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poetril parent
Looks like I'll be moving towards Roku, most of my friends use it and I've been using a Chromecast because I was gifted on. But the experience w/ Roku seems to be superior to Chromecast nowadays anyways.
codepoet80
Roku has always been pretty great -- simple, straightforward, limited UI clutter (source: have been a user since 2013). However, lately they've been adding more and more suggested/sponsored content to the home screen. Most of these things can be turned off, and even with them on, it doesn't slow down the experience significantly (I'm looking at you, Fire TV) but it is a shame. I suppose they've got to make money somehow...
chuckadams
Got a Roku stick last year after two FireTV sticks bricked themselves. First thing I noticed was that the volume on the remote can only control Roku devices. Then there’s the ads that are creeping in everywhere, but I admit they do stay out of the way… for now.

Going back to AppleTV for my next device. I don’t like how search steers all results through Apple, but I can work around that. Plus I can use it as an exit node on my Tailscale network.

vel0city
> First thing I noticed was that the volume on the remote can only control Roku devices.

Rokus can send volume/mute commands through CEC. The volume buttons on my Roku control my home theater receiver, they controlled the volume on a sound bar on a different TV, and they controlled the TV volume.

1980phipsi
Same. My Roku remote can control sound bar.
candiddevmike
Roku is just as creepy if not worse than Google. They do sell your data AFAIK, not just use it to deliver ads...
nightski
But the thing is Roku has far less data on me than Google. They might have viewing history or whatever, but it's not tied to my entire identity on the web the way Google can do that. So not it's not as creepy or worse than Google, not by a long shot.
candiddevmike
> But the thing is Roku has far less data on me than Google

Do they? They have your IP address, most likely email, user IDs for various streaming platforms, your location... All of that for sale to anyone that will pay Roku for it.

nightski
Yes, they do have much less. They do not have two decades of email history, map/location data, photo libraries, advertising profiles on the web, etc...
xnx
Roku has "Automatic Content Recognition (ACR)" which effectively uploads screenshots of what you're watching every few seconds: https://support.roku.com/en-ca/article/115005739288

Short of having an always on camera and microphone, this is amongst the scummiest corporate spying behavior out there.

jp191919
At least there is an option to disable it.

Edit: actually it appears to be "opt-in"

lxgr
Does it have the same level of content provider support, though?

Almost any app or content I've ever wanted to stream to my TV supports Google Cast on both iOS and Android, which definitely can't be said for my TV's native OS, Apple TV/Airplay, Miracast etc.

AlbertCory
I have both. I don't even know where the Chromecast is anymore.

I also have a smart TV, but the Roku has a lot of apps that the TV doesn't.

carlosjobim
Roku does not work very well with airplay in my experience. Other than that, it's a good solution for the price.

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