What are we doing for TVs these days software wise?
I have been using kodi but it just so limited and clunky. Android TV is better but that is a major challenge since Android TV is very tied to Google with not much existing outside of Google.
What I am looking for is a device that can work with mostly Jellyfin. I don't use any streaming services. It would need to work flawlessly with a remote and I am looking for something that maintains itself mostly.
Hdmi cable to a laptop
+1 that's what I do at home with my desktop and what is IMHO the best solution.
Yet on vacation I use an old android box with Android Tv (SlimTv) and I have to say it's nice to have a dedicated interface allowing use of a remote.
Okay, but then the TV is still running all the same spyware.
Update: just disabling wifi doesn't guarantee 100% privacy anymore on a densely populated area. Nowadays you've stuff like Amazon Sidewalk and who knows who's partner and what devices are in it.
Deny it wifi credentials and it has nowhere to send the stuff it's spying on
That doesn't guarantee 100% privacy on a densely populated area anymore. Nowadays you've stuff like Amazon Sidewalk and who knows who's partner and what devices are in it.
Don't connect it to the internet
That doesn't guarantee 100% privacy on a densely populated area anymore. Nowadays you've stuff like Amazon Sidewalk and who knows who's partner and what devices are in it.
Iirc that's specifically for amazon devices, this was regarding Samsung TVs
Not specifically for amazon devices, they've opened up the network to "selected partners", I believe Samsung isn't on the list but that may happen at any point and to be fair did you read the ToS to know if they don't have something similar already? What are their plans?
All I know is that I've never connected my TV to the internet and never gotten ads on it
Not saying more sinister things aren't possible, but for my TV to connect to some kind of mesh net, it would probably need a firmware update, which its not going to get, because again, its not connected to the internet.
My TV lets me disable IOT devices from connecting.
Pihole is your friend.
Dedicated mini pc running vlc and retroarch with a network link to my 18tb file server schwing schwing
Good choice, I've been tempted to set up something similar myself
Go a mini itx over nuc, you can add a half decent gpu and run 1964 as well
Personally, I just use a raspberry pi with flex launcher. Not sure about remote though
It should be feasible to get the remote working under Wayland
Thank you for sharing this, it looks really promising
I'm tired of only hearing of Kodi suggested in threads like this. I don't get why it's so popular, it's confusing for non-tech oriented people, you can't stream, YouTube functionality is questionable, the interface is dated looking and IMO an eyesore...
Some people like Kodi and that's great but it sucks balls for other people and there's barely ever any mention of any sort of alternative (like your comment)
These threads are usually just:
"I need a device or software for watching tv that works with a remote"
Kodi Kodi Kodi jUsT uSe A lApToP Kodi Kodi Laptop + HDMI cable
Yeah, as much as I love Kodi it is simply not meant for what I want to do, streaming that is.
Kodi isn't for streaming from services like netflix and YouTube. It's used to stream offline video files over the local network.
Well a) yeah I know I said that in my comment
And b) you can get a YouTube plugin for Kodi IIRC
So what's your point?
We've been using an Apple TV. From memory, there's a Jellyfin client.
Apple isn't exactly my go to company especially for privacy and freedom
Jellyfin + Apple TV + Infuse = Bliss
Apple TV only works on Apple hardware and isn't great for privacy or freedom. No thanks.
The "Apple TV" is Apple hardware.
Exactly. It is locked down and does not respect your freedom
What can you do on your android tv that you can do on an Apple TV?
Install F-droid and not be locked into Apples ecosystem. Also there are privacy issues as well as it connects to Apples servers
Does fdroid even work on android tv?
Yes
At least on FireTV most apps work. (Not played around with AndroidTV yet)
Often they just don’t work with a remote, but you are always free to connect bluetooth/USB keyboards, mouse etc.
The official/standard app doesn’t work (well) with remotes, but F-Droid Classic works fine, though not 100% either (when an app is selected focus is not on anything visible, reading description and antifeatures doesn’t work), but installing, uninstalling, updating, filter and search work just fine.
There is also at least one list with apps that (kinda) work on AndroidTV
Though the only app I really use is Xtra, which doesn’t work with remotes. I also use KDE Connect, but I don’t remember how well it worked remotes, but once it’s running it doesn’t need any further interaction and you can send files and paste from a PC/laptop etc.
Some apps explicitly support TVs, like: Kodi, NOVA , Moonlight, BiglyBT, Shadowsocks for Android TV, Jellyfin for Android TV …
Use the jellyfin kodi addon works very smoothly. I've been using it for two years and love it. I replaced all my chromecasts with kodi. It even has the approval of my wife.
