Creating My Own Linux-Based Smart TV

It's always more satisfying to create something yourself but LibreELEC is a minimal Linux distro (barely even a distro) that boots directly into Kodi and is ideal for this kind of use case. It even has native CEC support.

Love a good hack. But in this case, I just use LibreELEC (kodi) and call it a day :D

After over 25 years of building various HTPCs (with various assortments of timeshiftimg PVRs like Windows Media, XBMC, Kodi, SageTV, SnapStream, MythTV, TVheadend etc, and futzing with MPEG video-in cards on Windows, RSS feeds, etc), various other TV boxes like Popcorn Hour, and nasty Android TV boxes, I finally settled on the AppleTV 4K paired with Plex server running on Debian on an old HP EliteBook laptop.

Life is too short for messing around with these sort of sub-optimal workarounds in 2024, when there are now finally great affordable fuss-free tech out there.

I've been doing something similar for awhile. Using my old laptop (damaged keyboard just like OP). Set 'lid close' to "do nothing" (it runs 24/7 with the lid always closed). Connected to TV via HDMI.

Only app is browser. Shortcuts for streaming and movie/tv reviews etc. Use the TV regular remote for volume and on/off. Use remote mouse 90+ percent of the time. Keyboard only when my preset links are insufficient and I need to type.

Have the same setup in the BR (running on a used mini-Optiplex I bought for $135). Works great.

Great hack, thanks for taking the time to document it.

Our modern tv's are just the worst.

I would probably be tempted to try and find one of those generic lvds driver boards and get rid of the "smarts" entirely.

https://ifan-display.com/lcd-oled-display-driver-board-every...

I wonder if something similar to a Wii Remote's tracking would work better for controlling the cursor, as that would let you point right where you want instead of needing to use gyro.

Is there any benefit of using a laptop rather than a pi?

The best thing about this setup is that the freaking Smart TV isn't spying on you and selling your data to advertisers.

These kludgey hacks have a very early 2000s feel to them.

Shame there isn’t a way to just put custom firmware on a TV.

I have this too!

The TV is used as a monitor, connected via HDMI to my linux computer...

I bought a couple of those gyro-mouse/keyboards, exact same model!

Using them is pretty awful! The gyro doesn't feel right (don't know how to explain it, it's nowhere near as natural as a WiiMote). And laying it down without, you know, moving the mouse which usually brings up controls in a video player is impossible. Not to mention how often you'll lay it down and the mouse will go to an edge of the screen, causing the video controls to persist.

Having said all that, I'm still really intrigued with the concept.

I bought one for myself for a Steam Deck, and one for a friend that uses a computer as their smart tv. Neither are in use anymore, both replaced with Logitech wireless keyboard +trackpad combos.

This is cool!

I'm wondering how you change the input port (e.g. PS5), guessing you jump back to the Samsung OS in those cases?

This was great hacker news. Enjoyable read, too.

“Cool clock, Ahmed”