Google TV and Android TV private setup

Questions
1

I self-host (Plex), but still use Google TV for other apps.

Let me phrase the question this way: how bad is Google TV (lol)?

I didn’t see any recommendations for this on PG’s website.

What would be the best replacement that uses Android TV (or any OS as long as the app choices are the same)?

2

If your TV came with Android TV - I’d rather get an Apple TV box and use that instead of connecting the TV directly to the internet. You have Plex on Apple TV too. Apple is better at being more private and you also have Proton VPN for Apple TV you can install.

How bad is it? Depends on what you’re trying to “protect” or safeguard yourself and why. But generally, Android/Google will still collect all it can if connected to the internet.

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3

If we are to believe Techlore, Google is just as good as Apple.

If you can limit the TV to an isolated VAN/VLAN, you should limit the data Google siphons. A problem that can arise is that Google may demand a login in the future and correlate the shows you have watched along with all the sellable information.

4

I have one and I don’t know about privacy but the annoying thing is that you can basically only install apps through Google Play store. Like you can sideload, but you have to enable dev settings, and transfer files via Bluetooth which is really a pain.

I side-loaded F-Droid but it doesn’t even show up in home screen, so the only way to use it to open it’s apk file again :joy: Google anti-competitive techniques at it’s finest

Note: NewPipe does show up in home screen after I installed it but not F-Droid lol.

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5

Per Mozilla “Privacy Not Included” ratings Nvidia Shield is the “least creepy” Android TV.

3 Likes
6

Try using the “Send files to TV” app. Install it on your phone and TV and you can easily transfer files to the TV over WiFi.

Smart Tube Next seems to be the best Youtube frontend.

I’d also recommend using “Perflyst and Dandelion Sprout’s Smart-TV Blocklist”. You can sideload Blokada on the TV and use it there. Or AdguardHome on your router or on a Pi-Hole.

In terms of apps not showing on the homescreen. It depends on the TV manufacturer. But mine lets me pick and choose the homescreen apps. With others all visible in the TV equivalent of the app drawer.

7

Aptoide works too. https://tv.aptoide.com/

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8

Just a heads up, which probably everyone is already aware, that Apple is very finicky adding certain apps to their ecosystem. There are some apps that may be quite trick to use in the Apple TV. Stremio for example and no YT frontends (it may change with the possibility to perhaps have Grayjay available).

9

Did someone ever considered or bothered trying to use a Google Pixel Tablet with GrapheneOS as a “TV box”?

4k@60fps over USB to HDMI connection cable

Connect a Nvidia Shield Control to Google Pixel Tablet

Navigation wise would be probably quite clunky with the tablet mirrored in the TV but probably doable? I don’t know

10

I already use it. But I would like to directly install and update on the TV. Because I need to update NewPipe otherwise it’s not working.

I use the Google TV, so it’s official.

I will try it.

11

I’m never going to buy a smart TV ever. If it comes to a point where there are no non-smart TV, I will go the projector route.

I use a Chromecast + Google TV.

So knowing that, and I want the experience to be as good, would switching to Nvidia shield + aptoide work?

12

I think you could also use F-Droid.

See this list GitHub - Generator/Awesome-Android-TV-FOSS-Apps: A curated list of FOSS Android TV apps

1 Like
13

I agree that the Nvidia Shield is probably a reasonable solution here. With the MicroG build of LineageOS it’s possible to mitigate the impact of Alphabet’s surveillance capitalist empire on your family TV.

Follow the LineageOS device page instructions to flash the OS on the Shield, but replace “lineage-21.0-20250120-nightly-foster-signed.zip” with “lineage-21.0-20250106-microG-foster.zip.” You’ll still need to do some additional DeGoogling, changing the NTP server from time.google.com, etc…

Install Guide
https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/foster/variant1/

Lineage w/MicroG

https://download.lineage.microg.org/foster/

2 Likes
14

LineageOS with microG may have slight security update delay due to it taking time to build from Lineage

Since LineageOS now supports MicroG in the vanilla version, I recommend installing LineageOS then flashing MicroG, or just using MicroG unprivileged as an APK

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15

I think Google TV can be set up in a privacy-protecting way. Pi-hole and some technical know-how is required.

Setup

  1. Set it up as a basic TV.
  2. Enable developer options.
  3. Sideload apps that you want on the TV, ie. Plex, through adb by connecting to the TV from your chosen device via command “adb connect x.x.x.x” where x.x.x.x is your TVs IP address. You will have to get each apk you want individually and also manually update your apps.

Connectivity

  1. Connect your TV to your network and give it a static IP.
  2. Use Pi-hole to give it the bare minimum internet access so that you don’t get constant “No internet connection” warnings popping up by doing the following:
    a. Add the TV as a client by the static IP you assigned it and assign it to a dedicated group that you make.
    b. Create a regex blacklist for “./” (without quotes) for your dedicated TV group, which will block all DNS requests, effectively blocking all internet connectivity.
    c. Identify what domains it tries to connect to for a connectivity check by tailing pi-hole.log and instructing the TV to check internet connection. The check should fail at this point.
    d. Add an exact whitelist for each domain for your dedicated TV group and then try the connection test again, which should pass this time.
    e. Optional: add an exact whitelist for “time.android.com” to keep time synced.

The TV should now have access to your local network including your Plex library with very limited internet access, with the ability to install and update apps through adb at your leisure. All telemetry should be blocked with this setup.

Side note/plug: consider switching from Plex to Jellyfin for selfhosted streaming. Plex is a privacy nightmare.

2 Likes
16

Just a heads up, this was discussed before in this forum and for those that want to go this path be advised that certain services such as Netflix won’t going to give 4K resolution even if you have a 4K TV and of course the Netflix plan for that stream quality:

17

Ok so many different suggestions here, thanks everyone! Follow-up questions :slight_smile:

@aprivacyguy

Would the benefit of setting up a Google TV just be for money vs the Nvidia Shield?

Manuallly updating apps need to be done at what frequency? How much time would it take per week?

Your solution seems like the “best” solution, but also seems like a pain to setup and manage. Would there be any other benefits aside from the money saving?

@boruz + @anon5410820

Does LineageOS have a good UX comparable to GoogleTV? What are your experience with it? Any bugs or just annoying things that happen? Also, does all the “mainstream” app work with this setup? Like Netflix, Disney+, Crunchyroll, etc. It’s ok if not, I’m just wondering.

18

Unfortunately I can’t help you on that because I never used LineageOS Android TV. I was just making a statement of Vanilla Lineage with MicroG flashed/installed as an app vs “LineageOS for MicroG”

19

Those require a specific version of Wildvine found exclusively on MacOS and Windows, as well as an unbroken HDCP through HDMI connectors (so no DP, IIRC)

The ethical and private way to stream media is to rip it out yourself from DVDs and Blu Rays you own and stream it via something like Jellyfin.

The unethical way is get them from the Bay.

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20

Even with these precautions, the device can connect directly to some IPs (TCP/UDP). Through the router’s firewall, it is also wise to create rules so that the device only connects to defined IPs.