He is the chosen one! Hail him!
It isn't bad but it does leave something to be desired. Mostly a UI that doesn't require going though submenu after submenu. Also my remote control doesn't work with kodi as it can't handle key codes greater than 255
Just started messing with this last night and can't find wjhere Jellyfin ends up after installing it.
I use a raspberry pi with LibreElec/Kodi. It works with the HDMI-CEC, meaning I control it with the TV remote.
Jellyfin can be used as a source for movies and stuff with a plugin.
Awful UI and my TV remote only has on off with CEC. I have a Bluetooth remote but the select key code is higher than 255
Yeah, fair enough. Did you try kodi with a different hardware? Might be a bit easier on the clunkiness. But besides AndroidTV, which I hate because it doesn't do what I want, I have no alternative.
I haven't dabbed in it, what does the select keycode being higher than 255 do?
Select
Kodi just have a awful menu system everything is buried under menus.
As far as Android TV goes it is pretty sure friendly and works out of the box
Yeah, it does need a lot of getting used to, especially if you want to change some settings.
With AndroidTV I have the same problem as with Windows: More and more of the "features" seem to be against my interests. That might be a view tainted by the SmartTVs, but it's the only experience I have with it.
We really need a foss TV is that's modern with modern apps
You can debloat an NVIDIA shield android tv box, replace the default launcher, then install whatever else you want. It’s probably not perfect but it’s pretty darn good. That’s what I use and it can be updated without losing any of my customization.
I don't own one but I agree, it ist very good. But it's too expensive for what it is nowadays. A second hand one or maybe the next generation might be worth it again
Yeah we looked into a shield recently because we know someone who has one and we really liked it, plus I've heard it can be locked down and side loaded decently
But then we saw the price of one and are not willing to spend more than half the cost of a brand new 4k tv on a little box to stream from our media server and Netflix...
The Nvidia shield can run Lineage which is a option.
ONN tv from walmart with all the bloat removed by adb and projectivity laauncher. you will not find a better option for under $30
I have one but the bootloader could not be unlocked. I'll just reuse the remote as it was pretty cheap.
is there a good tv focused android rom you know of that would justify unlocking it? i havent found any that dont act like a phone and require a mouse to use. i like the stock ONN over others because it was so easy to debloat without needing a new rom but i def understand wanting to have full control over everything too.
I've been using a Chromecast with Google tv, and have deprived my tv my WiFi credentials. 90% of what I watch is from my Plex server, 9% other streaming services, 1% digital antenna.
It's not an ideal situation but as you know because you asked the question, the privacy situation in TVs is dire. Otherwise you're doing ridiculous shit like plugging computers into it or whatever.
I use an amazon fire tv 4k, I only use it to start jellyfin. It's perfect.
If you don't want it to phone home, put it behind a firewall, and block all but your domains
I can’t recommend it for such a use case. There is no way to automatically start it unless somebody found a new workaround since the last time I tried it. (I hijacked the home button via a accessibility until they removed that possibility) Though it depends on your use case. It’s probably okay if you always have internet and never have the situation where you are offline and want to watch material from a USB stick or something like that or stream it from another home server. In that case fire TV would lock you out and tell you to fix your internet, but only settings are available and all apps are hidden.
I didn't check for internet connectivity and I'm always onine. I just don't care that it phones home whenever I start the device.
What's the best alternative? I'd move if there was one
I was wrong. It works now, there is a button to get to appstore, and it’s always possible to get to apps by long pressing the home button.
Thanks! That's important to know!!
Do you need an in-remote microphone? If not, I'd suggest a degoogled nvidia shield tv (i.e flash it with lineage OS or similar)
Not a bad option. However, apps are lacking and I don't want Google
Lineage OS doesn't include google apps or services. Jellyfin works though.
Did you install via F-droid?
Could do that, or sideload the APK from https://repo.jellyfin.org/files/client/androidtv/
RPi with minidlnad, all devices at home from computers, phones, tablets, video projector, even VR HMD, can play content with e.g VLC.
Very quick to install (basically have a media directory with your videos inside) and still very flexible, e.g new content is added simply by copying from any other device with access, e.g scp which itself can be a script after downloading something.
Nvidia shield is an option you should check out.
ive been through this process recently and sadly, what you are looking for doesnt exist at the moment. thr closest thing is Kodi and as you already know, has a lot of flaws.
