Comment on is there a set top media player that doesn't require an online account?
lemmefixdat4u@lemmy.world 4 months ago
An Android TV box doesn’t -need- Google once you’ve downloaded all the apps. But you do need it to keep all those apps up to date. I’m not sure what you gain with not having an account attached to the device. All those streaming services you mentioned require accounts. What’s one more?
LordCrom@lemmy.world 4 months ago
The Google tracking. I run everything out of my garage. Just to avoid a Google signin. Plus you can’t get an account without linking it with a phone number. VoIP numbers don’t work last time I tried.
lemmefixdat4u@lemmy.world 4 months ago
Pay-as-you-go phones work. A $15 (sometimes free) basic cellphone with a few minutes are all you need. Once the account is set up, the phone isn’t needed. I’ve made quite a few Google throw-away accounts this way. Just never lose your password and don’t turn on 2FA.
As far as Google tracking goes - you can firewall off all the Google servers if you dislike them, or use a router that connects through a VPN if you need that level of privacy.