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
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      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
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        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
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            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
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                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
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                  4 months ago

                  Nah mine’s 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
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                    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.

      • LavenderDay3544@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        It takes a little getting used to but once you do it’s very comfy. And you can watch content from anywhere that supports viewing in a browser or Linux desktop app including some swashbuckling ones. Lol.

    • thermal_shock@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      can even get used micro PCs on eBay for $100-150 that work very well, don’t need to learn a new os, can use Ubuntu and sites like 123movies or sflix with ublock origin.

      • LavenderDay3544@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Raspberry Pi OS is made to be easy enough for kids. It’s literally point and click. There’s nothing to learn. And Raspberry Pis can be much cheaper than that. You can get a Pi 4 2GB for $40.