c/privacy · by goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 3d

best privacy respecting tv/streaming box??

im using a chromecast right now and i want a similar experience to that, just more privacy friendly

although i have set up a google account just for my chromecast with its own email, it still doesn't feel like its enough

im in the eu btw

50 points · 80 comments · view on lemmy.world

80 Comments

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 32 pts · 3d (15 replies)

I use a Linux machine that boots to a big picture interface with these apps:

Jellyfin Desktop client (pirate everything)
VacuumTube (YouTube TV interface with adblocking)

And I use a Flirc receiver so I can use a remote for all of it.

curious_dolphin@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 3d (1 reply)

When you mention big picture mode, are you talking about Bazzite's big picture mode or just any distro w/ Plasma Bigscreen, or something else?

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 3d

I'm currently using Bazzite with Steam's Big Picture mode, yes. I'd like to switch to Plasma Bigscreen, but I'm not sure it's ready just yet. I keep trying it on my laptop every few weeks, but there are some crashes I keep running into.

I can't wait to switch away from Steam Big Picture mode though, as it's pretty tedious adding shortcuts and having to use a Decky plugin to download art for them. It's very apparent that Steam isn't meant to be used this way (even though once you set it up, it's not bad). Plasma Bigscreen just reads the .desktop entries, which is a lot better.

nfreak@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 3d (11 replies)

I'm using my Steam Machine partially for the same purpose, but this is the first I'm hearing about this receiver. I got a shitty little PC remote that kind of works but isn't great, I might give this a shot

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 3d (10 replies)

The Flirc receiver is the best $25 I've ever spent. You can use it with basically any TV remote and turn it into a decent PC input device.

You can map any app with decent keyboard navigation support to work with up, down, left, right, enter, etc. and get a pretty seemless TV experience.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Is it just IR?

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 1d

It's a customizable IR receiver, yeah.

Kirk@startrek.website · 1 pts · 2d (7 replies)

I think the newer raspberry Pis have CEC so if someone goes that route they wouldn't even need a second remote

Edit: or just get a CEC adapter probably

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 2d

I've always found CEC to be insufficient. If you need to access anything more than directional nav, enter, and back, you can't. I have CEC on my Linux machine, but I leave it off because it just can't do most of what I need it to.

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 2d (5 replies)

Also, hi AdmiralPatrick's alt 🙂

Kirk@startrek.website · 1 pts · 2d (4 replies)

You Kiwi Farms freaks need to update your wiki because /u/AdmiralPartick is deleted long ago. This is the main account, not an alt.

trevor@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 2d (3 replies)

You're sadly mistaken if you think the people that rightly don't like your heinous behaviour are kiwi farmers.

But sure, everyone that doesn't like you just happens to be bad people from a stinky Nazi forum. Whatever you need to tell yourself.

Kirk@startrek.website · 1 pts · 2d

"I'm harassing you for different reasons than the Kiwi Farms people are" is not the moral high ground you think it is.

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 2 pts · 3d

ill check it out, thanks

Kirk@startrek.website · 11 pts · 3d (1 reply)

There is a guy making LineageOS Android TV builds for Raspberry Pi and other devices.

BrilliantBadger@piefed.ca · 4 pts · 3d

Its quite nice on a pi5. Paired it running VPN, and control d private dns (set using adb) for tracker/ad blocking. Side note, over 50% blocking shows how much spyware crap going on with tv apps. Add in a cheap Bluetooth air mouse and its very workable & solid.

For clarity, I only run Pluto TV, tubi, pipepipe and Fred TV. And its NOT for those looking for the smoothest experience, may not be family friendly . But been using a few years now, couldn't be happier

user224@lemmy.sdf.org · 11 pts · 3d

2nd hand mini PC running Linux?
https://plasma-bigscreen.org/ looks nice, though I haven't used it.

defaultusername@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 3d (1 reply)

There are a few options.

