I would pay a lot for YouTube Premium if it actually blocked all the ads. Unfortunately, it does not. The video itself is allowed to contain ads inside the video, which YouTube does not block. I have heard that if the creator declares it, it can be skipped, but SponsorBlock (aims to) skip all of them by default, and for free.
I have an iPhone — the second worst device for consuming YouTube on, tied with the iPad for the same reason. On my old Android phone, I have Firefox with uBlock Origin. Same with my Macs, and my work PC (which is at work). The worst device for consuming YouTube on, I also own — the Apple TV streaming box (which is ironically the best streaming box due to it not having ads in the OS — I’m dead serious, even if you’re Android all the way, you should get one).
On my iPhone, I’ve deleted the YouTube app. Instead, I have a shortcut to YouTube on my home screen that opens in Safari. I have a Safari plugin called Wipr 2 that I paid $5 for, one time, to a solo developer who uses the Fediverse (Mastodon) and is a woman (this shouldn’t matter, but I do enjoy minority representation, and seeing girls win). I occasionally see ads on YouTube, but it’s rare, and typically, refreshing Wipr (updating its block lists) fixes the issue.
That’s on an iPhone. Wipr2 is not available for tvOS. So mostly, I consume YouTube content on my MacBook, which I can mirror to my TV. Ironically, the TV itself (which runs Android TV) is better at mirroring my MacBook (which is between 1 and 2 metres away) than the Apple TV box, at the same distance. (Make that make sense.) (So, you often hear about Apple and Google being rivals around iOS and Android, respectively, but Apple actually licenses AirPlay to Google for inclusion in Android TV. That is actually a thing, and it works great.) I can also run a Thunderbolt/USB-C to HDMI cable and make my TV a monitor for my MacBook, and just drag a Firefox window up to the TV. But it’s a MacBook Air, I still have to keep the lid open, and the screen on (I turn the brightness all the way down though).
That’s quite an assumption and also inaccurate. All I said was that Apple is not a good TV box due to it spying on you (in response to the OP saying it is the best streaming box). I never suggested anything about Google
For consumer boxes, it’s basically Shield (Google), Apple TV, Roku, Fire (de-Googled Android), or some bargain bin shitbox.
The best streaming box on the market is arguably the Apple TV because it’s a bunch of icons, no ads. You say it spies on you, I’ve seen or heard no proof of this. The only “proof” is that it’s closed source and you don’t know what it’s doing. But not knowing what it does does not necessarily mean you get to assume the worst and tout it as fact. It just looks like you have an agenda — or a stake in the competition. The best set-top box on the market for gaming (if we specify that) becomes the Shield, due to more options on Android, though the Apple TV can run RetroArch now, so it’s closer.
The best option is probably to get an old corporate junker, put Linux on it, find some 10’/3m interface, and get a wireless keyboard/trackpad deal like the K400, then you can do what you want with it. But, most people aren’t gonna go that far. Maybe more people should. Curious now what you’re running with. I’ll tell you mine — 2nd gen (2021) Apple TV 4K. Good for everything but YouTube. I mostly use it for Plex (streaming from my Mac). I could use Infuse (Apple-only streaming thing like Plex) but I don’t care for it.
Unwatched on iPhone is pretty good, give it a look if you want a native app that isn’t the official one. Although I also vouch for Wipr2 as well. Stumbled on both as recommendations on here over the past 6 or so months.
I would pay a lot for YouTube Premium if it actually blocked all the ads. Unfortunately, it does not. The video itself is allowed to contain ads inside the video, which YouTube does not block. I have heard that if the creator declares it, it can be skipped, but SponsorBlock (aims to) skip all of them by default, and for free.
I have an iPhone — the second worst device for consuming YouTube on, tied with the iPad for the same reason. On my old Android phone, I have Firefox with uBlock Origin. Same with my Macs, and my work PC (which is at work). The worst device for consuming YouTube on, I also own — the Apple TV streaming box (which is ironically the best streaming box due to it not having ads in the OS — I’m dead serious, even if you’re Android all the way, you should get one).
On my iPhone, I’ve deleted the YouTube app. Instead, I have a shortcut to YouTube on my home screen that opens in Safari. I have a Safari plugin called Wipr 2 that I paid $5 for, one time, to a solo developer who uses the Fediverse (Mastodon) and is a woman (this shouldn’t matter, but I do enjoy minority representation, and seeing girls win). I occasionally see ads on YouTube, but it’s rare, and typically, refreshing Wipr (updating its block lists) fixes the issue.
That’s on an iPhone. Wipr2 is not available for tvOS. So mostly, I consume YouTube content on my MacBook, which I can mirror to my TV. Ironically, the TV itself (which runs Android TV) is better at mirroring my MacBook (which is between 1 and 2 metres away) than the Apple TV box, at the same distance. (Make that make sense.) (So, you often hear about Apple and Google being rivals around iOS and Android, respectively, but Apple actually licenses AirPlay to Google for inclusion in Android TV. That is actually a thing, and it works great.) I can also run a Thunderbolt/USB-C to HDMI cable and make my TV a monitor for my MacBook, and just drag a Firefox window up to the TV. But it’s a MacBook Air, I still have to keep the lid open, and the screen on (I turn the brightness all the way down though).
The best TV box would not spy on you, so not Apple.
You… do know why Android exists, right?
I do. What about it?
So you’re okay with Google scraping your data, but not Apple. Open with that next time, you save everyone the time of reading through your subterfuge.
You don’t care about privacy, you’re just tribal.
That’s quite an assumption and also inaccurate. All I said was that Apple is not a good TV box due to it spying on you (in response to the OP saying it is the best streaming box). I never suggested anything about Google
For consumer boxes, it’s basically Shield (Google), Apple TV, Roku, Fire (de-Googled Android), or some bargain bin shitbox.
The best streaming box on the market is arguably the Apple TV because it’s a bunch of icons, no ads. You say it spies on you, I’ve seen or heard no proof of this. The only “proof” is that it’s closed source and you don’t know what it’s doing. But not knowing what it does does not necessarily mean you get to assume the worst and tout it as fact. It just looks like you have an agenda — or a stake in the competition. The best set-top box on the market for gaming (if we specify that) becomes the Shield, due to more options on Android, though the Apple TV can run RetroArch now, so it’s closer.
The best option is probably to get an old corporate junker, put Linux on it, find some 10’/3m interface, and get a wireless keyboard/trackpad deal like the K400, then you can do what you want with it. But, most people aren’t gonna go that far. Maybe more people should. Curious now what you’re running with. I’ll tell you mine — 2nd gen (2021) Apple TV 4K. Good for everything but YouTube. I mostly use it for Plex (streaming from my Mac). I could use Infuse (Apple-only streaming thing like Plex) but I don’t care for it.
Why not get either a DIY Raspberry Pi type media player/server or if you need other streaming subscriptions a licensed Android TV box.
I just remove the adfull google tv launcher and replace it with Projectivity. I then use Stremio and Smarttube, neither of which can work on tvOS.
Unwatched on iPhone is pretty good, give it a look if you want a native app that isn’t the official one. Although I also vouch for Wipr2 as well. Stumbled on both as recommendations on here over the past 6 or so months.