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Amazon is now automatically playing fullscreen video ads on Fire TV
(9to5google.com)
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this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2023
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You can update the TVs settings to block these new large video ads. However, Amazon is getting more and more intrusive with its ads. I imagine that, similar to the Alexa Shows that I also use, every few weeks they'll tweak the ads, making your previous "disable this" settings no longer applicable. It's technically a new ad type, so they can auto enable it again. Super frustrating.
Largely in response to these new autoplay ads, I replaced my Fire TV with an LG TV. I've got another LG TV from only a few years ago that doesn't really have ads. This one.. does. Damn it. Don't get me wrong, they're much less in-your-face when compared to Amazon's ads. But, damn, does everything just have to be ads now?
For all of Apple’s faults, their Apple TV is pretty decent. A home screen with apps on them; no ads. It’s great
God, if I could just install SmartTube and Kodi/Stremio on an Apple TV, I’d convert in a heartbeat. Until then, I’ll keep my Shield TV Pro.
Install libreelec onto a raspberry pi 4. Its a Linux OS that automatically boots into Kodi.
Kodi has an ad free youtube addon, which you can augment with a sponsorblock addon to skip in video ads.
If you have plex or jellyfin they intergrate really well with kodi. For plex, use plexkodiconnect, for jellyfin, use the jellyfin kodi app.
Flirc has a great remote if you go with the above called the skip.
I used to be into that sort of tinkering and custom install/configuring of all sorts of software. I probably still have 2-3 flircs in a drawer somewhere.
These days I just want to be able to buy something, plug it in, and have it work. The idea of installing a plex/jellyfin server and a custom OS on a pi might as well be the same as getting a 4 year degree at this point. I’m sure it works out great for loads of people, but it’s definitely not something I’m interested in.
Id say youre a handful of YouTube videos away from getting the above done, but if you aren't interested that's no problem.
It’s not the knowledge that I need, it’s mostly the time and desire to set up all that stuff and maintain it and keep it working and constantly needing to track what the latest and greatest version of whatever platform or software that is out there. It’s the same reason I don’t jailbreak my phone or hack my consoles anymore. Sometimes it’s nice to just buy a thing that works out of the box and use it as its intended.
What about the remote?
I used Kodi for almost a decade and switched to firetv because add-ons were breaking constantly. Netflix worked maybe 20% of the time.
Chromecast with stremio is still the perfect streaming setup for me, now if only the voice recognition on the remote was a bit less shit.
Just so that people are aware, from stremio's privacy policy...
Agree 100% with this, and I’ve tried most all of them.
If only it didn't require me to buy a newer iPhone or iPad to validate my account.
Pretty sure you don’t need one. I’ll look into it later tonight and get back to you though
Edit: tried resetting my Apple TV with a throw away account not linked to other Apple devices. Worked fine
You don’t. I’ve set one up without a single other Apple device in the house.
In order to update my Apple TV, they tell me I have to have a newer phone.
Similar to: https://www.reddit.com/r/appletv/comments/ys4z35/apple_tv_is_now_unusable_without_an_iphone/
Now you can use it, but guess what is required for future app updates? Later OS updates. It's a trap.
Are you the OP in that post? This screen comes up when you add an Apple ID. I recently signed out of my Apple TV and got the same screen. I used the physical remote and entered my credentials. I didn’t need to use my phone, even though that was an option. Maybe this was an issue with iOS 16 as the post is a year old.
I don’t know how to fix your problem but I am curious about it.
I assume you have an old iPhone tied to your iCloud account. What happens if you untie that phone and wait like a day (some iCloud stuff is weird and can take about 24 hours to update server side info)
You can enter the credentials manually. I just did it few weeks ago.
Well that's destroyed any interest I may have had in them
That information is incorrect.
My LG TV updated to show ads in the input selection menu. I was pissed for a few months until someone showed me you can disable them in the settings. Maybe you can disable them on yours?
What setting disables the current ones?
You switched from a system that is currently shitty (Fire TV) but easily replaceable (just an HDMI addon) to a system that is currently less shitty (LG TV) but now you are firmly locked in into the LG eco system.
As bad as FireTV currently is, at least you can easily ditch it. Just pull the plug and buy another brand of TV stick.
If you keep relying on your smart TV apps then you will have to endure the slow shittyfication for years to come.