A repurposed PC or SBC running LibreELEC (which uses Kodi as its interface and sole application). If you plan on using Kodi, don't mind messing with Kodi addons, and don't need Dolby Vision or HDR10+ support, this is a great option. HDR10 should be supported just fine, though.
A repurposed PC or SBC running a Linux distro with Plasma Bigscreen. Note that Plasma Bigscreen is still in beta and the app ecosystem is not very usable at the moment. This option also does not support Dolby Vision or HDR10+ (though it does support HDR10).
A streaming box or SBC running the Android TV version of LineageOS without Google services installed. This will probably give you the most flexability and would be my preference. Some options will also give you compatibility with HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+ depending on hardware. This is my preference at the moment because it has the most robust ecosystem currently, at least until Plasma Bigscreen and Linux on TV becomes more robust. I use SmartTube for YouTube and Nuvio for TV and Movies, though Kodi and Jellyfin are also available depending on your preference.

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 4 pts · 2d

didn't know you could put lineage on a tv box but it sounds really good!!!

scytale@piefed.zip · 8 pts · 3d (2 replies)

If you are looking specifically at commercial ones only, I read that AppleTV is the least evil. https://www.tomsguide.com/tvs/apple-tv-4k-is-still-the-best-streaming-box-when-it-comes-to-privacy

Obviously there are better opensource options out there.

Echo5@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3d (1 reply)

On the spectrum of convenience vs privacy I think this is closest to the sweet spot on the side of convenience. Use a commercial “monitor” (TV that doesn’t require smart features to work). The closest to the middle on the side of privacy is setting a PC up with your TV logged in to all your streaming services.

Auli@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2d

Uah not a big wife approval factor or kids approval or people visiting.

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 4 pts · 2d (9 replies)

It’s appletv unless you’re willing to use a custom sbc with a taped together third party android version.

I don’t recommend the latter option because it fucking sucks and you seem like a psycho to others who may use it or watch stuff with you.

You can just host jellyfin from your pc (or a server in your closet) if you wanna get away from streaming services and it works good with either option.

I want to be clear as day that you cannot get a privacy friendly experience from any Android streaming device unless you load it yourself and make sure it’s something like the lineageos Android tv stuff linked by another user.

It’s probably worth it for you to put into words what you’re trying to accomplish, being as clear and explicit as possible.

Kirk@startrek.website · 1 pts · 2d

I haven't tested it but Plasma Bigscreen has apparently made a lot of progress, too.

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 1 pts · 2d (5 replies)

im mainly trynna watch something like smarttube (youtube ykyk), jellyfin and some streaming services

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 2d (4 replies)

There are a bunch of tvos smart tube apps in the store for free but I’d just build the client on github and load it.

Even on the most locked down device the qos involved in streaming gives enough information to track you. If your goal is to block ads that’s no problem but just bear in mind the feed isn’t one way, your device communicates back to the source to negotiate bitrates and buffers and that’s enough to do some very accurate measurements especially with a side channel of normal https communication in the mix which they all have.

It sounds like you just want to block ads and there’s nothing wrong with that, I just don’t want to lead you into thinking you’re actually in any way private when streaming. Every service is actively collecting as much information as they can in the process of sending you video.

Anyway don’t read any of that just try out the appletv and if you end up not liking it you can easily sell it to someone for 90% of what you paid.

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 1 pts · 1d (3 replies)

my brother actually wants an apple tv and/or my family's tv needs a tv box just in general so that could work

and i don't really care that streaming serviced collect my data (i mean i would like them to not but im "fine" with it)

i thought that sideloading apps like smarttube on apple tvs was pretty hard, and thats mainly why i didn't really want one, but if i can use something like smarttube then maybe ill give it a try

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 1d (2 replies)

You have to take some extra steps, it’s not just “click button -> success”, but it’s not too hard.

Perhaps you’re the target audience for the many unofficial smarttube apps in the tvOS store.

