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 As such, I’m looking for other options, although considering how quickly these platforms change and how outdated a lot of the information available on them is its hard to single out the best options.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?

  • RecallMadness@lemmy.nz
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    22 days ago

    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.

    • metaStatic@kbin.earth
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      22 days ago

      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.