this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2024
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Step 1. Never connect it to the Internet. Step 2. Connect Linux machine. Step 3. Profit.
I do this. It's the best. You can buy used HP or Dell mini workstations on eBay for super cheap.
Full Linux, full ad blocking, full access to every streaming service instead of just whoever makes an app for your particular TV.
And with the enshittification of smart TVs injecting ads everywhere they can, keeping it disconnected is the only way to fly. Modern tech is like Skynet, you can't let it connect or it's the end of the world.
Only problem is streaming services like Amazon that purposefully limit the quality on Linux.
This is the point where you download qbittorrent on the machine, and hop on your favorite torrent site to go get whatever show or movie you want for free, and play it on VLC. Just make sure to use a VPN if you live in a country that enforces piracy law. My reccomendation is Mullvad VPN ($5/month) if you care about privacy, and literally whatever's the cheapest if you don't.
No port forwarding anymore with mullvad sadly
You can get a seedbox for $10-$15 and set up the arr stack to automate everything. I think we watch YouTube ad free more than anything though.