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 1 pts · 13h (1 reply)

im fine with sideloading and stuff, i use linux (arch btw (endeavouros but i want to larp as an arch user)) ykykykykykykykykykyukykykykykykyklykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykykyykykykykykyukykykyykykykykykykykykykykyuklykykiykykykykykyk

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 8h

Building and loading your own apps for tvOS isn’t hard but the instructions are always written for Xcode in its native environment (macos, formerly osx of xcode fame). You may have no problem setting up a vm for that, already have some device that runs macos natively or run into an infinite amount of roadblocks that you can’t surpass.

In the last case be careful what insane unofficial smarttube app you settle on.

You could also, and I wasn’t able to come up with a better way to put this because I’m not very smart so apologies if it seems like an attack, not watch youtube on the tv.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Why not Linux?

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 1d

im using a chromecast right now and i want a similar experience to that, just more privacy friendly

If they had asked for a project I would have given different input. Which would have also not been Linux.

TheWhimby@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 3d

I tried finding the same thing recently. The best I have found is a device running legion OS. It has critics about bit being perfect, but comparatively it's a lot more privacy focused.

My current solution is also a mini pc behind the TV. Set up a script to shut down the computer after x minutes and use the TV timer when I'm watching too late. It works but it's cumbersome.

JTskulk@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d

Debian

darkmogool@feddit.org · 3 pts · 2d (1 reply)

I have a Raspberry Pi 4 with Kodi on it.

GordonShumway@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2d

Same. I've been using this set up for about a year. I was expecting it to be a bit clunky but it honestly feels more intuitive that my old Chromecast did.

jjlinux@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 1d (2 replies)

Something (Raspberry PI, old computer, whatever) on Linux with jellyfin and Kodi (you can launch Jellyfin from Kodi with a controller).

goofsqueak@lemdro.id · 2 pts · 1d (1 reply)

i feel like a good thing would be a linux machine thats just easy to use with a remote, like watching youtube and stuff like its on a tv

jjlinux@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 1d

Yup, if I had the money I'd develop and sell one of those. I bet we could probably get away with doing something similar with a PiZero.

RanchBranch@anarchist.nexus · 3 pts · 3d (2 replies)

I run a Jellyfin server and then have a nvidia shield with lineageos installed directly attached to the tv with Whole installed on that. The shield remote works perfect, nothing connects to google/elsewhere unless I want it to, and if you wanna get fancy, you can always do a full/semi-full *arr stack, wholphin can connect to Seerr to request stuff so you barely need to touch the back end unless something goes wrong (I believe there are a couple of "public" jellyfin/Seerr servers but I've never really meased around with them, but that would eliminate the need to run a Jellyfin server for yourself. If you do end up going that route shoot me a message and I can see if I can find the addresses for the "public" jellyfin server)

Also worth noting, you should be able to install wholphin and try out jellyfin with your current setup without needing new hardware immediately, that way you can see if it's for you before buying a Shield /something else

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 1d (1 reply)

How do you setup seerr to automatically download a torrent directly from jellyfin, without me having to open a torrent app backend?

RanchBranch@anarchist.nexus · 2 pts · 1d

Seerr doesn't download torrents from JF, it adds a request to either Sonarr or Radarr (which grabs the torrent from an indexer, adds it to your torrent client, then when it finishes, moves it appropriately, and let's JF know that there is something new, and tells Seerr that it finished)

You basically set up a regular *arr stack then put Seerr on top of that. As long as you set up the underlying *arr stack correctly, then you should be able to minimally touch it and everything should be fairly good on its own. I open my underlying stack about once a month to clear out any weird issues, but I could go longer if I wanted.

upstroke4448@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 3d

The bigger privacy concerns are going to be from the streaming services you use, not the box itself, unless your using something like a SuperBox which is a known botnet.

