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It was cool to read about some of the things that go on in the background during development.
It's also insanely scummy that Netflix forces manufacturers to put the button on the remote in order to let the box access them for streaming. They don't even provide any kickbacks for doing so it's JUST to use the Netflix app on the box.
I like to use Buttons remapper and set my button to FLauncher on my shield. 🥹
But you still have an ugly netflix advertisement on your remote
Sticker, nail polish, sandpaper, plastic coating, or use a different remote. There are remotes for the Shield that don't have a Netflix button, mine doesn't. That said, I usually use a keyboard and mouse with mine, and if I'm ever using a remote, it's usually my OSMC remote.
You can also replace the stock ROM with LineageOS, if a simple launcher switch isn't enough.
Good article.
I wish Nvidia made a launcher without all the ads. Google/Android TV is not bad per se, but then you get ads, and slowdowns... and I just can't be arsed and I go back to Apple TV. (I don't own a Shield. I have Google/Android TV on my Hisense TV.) Unless it's YouTube, then it's the MacBook (because Firefox + uBlock Origin).
The latest Shield is $200 and it's from 2019. I'm thinking a better buy would be a gently used M1 Mac Mini. That will have 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, and I bet it kicks the shit out of the Shield. It's actually unfair to compare a Shield to a whole ass computer but that's what I'm doing. I would get a handheld keyboard/trackpad thing from Amazon for like $20 and control it with that. Set up the overscan, set up a not-admin account with no password, and an admin account with a password. Make the Dock as big as possible, and put Firefox front and center. And maybe some emulators. And the usual, stuff like GamePass, Nvidia GeForce Now, etc. Stuff you'd want on your TV. But like Netflix and shit? Probably best to just go through Firefox.
In the words of Luis Guzman's character in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo, "how is this a bad plan?"
First and foremost, it doesn’t matter at all that it was made in 2019. It plays every video I’ve ever thrown at it and it’s still getting updates.
Second, it’s very easy to replace the launcher, as already mentioned in the thread.
Third, a general purpose computer would almost certainly be more powerful in absolute terms, it would also be much worse in terms of usability for the specific purpose of playing videos and acting like a tv appliance. I’ve used HTPCs before and worked very hard at making them comfortable to use with a TV. No matter how hard I tried, they were always clunky. As soon as I got the shield, I never contemplated using an htpc again.
ProjectIvy launcher is super easy to install and set as default.
I wish Nvidia made a launcher without all the ads.
Why would they waste their time when there are already ad-free launchers that no one cares about?
The latest Shield is $200 and it's from 2019. I'm thinking a better buy would be a gently used M1 Mac Mini.
You're not getting a M1 Mac Mini for $200. Best case scenario you're paying double.
Mac Mini would make a terrible TV box.