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 As such, I’m looking for other options, although considering how quickly these platforms change and how outdated a lot of the information available on them is its hard to single out the best options.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

  • JeenaEnglish
    20•2 months ago

    I am using a Chromecast ultra 4k and I replaced the launcher with one which doesn’t shown anything but the apps I want it to show in a grid: FLauncher

    And then I can use it with the remote as usual for Netflix and all the other apps. It’s quite nice doesn’t stutter or anything.

    I also replaced the YouTube app with the SmartTube one to get rid of sponsors and advertisements in videos.

    • OtterEnglish
      8•2 months ago

      Nvidia Shields are another option, and there are some Bluetooth keyboards with trackpad that could work for these options + the PC

      What I’d love to see is a Wii remote style interface. It would be much easier than trying to snake your way over to the thing you want to select

      • @Telstarado
        5•2 months ago

        I have a shield connected to a projector through an av receiver. I love the setup for its audio visual fidelity, but I love the simplicity of operation almost as much. The shield remote turns everything on and off and handles all my streaming services + steam link flawlessly. Wonderful user experience.

    • @RobinEnglish
      2•2 months ago

      Does your FLancher start up by default? I have a similar setup on a Shield, and the home button does go to FL. But whenever it comes out of standby it still goes into the Google launcher with ads on it…

    • @jqubed
      1•2 months ago

      Chromecast did get better once they added a remote, and they finally got YouTube TV to work well with switching family accounts. I’ll have to try that launcher because I’m unimpressed with trying to find the different apps.

      I still find Roku to be one of the simplest to use, but they do seem like they’re starting to turn more evil.

      I have never enjoyed the experience with any Amazon Fire TV and they’ve always seemed laggy.

      Apple TV is of course the most expensive but seems to do less selling of user data. Everyone else’s devices seem to sell at cost and then make up the difference on subscription sales and seeing user data. The remote is not great, though. My wife is always struggling with it and hitting the wrong thing. I’m more comfortable with it, but still find the touchpad jumping me to the wrong thing at times. I have seen third-party remotes that aim to eliminate the trackpad problem. I’ve considered buying one hoping it will make it easier for my wife, but paying another $20 for a remote for a system that’s already 3x the competition is annoying. Of course, if you have an iPhone you can also use that as a remote.

      If you have a gaming console, especially Xbox or PlayStation, it can fill the role of streaming device. You can buy remote controls that are more user-friendly than the game controller when watching media. Of course, buying a console just to watch content is massive overkill.

      I’d suggest not connecting your TV to the Internet and using a separate box for content given how much TV makers want to spy. Streaming boxes might not be much better, though.