I use ad blockers and open source privacy focused software whenever I can but occasionally I have to use computers that don’t belong to me or an older phone where my usual applications aren’t installed and seeing all the advertisements just feels dirty and dystopian.

I think the worst ads are the text to speech ones that say “Download this app today”. The unblinking energenic people saying you can make a living at home are probably a close second.

  • bug@lemmy.one
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    Tangentially related, I recently replaced my Chromecast with a “Chromecast with Google TV”. It’s an Android TV box which you can install SmartTube on and cast YouTube with no ads. Yes, I am aware of the irony of paying Google for new hardware instead of paying them for their ad-free service, but the new device cost less than 2 months of YouTube Premium and I like tinkering.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      Oh nice! I’ll have to look into that! Thanks! It’s not glacially slow, is it? That’s one of the reasons I never use the apps of my so-called smart TV.

      • CaptKoala@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        My smarttube is glacially slow, but it’s the TV hardware that can’t keep pace, I assure you.

        I’ve also noticed when the stream is cut by YT, smarttube will almost always manage to get it back, very rarely do I have to actively pick up the remote to fix it.

        When my TV plays nice, it’s a perfect YT replacement, and I highly recommend it.

      • bug@lemmy.one
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        As the other commenter said it’s about the hardware really. I tested it out on a really old device first to make sure it actually worked - it did but at a glacially slow pace. The new box is pretty snappy though!