Technology @lemmy.world Lee Duna @lemmy.nz 10 mo. ago

Adblocker for TV - AdGuard is available for Android TV: here is how it works

www.ghacks.net Adblocker for TV - AdGuard is available for Android TV: here is how it works - gHacks Tech News

AdGuard for Android TV is a new solution to block advertisement and other unwanted content on TVs.

58 comments

For everyone without a AdGuard subscription who wants to watch YouTube without ads and without integrated sponsor bullshit on the TV I'd recommend SmartTube. Don't forget to remap your YouTube button on the chromecast remote to SmartTube.

I'm paying YouTube Premium but still use SmartTube on the TV because of its integrated Sponsorblock.
- Seconding SmartTube, it's also just straight up better than the YouTube app on top of the adblocking
  
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- Yep, as much as I love adguard (and I'm SO happy I bought a lifetime android subscription ten years ago when it was just a few dollars), smaettube is probably enough for most
- How does one remap buttons on the remote?
  
  I imagine it depends on the TV model/brand. You should google your make and model.
  
  I used this app for my Sony Bravia: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.homebutton
  
  If you're using google chromecast (not sure if applicable to other remotes), try https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.homebutton&hl=en_US&gl=US
- SmartTube is amazing.
If you're going through all that work, try an alternate launcher.
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  Not the guy you asked, but I use Projectivy Launcher. It's not FOSS, but it does a decent job of putting a suggestions/up next feed on the homescreen and is fairly customizable.
  
  For FOSS it's Flauncher for me. I haven't tried any others, I like Flauncher because i could put big simple app icons on the screen.
- Yeah, this doesn't seem to provide anything a better launcher + Pi-hole don't already provide. At least on mobile, the ad blockers help when I'm away from home and not going through the Pi-hole for DNS queries...but my tv doesn't leave the house much.
  
  An option for you. Setup a WireGuard server on your network and use the WireGuard mobile app to use that VPN connection when not connected to your home WiFi. Then you’re always using the internet through your pihole. That’s how I have mine setup and it works well.
Another option is to use adb to change the DNS to any adblocking DNS of your choice. Here's how: https://yamen.dev/configuring-private-dns-on-android-tv
- IIRC that doesn't help YouTube since the ads are served from the same servers as the streaming content.
  
  That's right, YouTube ads will not be blocked using this method.
- Looks like I have a fun Saturday project. Thanks!
honestly, i'm just gonna hook my TV up to a thinkcentre or some shit, my android TV is horrible to use. if they're gonna make it difficult to use their product the way i want, i'm not gonna.
- Try SmartTube first
- Since it's android you can make it work how you want it to.
  
  Install a different launcher, like Projectivy and you can make your homescreen exactly what you want, no cluttered mess of ads
  
  Get SmartTube for youtube
  
  change what your buttons do with TVQuickActions
  
  My dirt-cheap $20 walmart Android TV box now looks nothing like it did when I first booted it. Completely customized to how I want it to work. I even have it set up so my Disney button makes my livingroom lights dim for movies.
  
  i still need to purchase an extra device, since my tv runs on version 4 or something like that.
  
  might as well use something that's REALLY customizable. but i will definetely consider an ATV box.
- Careful, Netflix won't slow maximum resolution on a PC.
  
  i'm not using netflix. again, not usable the way i want to.
  
  private jellyfin server FTW.
  
  If you use the app it does
It won’t Adblock anything inside apps, just like on phones … there is no magic.
- It blocks ads on phones inside apps if you use DNS ad blocking.
  
  I love how easy using a private DNS is on android.
  
  YouTube app is not possible to block ads . You need to access YouTube with a mobile internet browser that support plugins . Like Firefox in android and safari in iOS .
- There are AdBlock options for Android that can work on apps. Generally you need to route all internet traffic via the AdBlock app which requires root, a faux-VPN, or a PiHole type solution.
  
  It can usually only do host-level blocking but that's generally enough.
  
  Not for apps like YouTube .
- So why would I use it over Firefox + uBlock?
  
  How often are you using Firefox on your TV?
Smarttube is amazing....my wife thought I was nuts when I deleted YouTube.
- the sponsor-block feature is so dang nice if you watch a lot of podcasts. Sometimes it's like 30 min of ad-reads total
Or run Android TV (Lineage OS) on a Jetson Nano with RethinkDNS to get a high quality experience you actually have control of.
- Seems more work than running a pihole on whole network and forcing all dns to it via firewall rule catch all port 53/853
  
  I like the per-application fidelity that you get from RethinkDNS. You're definitely right though, PiHole is a great solution! Personally I run PfSense in a VM and PiHole in a container on the same hypervisor so there's roughly no latency.
  
  The Jetson solution on the other hand is perfect for hotels/dorm rooms/etc. Both options are excellent when used well!
Can someone recommend me a cheap 1080p android tv with app sideloading available? I've been looking for options in europe but they seem to cost 60€+

Edit: android tv DONGLE, not a whole tv
- You should also specify the size you're looking for, not much help without it.
  
  I'm sorry, what do you mean by size?
- Walmart's Onn 4k Android TV box is perfect IMO. Costs $20
  
  You can't game on it, but I never had one issue streaming video
  
  I'm looking exactly for one such thing, but in europe. We don't have walmarts and shipping costs are too high
Tell me again how much better Android is than everyone else? I’m just not seeing it.
- cant tell if this is sarcasm...
  
  Android TV has freed me from watching ads at all, ever.
  When I visited family I was shocked how much ads people watch, even on services they pay for
  
  Walmart Onn 4k Android Box is $20 and works really well. You wont be gaming on it, but I never have issues streaming video.

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