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Is there a linux distro (or just a DE) that can be used like a Smart TV
(programming.dev)
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this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
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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.
You could also always nativefier it and make it like a webapp. I have some sites setup like that on my machine.
Does that offer any advantages over the kiosk mode functionality? Looks like that repo was abandoned in 2023 and marked as archived.
What repo? Use npm to get nativefier, the one from regular apt etc. are not current, they’re copies of older versions. Dunno why someone did that.
The GitHub repo of the maintainer shows that the project is archived and dead.
Again of what? Of nativefier?
Yes
Well it does what it’s supposed to do, so who cares.
If you look at the repo, the very first line in the readme links to an issue that briefly explains why you should care.
Unmaintained software comes in two categories:
Nativefier falls in the second category and the second clause. Don't use it.
Ok so, it doesn’t seem to me to be the case. But if you’re indicating a better solution came along, what would that be? I’m fine with nativefier for the two items I made with it. But if there’s something better then please do tell.
Again The issue on the repo. The developers recommend just using the app feature of the browsers to get similar functionality without the security concerns.
As I said, I’m fine with it until something equally easy and simple becomes available.
Edit: just to clarify, I did look and ask around a lot before having discovered nativefier. There does not seem to be an easy way to get a browser standalone window with no controls, bars, tabs etc. only the window and the min/max/rest control box. If there’s a way to do that then I would like to certainly.
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.
No DRM for desktop Linux supports 4k Netflix. IIRC Netflix doesn't even support 4k on Windows for anything except Edge, at least that was the case for many years.
Really? I thought Chrome added support on Linux for 4k.
I rarely stream Netflix and it's only on there for my wife. If I want a show, I add it to my Plex library. Even if Netflix has it.
According to Netflix documentation, they only support 720p on Linux, regardless of the browser.
Chrome officially supports 1080p on Windows and macOS, while 4k is only available through Edge on Windows and Safari on macOS.
In the past I've used a Firefox plugin to enable 1080p playback on Linux, but the bitrate was lower than the 1080p bitrate on Windows (with Edge, iirc).
https://help.netflix.com/de/node/30081
Edit: Luckily Jellyfin does not have such annoying restrictions.
I think the Windows Store app for Netflix supports 4k, but that would require running Windows.....and that's just icky.
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.
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.
You are right, I had a look at the documentation, made myself some icons and modified the standard config in /usr/share/flex-launcher a bit. Thanks!
Could you copy and paste the menu-entry you start jellyfin with here?
Entry3=Jellyfin;/usr/share/flex-launcher/assets/icons/jellyfin.png;flatpak run com.github.iwalton3.jellyfin-media-player --fullscreen
Make sure you switch your view to TV in the settings so that arrow key navigation works.
Flex Launcher looks awesome! Thanks!
What air mouse did you get? How does the keyboard work?
It's a brand called Gimbi. It has a keyboard on the back and programmable IR buttons.
There are a few brands of them I love mine! Sooo tiny and awesome.