I know Smart TV privacy concerns are a big conversation here, largely because there’s practically no good way to jailbreak a Smart TV, but I wanted to ask about a specific use case.

How much better is it to disable all network connectivity on a smart tv (running Roku as its core OS) and hook an Apple TV box up to it?

More or less, I suppose what I’m asking is whether or not using an Apple TV is as private as it can get with easy-to-use streaming devices?

  • buwhoEnglish
    72·
    2 days ago

    Best bet would be to use an old laptop/mini pc or something similar and run a linux distro running a vpn or something. Check out what this person did:

    https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/07/broken-linux-laptop-makes-for-a-fine-smart-tv-alternative/

    As much as i hate Apple closed source ecosystem, they do alot to protect user privacy (as far as we know) and put in effort to allow users to have the options to turn app tracking off etc. so an Apple TV unit on a dumb TV might be another option…But, when it becomes obsolete in a few years and the apps dont work…hand over more cash…

    • flatbield@beehaw.orgEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      Frankly, just build a new full up Linux workstation in a media center case. You want to be able to run a browser and a media center app, and use it as your home server for things like nextcloud, etc. Been doing it this way for 20 years.

      Edit: For remote control a wireless key board is great. KDE Connect works well now too.

    • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
      51·
      2 days ago

      at least you’re just replacing the ‘box’ and not the whole tv. which is one of the main benefits of not using the ‘smart’ inside the tv, and using an external device instead. cheaper to upgrade the ‘smart’ part.

      i mostly use old cheap laptops with ulv soc (about 6 watts with lid down, screen off). has worked for me, so far. have a compact wireless keyboard with integrated trackpad (the older logi one) for a ‘remote’. on the tv i also have a full-fledged desktop attached to one input… why do client-server when i can hook the ‘server’ right up?

    • Undertaker@feddit.org
      21·
      2 days ago

      they do alot to protect user privacy (as far as we know)

      They do nearly nothing to so. Kuketz has analyzed what’s happening when turning some settings that are bad for privacy off. The result: Apple still phones home with respect to the disabled services.

      So please stop throwing wrong information