NewOldGuard@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 2d

There are some android TV devices that you can run LineageOS on which is what I do. But they are few and far between, and require specific firmware versions which makes it pretty impractical. I have used a Raspberry Pi with LibreELEC before as a frontend for Jellyfin and that worked decently well.

My dream is for Plasma Bigscreen to be supported well enough that I can just use a standard Linux machine for my TV, and there are tons of options in that ecosystem for casting, airplay, etc. But last time I tested it the issues were too numerous to ignore, specifically around application stability and UI navigation

Majestic@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 2d (6 replies)

Do you need works out of the box without a ton of work on your part but the privacy isn't totally perfect? Then Apple TV 4k.

Do you use no major commercial streaming services and only your own hosted content from Plex/Jellyfin and you want to do some very light cloud gaming from the couch/bed? Then an Intel N150 mini PC or AMD equivalent (at present with RAM prices expect to pay at least $400 though if you want you can probably get a used SFF PC made recently (important for energy saving hardware decoding of video codecs) may work for you with either Jellyfin client or Kodi.

Caveat: HDR on Linux isn't happening anytime soon and forget Dolby Vision. Also forget above 720p, maybe 1080p in Google Chrome for online streaming services.

Vero V by the OSMC people is also an option but won't work with commercial streaming services though it is more private but you have to use your own content. It's more plug and play than the mini-pc route and does support HDR and such. But unlike mini-pcs you can't even open a browser to jankily watch commercial streaming services using it.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 1d (5 replies)

Why can't Linux stream 4k?

Majestic@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 16h

Media company DRM refuses to allow it. They fear the pirates (who bypass their DRM regardless using hacked android streaming devices) will use it to pirate their stuff more easily.

Even on Windows which has a locked down DRM pipeline you have to use Google Chrome or Microslop Edge with widevine for this and a few services STILL refuse to let you watch above 1080p on anything but a streaming box/stick or mobile OS because of their incredible fear of pirates and incredible hatred of general computing devices and user freedom.

dreugeworst@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 1d (3 replies)

Linux can, but all streaming services refuse to serve higher quality on linux

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 22h (2 replies)

Does jellyfin have this restriction?

I'm pretty sure stremio does not

Majestic@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 16h (1 reply)

Linux works with 4k. Jellyfin, Plex, Kodi, etc can all stream 4k streams to Linux assuming you're using your own content and not content from commercial services that impose DRM.

HDR and Dolby Vision are another matter because even on Windows those are recent and limited implementations.

Linux hasn't implemented proper Dolby Vision and HDR can be finicky but does mostly work on wayland. This is down to it being a lot of work, closed source and DRM and licensing problems from Nvidia, HDMI forum, etc that make it hard and very slow going. To be fair Dolby Vision doesn't really work on Windows either for streaming your own videos purposes. I think LG has an application that can sort of make it work with certain models of theirs but I believe it's mainly for gaming.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 0 pts · 14h

I don't know what Dolby Vision nor HDR are.

I understand the difference between 720, 1080, and 4k.

What would I be missing if I didn't have Dolby Vision nor HDR? Would I even notice?

technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 3d

Kodi. Why just stream when you can have movies/TV, IPTV, games, Podcasts, youtube, BandCamp, Mixcloud, weather, etc... I'm pretty sure there are addons for Netflix and that kind of proprietary stuff for people with accounts.

I recommend compiling from source for latest/fastest. It can be a project to set everything up, but I've been loving mine since I got it rolling.

I'm using a Flirc too. Highly recommend.

curious_dolphin@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 3d (2 replies)

I can't speak from personal experience, but I'd suggest looking into Kodi. It's an open source OS designed for DIY stream boxes, meaning I believe you would need to install it on a mini PC or similar. Since I haven't used it myself, I can't provide you much specific advice on it, but depending on your use cases, it might be worth a shot.

