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July 21st, 2024

Custom Linux powered smart-TV breaks free from ads and tracking

Software engineer Carl Riis introduces EarlGreyTV, a customizable, ad-free Smart TV project using Linux and Firefox on an old laptop. Offers enhanced control, an 'air mouse,' and CEC adaptor for seamless operation. Demonstrates user-focused Smart TV technology.

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Custom Linux powered smart-TV breaks free from ads and tracking

A software engineer named Carl Riis has introduced a unique Smart TV project called EarlGreyTV, which aims to provide users with a customizable, ad-free, and privacy-focused viewing experience. By utilizing Linux, Firefox, and an old laptop, Riis created a Smart TV setup that offers enhanced control and customization options compared to traditional Smart TVs. The project involves running Debian Linux with Sway as the desktop environment on the spare laptop, which then auto-launches Firefox to display a custom HTML file for easy navigation. To enhance the user experience, Riis incorporated an 'air mouse' with shortcut buttons for remote control. Additionally, a CEC adaptor enables seamless operation of the EarlGreyTV with a single remote control. Despite using unconventional hardware like a damaged laptop, Riis emphasizes that creating a Linux-based Smart TV is not overly complex and provides resources for those interested in replicating or building upon the project. The EarlGreyTV project showcases an alternative approach to Smart TV technology, focusing on user control and privacy.

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Creating My Own Linux-Based Smart TV

Creating My Own Linux-Based Smart TV

Carl Riis introduces "EarlGreyTV," a Linux-based Smart TV project using an old laptop with Debian Linux and Sway. He details hardware setup, remote control options, content casting, and highlights customization benefits for tailored TV experiences.

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By @Animats - 7 months
Reasonable prototype. What else is available in this space, as a finished product you buy and which isn't tied to some service?

I'm surprised this isn't a Raspberry Pi thing.

By @figmert - 7 months
Had a quick look through the readme. Seems like there's quite a bit of improvements that can be done, running it with Firefox's Kiosk mode for example. Perhaps a better option would be to use a custom webview (maybe Tauri?) to have better control over the inputs.

It's a cool start regardless.

[0] https://github.com/carltheperson/earlgreytv

By @qwerty456127 - 7 months
I don't understand why do "smart TV" even have to exist when we can just attach whatever a smart box to any ordinary TV/monitor/projector?
By @candiddevmike - 7 months
I've thought about this a lot recently. It would be ideal to reflash the PC embedded in the back of the TV, but failing that, how hard would it be to connect the display to something like a raspberry pi. This prototype seems like the latter, and it definitely has its warts. You really need the display unit to make this functional.

I wonder how hard it is to flash the onboard components. Is there an OpenWRT equivalent for smart TVs?

By @kkfx - 7 months
A personal question: if modern TVs are essentially low power computers, why not buy a low power desktop with a good enough monitor? Why people in 2024 buy TVs if it's possible to have ONE damn computer with little extras to serve video content on multiple screen, a homeserver maybe?
By @program - 7 months
This is interesting. I simply do not connect my TV to the Internet and choose Apple TV, which gives me everything I need. Modern “smart TVs” are just ad terminals. That's why I think they are relatively cheap.
By @NikkiA - 7 months
there are plenty of hdmi-sticks that can run linux without duct taping a half-disassembled laptop to the back of your TV
By @branon - 7 months
I thought this was going to be open hardware or at least custom firmware that could replace Tizen or webOS. Imagine my disappointment when I click and it's a laptop strapped to the back of a TV.

Does this do anything that existing solutions (OSMC, LibreELEC, Jellyfin MPV Shim) don't? From reading the source blog post it doesn't look like it. HDMI CEC, navigation without a mouse and keyboard (an airmouse is not a viable solution imo, at least use a Flirc), casting... all can be had better elsewhere with smaller, cheaper, quieter, more discrete hardware with lower power consumption.