AppleTV.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/the-ars-technica-guide-to-dumb-tvs/

Thanks!

What’s the best alternative app?

That’s what the Pro Max models are for. They have a massive battery.

People had their chance to stop him last November. A third of those eligible didn’t even vote.

Now it’s up to the courts. The other branches of government are controlled by a deranged Authoritarian and his sycophants.

Just buy an LG and use an external media device. LG TVs work perfectly fine with no network connection and you can set them to power on and go straight to the last used HDMI input.

I never see the built-in OS on my LG OLED.

Scrolling is smooth, but does anyone else feel like the comment collapsing/expanding animation runs at a lower frame rate something?

That’s the privacy policy for the AppleTV app. Here’s the specific information on AppleTV device settings:

https://support.apple.com/en-tm/guide/tv/atvb66239fa1/tvos

You can share analytics data with Apple or app developers in order to improve their software. Sharing this data is completely optional

Seriously, buy an AppleTV. It works standalone without the need for other apple products. Has a fast processor, ability to disable telemetry, good track record of software update support etc. and NO.ADS.IN.THE.OPERATING.SYSTEM.

Using an Android box will result in the same issues you’re trying to get away from with SmartTVs.

If you’re technically capable enough you can build your own HTPC, but due to DRM you’re going to run into issues streaming 4K content from streaming services. And PC and Linux HDR and Dolby Vision support is a rabbit hole.

I just want posts or communities to have category tags for me to block by tag. So I can block all anime and every non-English community.

I have nothing against them. They’re just not of interest to me and I don’t want them on my feed. Blocking a community is mostly useless because there are so many of them it’s like playing whack a mole.

🏴‍☠️

Obligatory “just watch Andor” comment.

Seriously. Go and watch Andor. It proves that good Star Wars content can be made. It has a diverse cast. You just need good writing and a vision. That’s what’s missing from the new content.

I dont understand why you want to keep a TV offline for privacy/ad reasons, but also say you’re using a Chromecast or Roku media devices anyway? Thats like wanting to keep your windows locked but leaving your front door wide open.

Anyway, LG and Sony OLED TVs offer the best image quality and will work just fine without an internet connection.

I have my LG TV offline and use an AppleTV for everything. I never see the LG OS or Home Screen or any ads or logos once it’s configured to boot straight into external HDMI device.

The show wasn’t perfect, but it felt like something fresh and different. I really hope they can get more of it. I guess HBO would rather pump out something derivative.

Better support for Dolby Vision. I also prefer the Infuse UI.

Sideloading and customisation is a downside. Like other Apple devices, the App Store is the way they want you to install things.

There are ways to sideload things like Kodi through pre signed certificates but I don’t know much about it.

Dont need another Apple device.

AppleTV with the Infuse app.

Blows everything else away. It will connect to Plex and Jellyfin servers. Or a standard SMB folder share if you prefer. No ads. It never lags. Has reliable frame rate matching. And you’re likely to get 5+ years of software update support.

The only thing it won’t do is Atmos from Bluray rips (it will do lossless 7.1 but not the atmos layer). If you need that, then get an Nvidia Shield Pro.

Last time I visit a wax museum while tripping on acid.

I run an LG OLED TV (disconnected from network), AppleTV, and my own media server. I haven’t seen an ad in my TV for years.