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Roku disables TVs and streaming devices until users consent to new terms (techcrunch.com)

submitted 8 months ago by ylai@lemmy.ml to c/technology@lemmy.world

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[–] Nommer@sh.itjust.works 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I have a smart light switch I can't use anymore because they updated the app to force you to make an account to use it and I refused since it worked fine for the last 3 years without them needing to sell my data.

[–] gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 8 months ago (2 children)

If the firmware on the switch hasn't been updated to not function with old versions of the app why not just snag an old APK and use the old app version?

At least as long as you own the thing, worth a shot

[–] diffcalculus@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Easier to replace the light switch at that point

[–] Gestrid@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

It's... really not that hard.

Uninstall the new app, download the old app from https://www.apkmirror.com/ (which is basically an archive of most apps downloadable from Google Play).
Use an app like APK signer to change the app's "signature" so it doesn't automatically update.
Install it.

It takes like 10 minutes at most.

I did exactly this with the Discord app last year when they suddenly changed the app's entire layout.

[–] meliaesc@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I love discord's new layout, did you give it a chance?

[–] Gestrid@lemmy.ca 3 points 8 months ago

What I'm talking about was when they changed the Android app to behave more like the iOS app. It was a buggy mess when it first launched. It's much better now, though. I've since updated my app to the current version.

[–] Nommer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 8 months ago

I do believe it was. It was a TP Link smart switch and it routinely needed updates or else it wouldn't work. The app was finicky as hell before and I don't really care anymore for it since it's main use was to turn on the bedroom lights automatically. But now I work 2nd shift so the sun is up anyway when I wake up. It works as a normal switch now.