Spyke

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This Windows tool makes it super easy to debloat and cut down ads on your Android TV

(On the shield 2019) If you block this domain with your dns ad blocker, the default launcher will only show ads for the YouTube, Google TV, and Google Play Store apps (not individual shows). I find these to be far less annoying as they use muted tones.

androidtvwatsonfe-pa.googleapis.com    

If you have already setup your device and currently see ads, you need to reset the android tv home application data to get rid of them. This will temporarily show you the old dashboard, but the new one will load eventually (without ads).

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Google to start collecting biometric data

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Every app has access to an api that asks your phone to verify your fingerprint against the ones stored for the lockscreen. The phone then asks for your fingerprint and tells the app if it passed or not.

As the commenter pointed out, it's not an image of your fingerprint either. It's a hash that is stored on your phone that is likely unique to that device.

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This Windows tool makes it super easy to debloat and cut down ads on your Android TV

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Try blocking this domain manually and see if it works (it wasn't part of my native lists in my router's adblock)

androidtvwatsonfe-pa.googleapis.com    

If you have already set up your device and currently see ads, you need to reset the android tv home application data to get rid of them. This will temporarily show you the old dashboard, but the new one will load eventually (without ads, in its place it shows a dark "Google play, Youtube", and something else that isnt very intrusive).

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This Windows tool makes it super easy to debloat and cut down ads on your Android TV

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For me it was much simpler to just add it as a line in the field in my router settings than trying to find a launcher that was better while looking decent.

I also like the look of the launcher minus the ads as well, so that might play into it.

I'm not worried about it breaking any features tied to the ads, and I haven't had any problems in like 2 years I've used it.

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Best alternative to Chromecast?

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Fun fact for shield owners:

If you block this domain with your dns ad blocker, the default launcher will only show ads for the YouTube, Google TV, and Google Play Store apps (not individual shows). I find these to be far less annoying as they use muted tones.

androidtvwatsonfe-pa.googleapis.com

If you have already setup your device and currently see ads, you need to reset the android tv home application data to get rid of them. This will temporarily show you the old dashboard, but the new one will load eventually (without ads).