[BlackFingolfin]

I've recently given Linux another try, for use on a machine meant as a media server, and also to drive my family "video call station" (i.e., combine big TV, webcam and a bluetooth audio widget with mic and speakers so that the kids can talk to their grandparents in COVID times). Went with the most main stream distro, Ubuntu 20.04.

Result: couldn't get the Bluetooth conference widget working. Googled around for hours and tried all kinds of things, including compiling and installing kernel modules and replacing the bluetooth stack. Nothing worked. No, this is not an exotic non-standard protocol, it's a standard one (I think aptX or so? sorry, forgot the details again already; but I googled around and found lots of people with similar issues, and then many "solutions", none of which worked; see above)

Anyway, I am back to plugging in my MacBook each time we want to video conference, and will soon install Windows on the media server (no matter how much I hate the thought).

I really want to use Linux for this kind of stuff, but it's 2020 and I can't get a Bluetooth widget working that works flawlessly on various Macs, Windows machines, iPhone, iPad and an Android phone.

So while things may be better, they are still far from where they could be, I am afraid.

[llampx]

I'm far from a Linux proponent but if I were you I'd try to just add a regular 3.5mm mic and use the TV speakers.

But yeah, much much simpler solution to just install Windows on it.

[lostlogin]

> I've recently given Linux another try, for use on a machine meant as a media server

Your media server is doing a lot more than serving up music/movies/tv isn’t it? If not, it’s hard to go past Plex or Kodi.

Is video calling a thing that people call on a media server for?

I’d be airplaying to the tv, but that’s going the Apple route.

[BlackFingolfin]

With "media server" I generally meant: "device hooked up to the speaker and AV receiver for video playback, couch surfing, perhaps the occasional game (mostly via emulators).

Yeah, adding the microphone and camera is going beyond that, but it's convenient to use the computer already hooked to the TV instead of, you know, hooking up yet another one. Also, how does Airplay give me access to the camera mounted on top of the TV (an old phone, BTW)? Also, how is that relevant for my comment at all? :-)

[lostlogin]

Airplay can share a screen and through that it can share a FaceTime call - or at least I thought it could and Googling suggests it can. This entirely depends on your ‘old phone’ being an iPhone.

www.macrumors.com/how-to/mirror-facetime-call-apple-tv-airplay-2-smart-tv/amp/

> Also, how is that relevant

It isn’t particularly, I’d just never heard of a media server doing video chat and was wondering about it.