i tried using a linux machine with plasma bigscreen but it just wasn’t for me, and I kinda miss my chromecast’s simplicity. So is there any streaming box or whatever that’s decently easy to set up and also respects my privacy? I know that it’s basically impossible but I just want to know what the best option is. Also I’m in europe so no Onn. boxes and stuff. I would also like it to be second hand since the prices are a bit better
thank guy i love drew gooden
Apple TV is the best choice currently imho.
It does not bombard you with ads and the tracking is not as bad as Google and Amazon.
forgot to mention but is it easy enough to install a third party youtube app with built-in adblocking, kinda like smart tube? I literally can’t watch youtube without adblock (sponsorblock is a nice bonus too)
has anyone looked to see what data it’s collecting on you?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/all-the-ways-apple-tv-boxes-do-and-mostly-dont-track-you/
Here’s a detailed article with some answers and ways to change configuration to limit tracking even more than the out of the box experience quiz
it’s hard to tell how much to trust apple. it’s clear that they have graphene levels of security but their affinity for working w isreal makes me question their work.
You will not find a hardware manufacturer or operating system company that doesn’t work with/in Israel either directly or through subsidiaries.
The iof has one of the most advanced cyberwarfare divisions and actively uses the country’s compulsory military service as a way to cycle people through the military and out into industry.
E: I wanna be clear that I’m not saying you should give up but that you should instead recognize the constraints you’re under if you want to make good decisions. And that you should use adp on icloud.
I mean, you are on a privacy subreddit, e don’t mention how much exposure you’re willing to tolerate, and exposure to who.
With a Chromecast your streaming provider knows what you’re watching, and Google know what you’re watching.
Using a degoogled android means giving up on high end widevine support, which means that even if Netflix (or everything else) works, you’ll be stuck at 720p low quality.
By pirating, putting everything on a Jellyfin server, then streaming via upnp no one is watching (maybe your TV manufacturer, depends) and maybe you don’t even need a streaming box, but of course a used Nvidia shield with lineageos will make for a better experience.
I mainly just want something where the company that makes the box doesn’t collect all of my data, I’m not crazy about privacy like that
Understandable, but tough luck. If the budget is high, Apple TV might be acceptable.
Appletv4k
Get the last version instead of this one because it’ll save you a pile of money and you’ll still have updates for seven years.
E: if you haven’t ever bought Apple stuff secondhand, they take extreme measures to prevent theft and reselling which takes the form of device lockout. What this means is that someone might be selling a locked out device that can’t be recovered to you. Make sure you actually see that the device goes to the first time setup screen (or have the seller do a reset in front of you) or use a marketplace like eBay that does very easy returns.
Don’t forget that you need an iPhone for the setup. Or did they remove that requirement?
You don’t need one, you just need to create an apple id on a computer if you don’t have any other apple devices. That computer can run Linux or any other OS.
oh wait you need that? mmm…
You don’t even need to add a payment method, it can be all made up info
ah okay
I think you just have to log into icloud on another computer nowadays.
Apple TV4k. No ads on Home Screen, prompts for permissions like location data use by apps, etc.
Anything else I could recommend would cost at least as much or more and either require ADB commands/rooting process and installing alternative launchers OR lack the ability to use commercial streaming apps.
Price new is significantly lower than the Shield pro.
So far due to old stock prices haven’t gone up but once they release a new model due to AI RAM crisis I expect an increase of $30-$50 at least probably including the used market. It’s not cheap but it’s cheaper than most of the “nice” Android running devices.
Pair with a pi-hole or firewall with DNS blocking capabilities and you can do a lot more to block tracking by the apps themselves though obviously only so much without breaking them.
I’m just waiting for the new Apple TV to be released (when, Apple???) to get one. Unfortunately, they recently cranked up the prices even for the current model: $199 and $249. That means that it’s no longer significantly cheaper than nvidia shield pro ($200).
I’m still going to get the Apple TV eventually, but wanted to let you know. The price increase caught me by surprise. If I had known about it and that Apple would delay the new one so much, I would have bought the current model at the old price.
Not surprising but unfortunate. As to the new model probably they’re waiting for upgraded Siri AI to include that as a selling feature as a kind of home assistant hub seems to be the consensus. Really only reason to wait has been a newer chip that can support on-device AI upscaling of older video content. At this point they may not release it until late 2027 or even 28. Really hard to say as Apple isn’t rushing into the AI stuff the way Google is and seem to be pacing themselves or struggling with it depending on how you see it.
That is quite an ouch bump too. The 128GB model with ethernet used to be only $150 and the cheaper wifi only one was $120. Still a decent chance some retailer puts them on sale as the old prices used to drop by up to $30 each a few times a year.
As to the Shield. Last I saw IF you can even find the Shield pro was that they were going for $250 or so each. NVIDIA may not have updated MSRP but that’s probably because they forgot it exists. I know for a fact that things like Ugoos and Homatics have bumped their prices up to mostly over $200 lately thanks to the AI nonsense so the future really is over $200 for a device like this new and if this continues it could be $300 by spring/summer next year.
I’ve heard the rumors about the new Apple TV waiting for the new Siri AI to be integrated too. I really hope it doesn’t take much longer for it to come out, although with the new price it may take another while before I buy it. I know about the price. I had been keeping an eye on it for a while, so it was quite disheartening to see the increase. Good points on the prices of all these devices. I can’t wait for the AI bubble to blow up, although on the other hand that’s most likely going to be a disaster of its own.
Off topic. But if you’re willing to invest some time, LibreELEC might be your best bet.
I am not sure why Ubuntu installed on hardware in a media center box is not fine. Just use a wireless keyboard and track ball combo. Stream with any web browser. Very simple. We have done this for 20 years.
If the living room remote control experience is needed, flirc and a skip remote is great too. Used that for years with kodi.
Try Kodi with a Debrid service such as TorBox. There’s a Flatpak to try it out on an existing computer then you can make a dedicated RPi5 LibreElec box if you like it. The UI setup isn’t easy but once you figure out how to set it up nicely it works great.
PS. This is piracy stuff but that’s the only way you’ll get privacy. Be very wary of popular piracy streaming boxes like the VeeSee as they come loaded with malware.
I just use an Intel Nuc. I’ve been using it for >10years now and it still does 4k no problem.
Tracking is the standard operating procedure for all streaming services and devices. There is no option that doesn’t track what you watch.
just something that’s doing the least amount of tracking
Oh yeah, did you ever get your jellyfin server running?
eh I scratched it, it was just kinda annoying so I’ll just watch my discs on my consoles instead
Once you get a set top box figured out you can always try it again.
👍
