1y ago

Is there a linux distro (or just a DE) that can be used like a Smart TV

I don't want to use Osmc or LibreELEC. What I'm going for is something like Android TV (tried using LineageOS but that didn't work out for me).

I was interested in something like Plasma Bigscreen but most of the tutorial is about 4 years old and point to using an old image.

I installed the Debian package. After that, I logged in and set Automatic login, and switch the session to Plasma Bigscreen (x11). After applying and a reboot, it launched Plasma Bigscreen but some widgets (like the audio, KDE Connect) froze when clicking on them.

What do you recommend? I prefer to use a Raspberry Pi.

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I run an HTPC that works fully with my AirMouse Remote I bought for it for ~$15USD. It uses Flex Launcher running on Debian.
Basically, I use it for Plex, some Netflix, retrogaming, and Steam.
I was in a similar boat to you were I looked at Plasma Big Screen, LibreElec, etc. Plasma BigScreen was too buggy or unmaintained. LibreElec is great if you want to play local stuff, but terrible for streaming things like Netflix. In the end I said "screw it. I'll make my own". Now it's the center of my living room.
- That looks amazing! Are the icons you have there, for example, Netflix, is that a desktop shortcut to open up the browser and load the website?
  Your use case is very similar to mine. Thank you for sharing.
  
  It loads the web page in full screen kiosk mode in Chrome.
- Oh, Flex Launcher looks perfect! I didn't even know I needed it!
- Do you get high def Netflix? I’ve read in multiple places that Netflix limits streams to 720p in web browsers, which has always stopped me from straying from my chromecast. Not sure if that’s what I’m seeing in your photo, though. (basically I have the same question as OP)
  
  As long as your browser supports the DRM, it should stream 1080p and 4k fine. Chrome is best, unfortunately, specifically for Netflix.
- This looks awesome. I currently don't need a TV interface, but when I do I'll definitely try this out over Kodi.
  
  Same boat here. RaspberryPi running LibreElec, which is okay but can be unstable and lacks power. Been looking at an AMD 4x4 pc to boost performance and run some form of full Linux distro.
- It's a brand called Gimbi. It has a keyboard on the back and programmable IR buttons.
- Flex Launcher looks awesome! Thanks!
- May I ask: did you write the config on your own and did you create the neccessary icons? Or is there a sample config somewhere, with some icons as well (jellyfin, youtube etc would be nice).
  
  There is a default config it comes with. I just modified it. Their documentation is really good. If you'd like a copy of my config, LMK.
  Icons I found online and then trimmed to the correct size and transparency.
KDE bigscreen looks perfect for me. I know I have heard of it before but I will need to look a bit more in depth at it.
All I want is Roku, but FOSS, without the ads and tracking.
- Checkout big-launcher:
  big-launcher is a work-in-progress HTPC application launcher. The design is loosely based on the Roku UI, consisting of a sidebar menu on the left, and selectable apps on the right. This project is intended to be the successor to my other HTPC project, Flex Launcher. Compared to Flex Launcher, big-launcher will be more graphically advanced, but less customizable. The program will be written in C++ and utilize SDL for graphics.
  I just read about it from the Flex Launcher page, so no idea what it's like, just passing it on...
  
  That looks great! Thanks!
I have been on this hunt myself and am coming up short. Especially on the hardware at my disposal.
So far I've tried all the same stuff you've mentioned but am settling in to LibreELEC well enough with addons, including the emby next gen setup (got into emby before finding out about jellyfin)
what don't you dig about LibreELEC?
Plasma bigscreen sounds like it would be the best, but I never got it to work right ( granted I was very new to Linux back then)
Have you tried blissOS?
- I tried Kodi in the past but switched over to Emby. Not 100% sure if there is an Emby plugin but the wife and kids are use to the Emby interface.
  Plasma Bigscreen looks very cool but spent time trying to figure out why some of the widgets on the main screen loads up then freeze. Like the Mycroft widget, for example.
  Also trying to figure out why apps like Kate appears twice under Applications.
  I have not tried Bliss OS. Looks very interesting so I will take a look. Thank you for that one.
  
  Have you tried Jellyfin? It's a FOSS fork of emby, so pretty much a drop in replacement and it's been working very well for me.
  Personally I use jellyfin as a backend, with the web interface and jellyfin app as frontend. Plus Kodi as an additional frontend for my beamer, with the Kodi Jellyfin plugin and Yatse remote to make it feel more like a TV.
  
  We've so much in common! I had a skin working that made Kodi look just like an emby app or webpage
  There is an emby addon that uses your server to keep track of profiles and stuff. It's actually pretty sweet to get it set up.
What's your use case that OSMC and LibreELEC don't work? I think those are going to be common recommendations, so knowing why they don't suit you would be helpful.
- I used Kodi in the past as a standalone app but then switched over to Emby. I have Emby set to play my media and also setup to play stations on my custom IPTV server. Installing the Emby client on my mobile or or using the browser will have access to that media since I set that up on the Emby server. Wife and the kids are use to the interface too. Have to keep them happy.
  Also I would like to install some Linux compatible games on it.
I do not have an answer for you, but I'd also really like to know. Not super techy but willing to learn to do this!
- Commenting to check back later.
  I also do not have an answer but want to know.
  I have used Flex launcher on a mini PC, it seemed like a good option but I got busy before I could even half set it up.
Plex used to have a distro that booted straight to Plex and that was it. You could control it using your tv remote if your tv supported HDMI-CEC. I'm not sure if it still exists. I guess it wouldn't be any better than openelec though. 🤷‍♂️
Could you be more objective about what you want and don't want feature wise? I don't know about other folks but I've never used android tv so I don't know what you mean when you say that's similar to what you want.
Edit: I'm pretty sure the Plex software I was talking about was based on this archived repo, so it likely isn't a modern option https://github.com/plexinc/plex-media-player
- I don't know about a distro, but it looks like they are still maintaining an HTPC app for windows, mac and linux. The linux one looks like it was last updated about 2 weeks ago
The rpi is severely underpowered for such a thing. 8 suggest going with a cheap anything else computer.
Also recommendations for a good remote to go with these?
I was so desperate I was thinking of reprogramming a wireless number pad cherry MX low profile or something.
It should have volume buttons, arrow keys, previous, next, pause, etc... Something a old person could understand.
Numbers and alphabet not required.
- Bit old, but I used a Windows Media Center remote, still see new ones for cheap. Then use lirc with an IR receiver.
- Pepper Jobs Media Remote. Changed my living room media center for good.
Batocera
- Whoopdidu. What are we playing?
  
  NBA jam, tag mode on.
Kodi?

52 comments