After spending the last few days, tinkering and trying to put together an HTPC for my family, I wasn’t able to get a smooth enough experience to match even our old, ad-filled, laggy, Roku. In particular, every streaming service I tried needed to be controlled almost exclusively by mouse, as everything has been reduced to electron apps/websites with little-to-no keyboard or controller navigation support. As such, I’m looking for other options, although considering how quickly these platforms change and how outdated a lot of the information available on them is its hard to single out the best options.
In particular, I’m looking to be able to:
- Use Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Ideally other services too, since we tend to juggle subscriptions.
- Control it with a remote, controller, or similarly simple device
- Be able to cast to it from a phone
Does anyone have much experience with options for this - esspecially if you’ve tried multiple and can compare?
Sony Bravia, not connected to any network, running in Pro Mode so it’s “just a TV”
Then a PC running plex and the arrs to substitute the streaming services.
I didn’t get into self hosting until after Plex jumped the shark so any time someone recommends it I assume it’s purely legacy.
I have an analogue/digital crossover era Bravia which is literally what a TV should be so it’s good to hear about Pro mode if I ever want to up to 4k.
What’s arrs?
Sonarr, lidarr and radarr are used to grab content
LG recently released an interesting series of “monitors”. Basically smart TVs without the smart, but sized like big TVs.
That is great news if they stick to it. Ttheir WebOS TVs are becoming slimier and slimier.
Love me some slime 😋
If you want to escape an ad-filled roku, a smart TV is not exactly an escape. It only bundles all the privacy violations and intrusions in one place.
LG or Sony TV, never connected to the internet, with an Nvidia shield. There is nothing better at the moment.
An Apple TV actually fits this use case pretty well. Being Apple most providers will have native apps available for the device (they definitely have Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+), it comes with a remote but supports using other infrared remotes (you can train it to recognise specific buttons so doesn’t matter what remote you use), and you can also control it from your phone (it works natively for iOS but there are Android apps that can do it too).
For casting, if you use Apple devices it’s easy with AirPlay. If you use Android devices there are apps you can get that support Chromecast, however haven’t ever used them personally so can’t comment on their effectiveness.
And to date Apple haven’t put ads into the tvOS interface. It’s basically a grid of apps and you just open the one you want to watch. It’s been our primary TV device for years now, and is simple enough to use that even my 60 something tech adverse mum likes using it.
For me, that’s a no.
It took me far too long to cancel my account last time. I specifically am never going back because it was such a maze to actually get canceled.
They’ll never notice I’ve left as I’m just one guy, but I’m kinda done with all their stuff now that I’m out of the garden.
You were on the right track with the HTPC. It just needs an appropriate input device. I recommend:
The best “TV remote” in the world.
I agree, this isn’t elegant, but works great. There are also even smaller options, but this one the battery lasts forever.
I still haven’t found something better than Chromecast that can stream obscure video sites (yar-har). Everything else seems to only accept large companies with dedicated apps (Netflix, YouTube, Crunchyroll, etc.). Unfortunately, with Google phasing out their Chromecasts, I might have to go back to a super long HDMI cord connected to my PC.
I have been using an Android XiaomiTV, with SmartTube and Jellyfin, Netflix and Prime. I do have a pihole, though.
I like the Mii TV 4k sticks. They run android tv and have the usual apps, or you can install your own launcher, apps (look into stremio!) and everything through downloader or adb. Then you can disable the bloatware through adb, theres a few lists online if you search. With a launcher manager app, mine loads straight to productivity launcher (I also like flauncher).
Do not try a firestick, theyre heavily locked down now.
I then just deleted the network on my smart tv so it can’t send anything. Along with my pihole, hopefully theres no telemetry getting out, although not checked it. Its impossible to find good TVs that aren’t smart anymore unfortunately, the data selling either subsidises the costs pricing out dumb TV’s, or more likely they make so much from the data selling that they only sell those.
Ive used a ps4 successfully. Works on any tv.
I just said the same about a PS5. We used a PS3 for a while too, but it eventually gave up the ghost. I haven’t done this in a long time, but the PS3 could also connect to locally hosted media servers. As an American Top Gear fan, this is how I watched that show.
Does anyone know how much tracking consoles do?
Not in scope.
Give kodi or osmc a shot. If I recall correctly they support apps, and they have native support for remotes. Osmc even makes their own set top box so you don’t have to configure anything.
Some instructions on getting streaming services up and running in osmc
Can you confirm that this setup still works? At least with Kodi, all the apps had been discontinued, and that link is three years old.
The simplest solution is Chromecast + device of your choosing. Followed by Apple TV, but I can’t remember if those can cast.
If youll spend a bit more, you can also get an Xbox one. You’ll get access to a multimedia device that has the Microsoft app store for subscriptions, it’s available as a Chromecast device, unfortunately Microsoft is nose diving hard right now, but I rarely play games on mine anymore.
I use a HTPC. Using a traditional mouse is the worst. For a long time I used a Mac Mini because the Apple Bluetooth trackpad is the only external trackpad I’ve ever used that’s any good.
Then I got a Bluetooth trackball mouse. It’s by far my favorite. It’s rugged, easy to toss around, and it just lives on a couch arm.
The only steaming device I have is a Chromecast that’s exclusively used to turn on and off the TV.
Do you have a link to a track ball mouse as an example of what you mean? What do you think are the pros and cons of using one?
Here’s the one I have:
I have another Logitech one that cost about $25.
I really, really like it. They’re really durable, easy for a kid to use, and pretty inexpensive.
Only con is if you drop it and the ball pops out, it can roll under the couch.
We use a PS5 for exactly the purpose you describe, sans casting. I am not sure how many of the streaming platforms have an app for it, but the ones we like are all here. For casting we use a Chromecast on another HDMI port. We very rarely cast though.
Literally any of the brands will accomplish the requirements that you listed. Even a $40 roku stick.
