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It's time to dump Roku (www.engadget.com)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (6 children)

Move them to a cheap Onn Android TV device. You can configure it with a completely clean interface with no ads at all, and no asshole company's changing the menus constantly once you install an alternate launcher. You can also debloat it like any other Android device and shut off most of the tracking (as much as is possible with Google involved anyway).

I bought my first one yesterday. After configuring it and seeing what a massive improvement it is over Roku I bought a couple more today. 2K ones are on sale for $15 right now.

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  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago* (4 children)

    I have a couple of them that I bought shortly after the LTT video on the topic with the intention of rooting. After figuring out that I'd unfortunately got the newer hardware revision that can't be rooted, I had them just sitting in a box.

    If "debloating" them without rooting and installing Lineage or whatever is "good enough," maybe I should take another look. Do you know of a good guide to follow? Is there anything special that needs to be done, such as preventing it from updating or connecting to the Internet before the factory malware is removed?

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  • [–] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

    The one I bought can be rooted and I had planned to do so, but found it wasn't needed.

    You can use ADB by itself, but this tool makes debloating a breeze. Deleted packages can be easily restored if you make a mistake. ADB needs to be running for it to connect. Be aware the remote is a Bluetooth device so don't make my mistake and turn BT off.

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  • [–] 3 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    Wait, the $15 2K model you bought yesterday can be rooted? I figured anything made in the last few years would've been patched.

    Can you tell me the exact model (the code on the box, like this, as explained in this XDA thread about the model I got where I experienced disappointment), and where you found the information about rooting it?

    I appreciate that you're happy with yours even without rooting, but I don't think I'd be able to trust it not to enshittify in the long run on the stock firmware.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

    XDA is the authoritative source for rooting information by a wide margin. I only did a cursory search before realizing root wasn't needed so there's no question the info I found online (on Reddit or somewhere) was wrong.

    You're undoubtedly right that enshittification will make its way into this device, but hopefully we'll have a few years before that happens.

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