I use a steamdeck with jellyfin installed. It's not its main purpose but works well enough
I've heard an nvidia shield with lineageOS is really quite good!
What software do you use? I assume it is Google free
It's WebOS for now sadly. I have a jellyfin server, but it frequently doesn't have internet as family members need the cable. And I don't have a lot of money to spare at the moment, but I hope to buy an nvidia shield 4k, and stream everything from jellyfin soon.
Cheapest TV you can find that has the specs that you are interested in combined with a $50 pawn shop laptop and an inexpensive wireless keyboard and mouse.
Linux is optional but highly encouraged.
Connect that to a USB dac which is then piped into an amplifier for 2.0 sound.
I could probably rig up a subwoofer for a little extra oomph but none of the amplifiers I found at the thrift store have a way to turn off a powered amp or power an unpowered one.
Recently got this for my laptop/TV in the bedroom, this thing is awesome.
It's a keyboard/touchpad/basic IR remote
https://a.co/d/5UbzJGv
I have a portable USB/Bluetooth DAC with jack, that get's me high quality music if rigged to my pc and can switch to phone/tv-box with a tap.
Doesn't annoy my neighbors and is a better DAC than those built in wireless earbuds.
I have a TV. I just need a good TV box which probably will be a old RPI
Also I would rather continue to use Kodi over a keyboard. At least with kodi I can use my phone to control it
A 4B is kind of the minimum for newer Librelec versions. Still cheap and fanless with a good heat sink case. I've learned recently about CEC and it works on my old Panasonic with Viera but I keep a little Bluetooth keyboard around too.
It works fine on a rpi3 (osmc)
yeah I've got both. The 3 won't play the really hi red movies without down sampling from the server
Another option would be one of the t95 Android boxes. There are some really great tutorials on how to replace their stock firmware with a Linux and get all of the activity and availability that you would typically need as a media box out of them for just you know $25 and 3 to 8 hours of your time depending on how tech savvy you are and what your luck of the draw is.
I have recently switched a second tv to kodi and I‘m very happy. I had an appletv but it is just so limited and reminds me that I dont really own that device. Now I can play retro games, watch all my movies, listen to music and see my favorite pictures without having to use apples ecosystem or paing them for being able to use my device.
For most of the Samsung TVs with the dogshit Tizen OS, you can use TizenTube to block YouTube ads within the TV OS and not requiring any new hardware.
This sounds awesome. It uses the native YouTube app? Or YouTube in the TV web browser?
I have no idea; go ahead into the github page and read about it.
Any offline or disconnected smart TV, pi 4 with Kodi (LibreElec), Steam Link, blu-ray player, AVR, and a Logitech Harmony remote to tie it all together. We have a huge disc collection that we've ripped and we also grab media from the library.
does it still require a pointless hardware upgrade? then no, they clearly fucking don't.
Because they want to make money. The get a licensing money for big OEMs. It probably was the OEMs who were pushing Microsoft to make everyone upgrade. They want to continue selling computers at a high rate.
with the death of Moore's law they will find it much harder to add enough value to hardware to make upgrading worth it.
I'm ready for the Linux switch but for many this kind of bullshit will strong arm them into buying new shit they don't need.
It is kinda shocking how well really old junk runs under Linux vs Windows's treatment of it.
I really dig my tcl roku tv. Ultra cheap and has plex/jellyfin. Has 1 ad on the main screen that can be easily blocked but can also be setup to insta launch an app on boot. These tvs also have decent latency in game mode too (my most important requirement).
The ad on the right side of the home screen always shows up for me, even with a pi-hole setup at home. I actually ended up factory resetting my roku tv and disconnected it from the inyernet entirely a couple years back for that exaxt reason. Except roku OS 10+ actually gas built-in ads on the right side that show up even if you're offline.
...so how did you get rid of the ads entirely? Because I'd love to do that myself.
You have to disconnect the internet for a while. Think a month or two.
Weird, I've had it disconnected since the factory reset.
Maybe I should connect it, let it load new ads, and then cut it off again?
Humm. How long has it been disconnected? I wouldn’t reconnect just in case it starts a timer back over or something.
A couple of years now. I messed around with the Secret Menu settings today and I might have solved it; my guess is that there are some "default" ads cached forever on certain settings.
Wow. Secret menu? Didn’t even think to look for that. What does it slow you to do?
Put them behind a firewall in the guest network.
Who?
I'm looking for a TV desktop environment