Everyone keeps saying it's the best media player, so I'm interested in getting one, but I haven't had a google account for many years now and don't want to create a new one just for this.
Does anyone know if it's possible to run one without a google account?
Edit: I would only want to use it for Plex and maybe youtube
I run a shield for Plex and have never logged into my google account on it. I’ve disabled play store and most google services. Also I keep the android on the stock version.
Works flawlessly.
So it's possible to run it without signing up. Thats good news. All the reviews seem to say it's a requirement for the initial set up
Are there any special steps to get your set up? I imagine you need to side load your apps because the play store won't work, but is there anything else?
I side load Plex from the direct download links in the forum (Plex pass is required for this I think but there are def other ways to get the apk). I do not run the shield as a sever as I have a dedicated box for that.
Nothing special about the setup at all, I just prefer a minimalist approach to software so I disabled everything on the shield that wasn’t necessary to run Plex.
E: should be clear this is a shield pro
Run it? Absolutely. Set it up? Unlikely, unless you go the LineageOS route.
I bought a shield pro last year and never once logged in to google during setup or any time after.
See? Unlikely, not impossible. I've never tried. I just chose to remove Google from my life, that thing used Google accounts, gone!
I’ve never used a google account on it. That’s the point.
It is not necessary to be in the google ecosystem to use the shield (pro) to its full capabilities.
I'll dust off mine this weekend. That's great to know.