Ever since I got my TCL Mini-LED TV earlier this year, I've used it for very little beyond its 4K 120Hz screen for playing my PC and PS5. But it was only a matter of time before I properly started using my Google TV's own apps to watch my self-hosted media.
Now, Google TV is a pretty good platform โ the app selection is extensive, the interface is slick, and it's got practically every streaming service in one place. I've spent enough time with it that I've started noticing how much control Google takes away from the people who own the hardware.
Sadly, some of the most useful improvements aren't hiding in Google's settings menus. They're apps I've had to go out of my way to install, and a few address frustrations that really shouldn't exist in the first place.
SmartTube fixes everything wrong with YouTube on Google TV
There's a reason it's the most popular sideloaded app
SmartTube is probably the most popular app people sideload onto Google TV, and for good reason. Google's official YouTube app works perfectly well, right up until you realize how much of the experience is designed around getting you to watch more ads, subscribe to Premium, and spend more time browsing than actually watching anything.
I addressed that frustration without requiring a subscription. The open-source YouTube client blocks video advertisements, and it even goes one step further than the YouTube Premium experience โ it supports SponsorBlock integration that automatically skip sponsored segments within videos, too.
With SmartTube I still have access to my subscriptions, viewing history, and familiar YouTube content, but without the advertising…