[rob74]

While a separate smart device makes more sense from an ecological perspective, it won't save you from ads, tracking, screenshots etc., as long as the same OS that would be running on the TV is running on the device. And, if you want to install apps from streaming services, you need one of the supported OSs - AFAIK most smart devices use Android TV?

[kitd]

One benefit of a separate device, especially a small one like a Roku or Firestick, is you can take it on holiday with you to access all your services while away (assuming your destination has a TV with HDMI).

[abenga]

I would be terrified of leaving such a device every time I go somewhere, considering the ports are invariably behind the screen.

[xnx]

Tether it to something you can't forget like your bag.

[flacebo]

With smart boxes you have much more options. I'm thinking a stipped down android TV box doesn't make screenshots and track you like most smart TVs do, they also don't serve random ads on the home page.

[_mlbt]

Apple TV is really your best option if you want privacy. Google is primarily an ad company that wants to learn as much about you as possible to target those ads.

[flacebo]

Just because Apple promises? There is actually zero evidence that apple is any better for privacy. Your absolute best option is something like a raspberry pi with an open source OS.

[water-data-dude]

When companies have a privacy policy that says “we will spy on you and sell your information to whoever will pay us for it”, and then they do exactly that, that’s one thing. That’s the Google Experience™.

When companies have a privacy policy that says they won’t do that, and then they do, that’s an entirely different thing. They lied, and that puts them in legal jeopardy. It also hurts their bottom line.

Is it possible Apple is sneakily spying on you and selling your info to third parties in secret illegal deals? Sure, I guess? But I don’t think it’s super likely.

[mmh0000]

I mean... they tell you right on their webpage that track you and and use your private information (such as: location, current app, locale, device ID, ...).

Sure, it's a "random" identifier, ... tied to your exact location, soooo random.

https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/apple-advertisin...

And also: https://www.wired.com/story/apple-privacy-data-collection/

[bestouff]

Nope. A Kodi box is really the best option here.

[hellisothers]

Only if you insist on control over minutia over everything else including ease of use, reliability, and simplicity.

[rbanffy]

The TV will still spy on you, and may even send frames for upstream classification. The only way to make sure is to never connect it to the network. And even then, I'd try to remove any wifi antennas.

[Hackbraten]

At least a separate smart device isn’t going to record everything I’m doing on my gaming console, which is connected to a different HDMI input.