1ZK1CO/

iCloud syncs the list of recently emailed contacts to Apple, so Apple has your social graph and important contacts even if you don’t use Apple email, iCloud contacts, or iMessage/FaceTime. There is no UI to disable this, it must be done via provisioning profile.

As for ADP - Apple stores file and image plaintext hashes non-e2ee, which allows Apple to see which set of people has unique files, and when. If I make an original meme or document and send it to you, even via AirDrop directly, if we both use iCloud and ADP then Apple knows that we have associated, and when. If you share it to a third person, Apple knows that too. Also, if anyone you iMessage with doesn’t have ADP enabled, your full iMessage conversation history with them remains readable to Apple (and USG et al).

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651

> Some metadata and usage information stored in iCloud remains under standard data protection, even when Advanced Data Protection is enabled. For example, dates and times when a file or object was modified are used to sort your information, and checksums of file and photo data are used to help Apple de-duplicate and optimize your iCloud and device storage — all without having access to the files and photos themselves. Representative examples are provided in the table below.

Also, iOS in general is a privacy cesspool. You can’t install apps without identifying yourself to Apple, and doing so sends your IP (coarse location), Apple ID (phone number), and device hardware serials to Apple. You can’t ever change or disable this. Even if you don’t use iCloud, the hardware serials are sent to Apple and it maintains a persistent serial-linked connection to Apple for APNS at all times. This cannot be disabled. Additionally the connections happen early in the boot process so they will bypass any user-installable VPNs (provisioning profiles can use old outdated VPN protocols and I think can load before these connections, but approximately nobody uses VPNs in this fashion).

The moment you install a SIM card in an iPhone, the device serial and SIM card phone number are known to Apple and linked, as it will immediately try to register for iMessage without prompting you. This happens even if you don’t use iCloud, and thus is independent of ADP.

This means that wiping the device and swapping SIM cards is useless from a privacy standpoint, as the subsequent phone numbers will be linked by virtue of the device serial (and will also be linked to your IP, bypassing any UI-configured VPN).

[astura]

People here will absolutely hate this because "Google is evil" but I use a Chromecast and I love it and think it's the best option for your use case.

You select whatever video you want to play on your phone or computer and "cast" it to the TV and the video then plays on the TV. There's no suggestions, no promoted content, no upsells, and no ads. Beyond that, a big advantage is you don't have to navigate clunky UIs with a remote, Chromecast barely has a UI at all. When you aren't casting anything it just shows a random picture (usually landscape or cityscape) and the current time.

Another feature I really like and use all the time is the ability to seamlessly switch the TV I'm casting to. Useful for times I start watching something downstairs and then I wanna finish it upstairs.

[eru]

I also like my Chromecast.

It's ok, I guess, if Google has all your data already anyway.

[Toutouxc]

Apple TV does not fit this perfectly, but it’s still good enough. There is promoted content, but very little and quite tasteful. I.e. the top of the home screen usually shows suggestions for my content, but sometimes there’s a (static, poster-like) suggestion for some Apple TV movie/series/concert. On the other hand, Apple TV does have combined search, the remote is nice and touch sensitive, there are apps like VLC or the Steam app for streaming games from your PC, there are even some games (with controller support!), and obviously if you have other Apple devices, there are some nice integrations.

[KingJulian]

You could get a SFF PC like the other reply mentioned, and install something like Plasma Bigscreen[1] on it.

[1](https://plasma-bigscreen.org/)

[happymellon]

But then you don't have any of the big streaming services, so it's not really an alternative to Roku.

You'll need to do a little more legwork to replace them.

[KingJulian]

> You'll need to do a little more legwork to replace them.

That's true. You will need to install the applications by yourself. A bit of work but worth it, I think.

[happymellon]

Are the desktop apps usable with a controller?

Last time I tried they didn't work well at all.

What I meant was getting a media server running.

[ehPReth]

Apple TV seems to be the closest thing available. No home-screen/screensaver/random ads, but I only really launch Plex (looking into Jellyfin eventually), and streaming apps like Disney+.

[k8sToGo]

I use infuse with jellyfin

[Buttons840]

Sounds like the answer is no, such a thing does not exist.

I wonder if this is because consumers wont actually pay for it, or because the market is unable to deliver it (due to money grabs, etc)?

[amyjess]

First thing that comes to mind is a NUC. Just install the desktop OS of your choice.

[polski-g]

Nvidia Shield. Bonus is that you can run Steam Link on it.

[happymellon]

This is what I use, although it's obvious the enshittification has started with the terrible adverts across the top of the screen.

I have the 2nd gen, so there were no adverts when I first purchased it.

[lotsofpulp]

Apple TV is the closest.