Different people have different needs and tolerances, of course, but I much prefer the Apple TV for privacy, speed, interoperability with the rest of the ecosystem, uniform UI, lack of advertising, and video/audio quality.
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Why Apple TV Beats Roku and Fire TV for Privacy Protection
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If it's a show bought on Apple TV years ago, as the OP states, who is tracking the IP address and how is this benefitting them? Apple knows the IP address because that's the endpoint they're sending streaming data to. And they know what purchased content you're watching, because that's the files they are streaming to. But none of that reaches, or helps, some outside advertiser. And if Apple wanted to sell you out (at positively enormous risk to their reputation and stock price), they have your name and what you're streaming, and likely your credit card number, home address, and such - why would the IP address have any relevance?
Samsung made it onto my black list a few years ago. Three strike experiences and they’re out. I won’t ever buy another Samsung product in any category. It is a company that egregiously abuses its “customers.”
Great to know about it and trust Apple's privacy policy and handling of user data.
Many, many thanks for this. Yes, I still have this 15 year old excellent Sony flatscreen connected for updates. I’m breaking that link right now. Much appreciated!
AND I added a Roku earlier this year. WTF.
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Yeah, I'm not a huge fan, but I like the Frame TV a lot. If someone else can make a compelling alternative, though, will definitely give it a hard look down the road. Thing is, from what I can tell, more or less all "smart TVs" are just totally spyware-infested.
I pulled the plug on my Roku Ultra last year when they issued their new mandatory invasive TOS update. Picked up an Apple TV 4k. Still occasionally use the Roku to play media off a USB stick but it will never have internet access again. And when shopping for a new TV this year I instantly dismissed any set with Roku's TV OS.
Too bad because they used to be a decent company that has become totally ******tified.
Too bad because they used to be a decent company that has become totally ******tified.
You ditched Roku? You're totally missing out on some fun autoplaying ads that loaded before the home screen: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/roku-says-unpopular-autoplay-ads-are-just-a-test/
It's the economics - particularly on the low end, where you can find economy brand 60"+ TVs selling for a few hundred dollars - they're selling the TV for barely any profit (possibly even at a loss) as you cart it out the door, and they're expecting to make it all up by selling data about you and your viewing habits (on an ongoing basis), and/or making a commission when you buy movies/shows (or sign up for streaming subscriptions) through their "smart TV" interface.
Average Joe Consumer sees two 70" TVs on the wall at Best Buy, both with super vivid overdriven pictures - if one is a couple hundred dollars less (because it sells data about him), he's not going to have any thought of ACR (and might not care if he did), he's gonna think he's a savvy consumer by buying the TV with the lower price tag. So, once one manufacturer went that direction, it was inevitable the others would follow. (First hits on Google for "low priced big screen tv" are for Best Buy's house brand: $300 for 65", $350 for 70".)
I'd love to see a brand present themselves / their TV models as the "non-creepy privacy-focused" alternative, charging more upfront for great hardware with a modest profit. But the established brands can't do that with only some of their models, because then everyone would say, "uh, so you're admitting your other TVs do creepy data collection?". And it's a very risky proposition for a startup brand.
The major brands have much less justification for having such software on their premium models. Eh, once they find a way to make money it's hard to convince them to not use it. I have a nice LG (C1), with all of the invasive ToS agreements declined (which means most of the "smart" features are non-functional), running as basically a very effective monitor (that is not connected to the internet), with nearly all content coming from my Apple TV and PS5.
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I definitely prefer it, I just dislike having to buy that in addition to a fully functional smart tv and have the clutter of yet another device with cords.
"Just a test" - yep, to see if the money they might get from advertisers outweighs the impact on Roku sales. If they can get away with it without losing too many sales and/or a reputation hit the PR team can't successfully stamp out, then they'll absolutely roll it out.
The old adage is, "if you're not paying for the product or service, you are the product". But the recent "innovation" in boardrooms across America is, "why not both?".
There does not exist a single ultimate definition of "privacy". Not only is it fluid and fluctuating, there are different ideas about it in every country in the world.
Apple might flaunt they're "privacy" focus to consumers while "secretly" just doing it to stop competitions making money on "their" customers....
But in essence there is no other tech company that protects certain consumer privacy rights more....
In America this idea of privacy is towards government, not so much private companies..in Europe it's towards private companies, not so much government. We don't have to get into a debate about which is better bla bla et al. But my government can basically "check up on me" more than they ever can get from collecting my "browser history". And I'm fine with that..privacy for me is absolute control over what information about me private companies can collect and use to "sell me stuff". And if my government screws up and leaks data or in any way misuse their right or my information, there is accounts.. Private companies can screw up, change names, move countries and go bankrupt with no one to point my finger at.
So, to recap...Apple might not be as puro sangre as they claim, but there is a wall of sorts between me and everyone else thanks to them.
Total privacy in any way is a fallacy.