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My dog tore up the remote so we were forced to use the roku app to control the tv.

They’re showing ads on the remote app. It feels like we can never escape this dystopian hellacape.

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[–] BoisZoi@lemmy.ml 119 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I mean... you bought a Roku.

Of all the streaming devices you can purchase, I'd argue Roku is the most privacy invasive: https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/roku-streaming-sticks/

[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 28 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Yes I am aware. I mainly use the Jellyfin app on it. I have a PiHole but I unfortunately can’t change the DHCP/DNS settings on my router (i have no admin access to it) so i have to rely change the DNS for every client on my home. But unfortunately Roku does not allow for changing their DNS server.

I have heard about putting my roku on another submet but i don’t know how to do this. Any thoughts 🤔

[–] 1hitsong@lemmy.ml 14 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I mainly use the Jellyfin app on it.

Hope it's working well for ya'!

[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yes! I noticed the video player UI changed, it looks pretty clean. Are you a Jellyfin developer? If so, I love you.

[–] 1hitsong@lemmy.ml 35 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Are you a Jellyfin developer?

I am. Funny enough, I'm the one who made the new video player OSD 🤘

If so, I love you.

Oh. Well, this is awkward. I think of you more as a friend...

[–] bane_killgrind@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's platonic, you never hugged a coworker before?

[–] 1hitsong@lemmy.ml 5 points 9 months ago

😆 No, but I've had one put me in a bear hug before.

[–] TunaLobster@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The recent updates are working really well! Congratulations on the rewrite!

[–] 1hitsong@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago
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[–] BoisZoi@lemmy.ml 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (4 children)

I have heard about putting my roku on another submet but i don’t know how to do this. Any thoughts 🤔

I believe that would rely on the modem settings... If you buy a router (eero, Google WiFi, etc.) and connect it to the Ethernet port, you could create a separate network and your modem would see your router as a single device. I have T-Mobile Internet but don't trust them with my data, so in conjunction with the above, I have all my network traffic pointed towards AdGuard DNS (Personal Plan)(they have a free version that works well, but you can't customize it).

[–] bobs_monkey@lemm.ee 7 points 10 months ago

Mullvad's DNS has been pretty decent, and they're free

https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls

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[–] bane_killgrind@lemmy.ml 6 points 9 months ago (5 children)

Buy another router to stick in between your ISP device and the rest of your network. You won't notice.

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[–] Vent@lemm.ee 29 points 10 months ago (4 children)

That's crappy, but have you seen what other remote apps are doing?

Vizio has an ad that takes up around 25% of the screen!

MyQ has a large scrolling ad at the top, and they are actively hostile towards any integration that allows you to control your garage door without using their app (unless you use one of the very few subscription-based integrations they offer, of course).

vizio app with a huge ad

myQ app with a scrolling ad

[–] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.one 11 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, if I saw this after installing a new TV, smart home appliances, etc. I would rip them back out of my house and return them all. That is absurd.

[–] BolexForSoup@kbin.social 4 points 10 months ago

HDMI port + your computer/some sort of more reputable 3rd party device. Just don't play ball lol

[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 10 months ago

hot damn 😵‍💫

[–] TragicNotCute@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

And at least when I tried to pihole the tracking bullshit, it got mad and stopped working.

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[–] EmoDuck@sh.itjust.works 23 points 9 months ago

My dog tore up the remote so we were forced to use the roku app to control the tv.

Force your dog to watch ads as a punishment

[–] cm0002@lemmy.world 22 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Are you using the actual official remote app? It looks different from mine and doesn't have the "featured" tab shown

[–] elephantgrenades@midwest.social 24 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, they updated it. Just opened my app and it has the Featured section.

[–] cm0002@lemmy.world 19 points 10 months ago

Damn, thanks I just turned off auto update for it so I can stay on this version as long as possible lmao 😂

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[–] ShitpostCentral@lemmy.world 19 points 10 months ago (10 children)

I recently stopped using my firestick. Even though I only used it for Jellyfin, the ads on the home screen were too much for me. So I swapped it out for a Raspberry Pi with LibreElec as the OS, and there have been literally no downsides.

  1. Jellyfin for Kodi add-on with Embuary skin shows your entire Jellyfin library on the home screen with continue watching and next up widgets right there when you turn on the TV.
  2. You can set it up entirely through the GUI. Works with either keyboard and mouse or remote.
  3. Uses HDMI-CEC so works with my TVs original remote and even my firestick remote.
  4. If you want to use an app remote, Kore is officially supported and has no ads.
  5. Invidious add-on with the Send to Kodi and libredirect Firefox extensions means I can cast YouTube videos to my TV with no ads.
  6. You can even run an Ethernet cable from your router/Jellyfin server to the Pi. I did this and have not experienced any buffering since.
  7. It even passed the spouse test. My wife says she likes that it's faster and more responsive. Plus she likes the asteroids screensaver.
[–] Anonymouse@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I would love to give this a try. Did you follow any guides? Which Pi?

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[–] LesserAbe@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Pardon what might be an obvious question, but can you watch paid services using this set up? (Netflix/HBO/prime etc)

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[–] laverabe@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

RoMote (Turns your Android Device into a control center for Roku)

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/wseemann.media.romote/

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.world 16 points 10 months ago

To be fair the physical remote has had ads in it since the beginning.

[–] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 16 points 9 months ago

Are you on Android?

If so: RoMote is pretty good. Here's the releases page for the APK. It's also F-Droid.

[–] zonsopkomst@lemmy.ml 15 points 10 months ago (8 children)
[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I was sent down a rabbit hole of iOS roku apps. Fuck the iOS ecosystem dude, I am not paying $20 a year subscription for a remote app.

I did find a decent one for free, no ads (i have a pihole so it may show ads for people, idk yet) and only asks for donations from time to time. I had to scroll a bit far to find it

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rocky-roku-remote-control/id1598795880

[–] stankmut@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Probably the biggest shock to getting a Mac for work is how all the basic QoL apps want $20+ a year subscriptions. I'm not paying a subscription to reverse my scrollwheel for my mouse.

[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Oh that’s cool! Unfortunately I am on iOS.

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[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Although, theoretically if a FOSS Android app can act as a remote, could there also be a way to self-host a Roku remote? 🤔

[–] rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

There's code you can download from github that would let you control your Roku device from terminal on a PC. I've used it to facilitate the design of my own Roku GUI applications. I think there might also be a TUI you can install. A lot of this is going to be easier on Linux, if that's something you're familiar with.

[–] aldalire@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Yes! (arch user btw) Github link?

[–] rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

https://github.com/jcarbaugh/python-roku <- for a python code API

https://github.com/benthetechguy/controku <- also comes as an AUR package

I've used the first one. Never used the second, but I just happen to know about it.

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[–] Kolapy@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I had something similar happen. You can find loads of replacement remotes online for very little money.

[–] lazylion_ca@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 months ago

A replacement remote for my roku stick cost more than a whole new roku box.

[–] regdog@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Enshittification marches on

[–] nicetriangle@kbin.social 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Roku to me has always seemed like a bogged down, spammy platform. I've always been surprised at how often it gets recommended in cord cutting and self hosting sort of forums.

[–] nul9o9@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I have a fire stick and a roku device. The Firestick is a slow, ad ridden POS, the Roku UI is much more straightforward forward to me.

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