Onn needs a Google account. Fire stick requires an Amazon account. Apple tv, obviously an Apple account. PS5, Xbox all the same.

Is there a box that will let me stream Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, my own stored media?

Osmc is great for home stuff, but can’t do Hulu Netflix.

I could use a Linux PC, but not as simple as 1 remote for a cheaper box top.

Any suggestions? Or do I just get a Linux host

  • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    4 months ago

    Yeah there are trackpad and keyboard that have the form factor of a TV remote. I use one with a Beelink mini Linux PC as my TV’s brain.

    • djsaskdja@reddthat.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      I bought one of those and it died in like a year. Took it apart to see if it could be fixed. The whole thing is just one big circuit board. No parts to replace. Ended up just chucking it and probably won’t buy another one.

        • djsaskdja@reddthat.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          Remote. It was the Rii K06 Mini Bluetooth Keyboard from Amazon. Only like $27 but I just don’t like creating that much ewaste. The battery in it still worked perfectly fine. The keys just started glitching out. Tried on several different computers all did the same thing. I kept it clean wasn’t any liquid or anything sticky on it. Even when I hit a button on the circuit board with it all taken apart it did the same thing.

            • djsaskdja@reddthat.com
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              4 months ago

              Thought about it but there’s really not too many companies that make these. All from cheap Chinese no name brands. What one do you have? I’m open to recommendations.

              • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                4 months ago

                Nah mines just a cheap Chinese one as well. It’s just a roll of the dice. Only difference with mine is it’s a USB dongle, not Bluetooth.

                What are you using as an alternative? I toyed with using KDE Connect as my remote before I bought the separate one. Unfortunately KDE Connect requires KDE to be running, which makes it hard to screw around with stuff at boot time like GRUB or UEFI. Plus there are a bunch of keystrokes that are hard to make on KDE Connect.

                • djsaskdja@reddthat.com
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  0
                  ·
                  4 months ago

                  Microsoft Wireless All-In-One Media Keyboard that I bought almost 8 years ago lol. Thing is a trooper, but it’s definitely annoying having such a large object in my living room. I’m using GNOME so I’m not sure if KDE Connect would work for me. I wouldn’t mind a smartphone solution if it worked reliably though.

                  • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    4 months ago

                    I’m pretty sure you can install KDE Connect on GNOME, but it doesn’t have full functionality. Sending keystrokes and mouse input should be fine though.