Internet of shit, episode 56874: "Roku testing auto-playing video ads before loading the home screen"

https://9to5mac.com/2025/03/18/in-garbage-move-roku-testing-auto-playing-video-ads-before-loading-the-home-screen/

#viv version 1.1.7 has been scheduled to be published on #Roku on Mon, Mar 10 2025 at 05:00 PM Pacific Time.

I've seen this before!

New Features

- Add ability to mark items played/unplayed from home option menu
- Add ability to mark items played/unplayed from visual libraries (movies, TV shows, music videos, collections) option menu
- Add search bar to top of music library

Bug Fixes

- Fix display of no results text in music libraries
- Fix loss of cursor when search returns no results in libraries

General Updates

- Use item title as option menu header
- Disable search in My List

Full Release Notes: https://github.com/1hitsong/viv/releases/tag/1.1.7

Some ideas for finding new music to buy for #BandcampFriday on #bandcamp

Listen to https://theindiebeat.fm on the web to find artists

Or listen to #tibr in your fav app https://www.radio-browser.info/users

Or on #roku https://channelstore.roku.com/details/1935236acb98278a728dd17721fc3bbf/the-indie-beat-radio

Or scroll through recently played tracks @tibrnowplayingbot

Here are all of the #roku things I've made (all free):
https://limebar.github.io/roku/

I suppose I should post my Mastodon bots source code out there too... but only if people promise not to point and laugh.

(I should move all of this to #codeberg shouldn't I?)

When I get my new #Roku device for my new-old "bedside TV" I'm purposefully not going to put many streaming services on it outside of the free-with-ads ones like Roku Channel, because I do not want to encourage myself to get too involved with watching something while trying to go to sleep or staying in bed when I should be up and active.

Which is all to say that I'm really happy one show that is on most of those streamers is No Reservations by #AnthonyBourdain

https://channelstore.roku.com/details/1935236acb98278a728dd17721fc3bbf/the-indie-beat-radio

There is a new v1.3 of the #free #roku app for #TheIndieBeat #internetRadio app which adds now playing info for the #bonkwave channel and makes that screen prettier and easier to scan the QR code onscreen to go to the artist's #bandwagon profile.

Roku vs. Amazon TV vs. Google Chromecast

Roku for the win.

1st, avoid Amazon as if they had the plague. Amazon will suggest you buy something, even if the movie is free to stream through a service, including their own, or even if you already own the movie. Amazon devices are nothing but a cash grab.

Google Chromecast will give you better recommendations, but just like YouTube, once you get into an algorithm, expect Google to go down a path you may not like. Curious about 1 single show? Expect to forever see shows and movies that are related. Did you allow a guest to pick something to watch, once? That was once too many, and now you better like their taste in entertainment.

Google Chromecast was also the most unstable device. I lost count on how many times I needed to physically power off and on, or reset my Chromecast. Thinking I had a bad device, I bought another. Spoiler, it was not the device.

Roku, just works. They keep it simple, and it is so user-friendly, that my family who are senior citizens (one of which is disabled) could understand it. The voice remote is a nice touch and most of the time, you could be speaking out of your backside, and it will still understand you.

#Amazon #Roku #Chromecast #SmartTV

#viv version 1.1.4 has been scheduled to be published on #Roku on Tue, Jan 07 2025 at 01:00 AM Pacific Time.

Winter Wonderland Edition

New Features

- Create My List - a personal queue (Currently added to movie & TV libraries and detail pages)
- Add similar artists to music artist screen
- Add playback controls to audio mini player

Bug Fixes

- Fix issue that could prevent changing audio & subtitle tracks @jimdog
- Fix possible crash if music album doesn't have an image
- Fix issue that caused forced subs to not display @jimdog
- Fix possible crash when refreshing movie detail data
- Fix default sort after changing view of boxset items
- Fix extras not refreshing when episode changed during playback

Setting Changes

- Create new setting to force custom trickplay implementation
- Alphabetize settings

General Updates

- Pressing back on home screen focuses 1st item in row, or exits channel if already there @jimdog
- Move special features to top of extras section - above Cast & Crew
- Exclude 'Various Artists' from similar artists section

Release Notes: https://github.com/1hitsong/viv/releases/tag/1.1.4

It is surreal watching The Gingerdead Man, which was obviously shot on mid-00s consumer grade digital camera that would be a stretch to call "standard definition", on the #Roku Channel because the commercials look so crisp and high quality compared to the actual movie they are attached to.

I think it's only like 66 minutes long because that is the max length somebody can stare at this film without their eyes bleeding.

#GoogleTV Offers "Apps Only Mode" to Hide Personalized Recommendations & Make It Look More Like a #Roku TV.

https://cordcuttersnews.com/google-tv-offers-apps-only-mode-to-hide-personalized-recommendations-make-it-look-more-like-a-roku-tv/