Kirk@startrek.website · 1 pts · 3d

Kodi is basically just a real-debrid frontend these days. There isn't even a decent YouTube app for it.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 1 pts · 1d

What's the benefits of this over jellyfin?

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 3d (10 replies)

might get some hate here for this one but my parents hooked me up with vseebox. Just don’t log any info into it. This is coming straight from a tech illiterate person so I don’t fuck around with Linux or anything

ChocolateFrostedSugarBombs@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d (9 replies)

Congrats you're part of another botnet.

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 3d (8 replies)

Not quite sure what that means

ChocolateFrostedSugarBombs@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3d (4 replies)

C'mon, then why did you think you were going to get hate for this? And you don't know what a botnet is?

Vseebox's are part of a known botnet. Some of the original boxes were a part of a net called Badbox. After that was discovered, some modifications were made to the code, it was rediscovered and this version is called, unsurprisingly, Badbox 2.0.

Just in case you truly don't know, by using these products you are contributing to the botnet, facilitating less harmful things like ad fraud, to much more harmful things like illicit proxy services, malware distribution, and DDoS offerings.

Vseebox's aren't the only devices that feed into this botnet either.

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2d (3 replies)

Oh. shit. Is the crypto mining thing true, too?

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 2d (2 replies)

Not really, you’re just part of a residential proxy network and all the information that can be discerned about your network and the devices connected to it is being collected by the people who run that residential proxy network.

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 2d (1 reply)

Is that any different or worse than like, google and apple?

TrollAccount69@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 2d

Depends on your definition of worse.

On the one hand you’re 100% being used as a proxy for illegal activities that could get the cops sent to your door looking to do a search for csam and the defenses of equipment on your network are being probed and either directly exploited or catalogued and sold to the highest bidder. Cameras and microphones on compromised equipment are activated and used periodically to perform surveillance and monitoring and there is at least one documented example of someone being blackmailed as part of a pig butchering scam because of that.

On the other hand Google wants to sell your information to advertisers and apple wants to use it to advertise directly to you.

So it’s kinda six or one half dozen of the other.

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 2 pts · 1d (2 replies)

You should listen to this darknet diaries episode

https://darknetdiaries.com/episode/172/

That box is hacking everyone on your local network and the internet too

deathmetaldawgy@lemmy.ml · 0 pts · 1d (1 reply)

I’m guessing getting rid of it isn’t enough anymore ? I’m getting pretty freaked out by all this my parents have like 3 of them

moldy_rice@piefed.keyboardvagabond.com · 2 pts · 1d

If I were you, I'd install a second router with a firewall on their network and only connect to that.

DrunkAnRoot@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1d

Theres osmc.tv or HDhomerun ive never used either however also with HDhomerun you can use it with jellyfin

uuj8za@piefed.social · 1 pts · 3d

[ removed ]

Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3d (2 replies)

That Chromecast watches every damned thing you do down to the last click. I'm using the same thing and have maybe 50 or so rule blocks for it on the PI hole. I was thinking of making a generic Android tv box from scratch. Hell you wouldn't need more than a used nuk or mini pc and a drive. Everything else you can setup how you like including adding plugins to help de- Google and get some privacy back with YouTube . Course the cost of that has gone up a lot since I planned. Try the Nvidia Shield Pro if you want a lot more power and less stuttering. It's at least not made by Google.

DetachablePianist@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 3d (1 reply)

FYI, the Nvidia Shield can run LineageOS. it's great!

Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3d

Had no idea and love your username. Thanks

utopiah@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2d

Offline Android device, e.g. video projector, with VLC on it that starts at boot. Content from a USB stick.

If I want something live, I plug my GrapheneOS phone on it with a USB-C to HDMI cable.

Basically keep the device as just a monitor.

kylian0087@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 3d (1 reply)

Kodi with the jellycon add-on, does require a jellyfin setup though.

If you dont mind live TV that is. While possible on kodi it is a bit more work.

bl4kers@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2d