We currently have Roku’s on our tvs to connect to streaming services and servers but they are infested with advertisements.
Some other comments mentioned Walmart’s $20 ONN 4k boxes, but these are android and I don’t have the time or knowledge/patience to go through the flashing process on one of those; if there is even a working custom ROM.
Basically we just want a functioning (libre) streaming box. The closest I could find was OSMC’s Vero V (just released a few months ago), although it’s a little pricey at $160 usd. Are there any other options out there or does anyone have any experience with the Vero V?
I would just use a tiny PC and connect it to the Internet, then use Linux and pirating services to build a library of stuff. Works well for me.
I would 100% do this (minus the pirating part) if there was a way to get a tv style remote for the box. That’s the biggest obstacle for me because I’ve never been able to find a PC/tv remote and non technical users will be using the TV.
Look for air mouse. It’s basically a wiimote. Uses gyroscope to pretend to be a pointer device. You’ll need that because you’re basically going to need to use a web browser if you want to go down this path.
It’s not a nice experience but all the nice experiences you won’t like.
I mean the Vero V seems to be a nice polished experience. It’s just a lot of work to setup a linux box and get it to work, the latter being the hard part. The wiimote and the flirc have some comments in reviews about being poor experiences, and I just want it to be on par with the Roku or it’ll wind up in the trash heap. I don’t mind paying a little bit extra for a finished solution, and it seems like a plus that the Vero is a community/libre project.
in the nicest way possible. lower your expectations. or accept the data-selling, or VPN through europe so you can deny the ads.
Get an ir usb receiver like a flirc and just use a normal remote. I think flirc even sells a remote.
I just use a kb/mouse combo device and treat it like a PC and use VLC/online services/DVD drive to play media. It’s not super traditional but it feels pretty easy since most of it is in a web browser!
You can get a USB IR receiver and use software like LIRC to map the inputs of basically any remote you have. Setting it up takes a little effort, but it works great when it’s done.
Search wireless pc remote on Amazon, they have a trackpad scroll wheel and media controls and theyre about the size of a smartphone in landscape with full qwerty keyboard, they’re fantastic, I bought one for every TV in the house… connected to old mini pc’s