[alias_neo]

I have no interest in Streamio, but I have really wanted an Android TV OS I can run on commodity hardware for things like Netflix, YouTube et al, I wonder if this might be a suitable solution?

My goal really is to have a sleek, up to date TV OS that doesn't rely on me buying a specific TV or replacing it every 5 years when it stops receiving app updates.

[ThatPlayer]

My issue when I looked into this is that, because of DRM (yay), you cannot easily get full HD video on commodity hardware. For example those Konstakang Android TV Raspberry Pi builds will only get Widevine Level 3, which limits you to 480 or 720p on apps like Netflix.

I ended up going with a full Windows Intel N100 mini-PC. Windows because the only way to get 4K Netflix is to either use the Windows app, or Microsoft Edge on Windows. [0] Any Linux would limit me to 720p. And even then others like Max do not support 4K on Windows [1]. I believe Disney+ is the same.

Another choice I wasn't aware of when I got my hardware is Kodi running as an app on an official Android box with Widevine Level 1. Kodi is able to use Android's Winevine allowing for full quality 4K playback through plugins for Netflix [2], Max [3], Disney+ [4]. It leaves you reliant on these (open-source) plugin rather than official apps for all the good and bad.

[0] https://help.netflix.com/en/node/23931

[1] https://help.max.com/US-en/Answer/Detail/000002523

[2] https://github.com/CastagnaIT/plugin.video.netflix?tab=readm...

[3] https://www.matthuisman.nz/2024/06/max-kodi-add-on.html

[4] https://www.matthuisman.nz/2020/04/disney-plus-kodi-add-on.h...

[__jonas]

Why not just use LineageOS directly?

[alias_neo]

I'm not aware of there being an official Android TV release of Lineage, there's an unofficial one according to XDA.

Ideally for something I'll run on my TV, I'll want something likely to continue receiving support.

I imagine Streamio is more likely to continue receiving support/updates as long as they're focused on maintaining the platform.

If there's an official Lineage Android TV for RPi or x86 that'd of course be ideal.

[ajot]

There are some offical Android TV builds:

Dynalink and Walmart Onn (2021) https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/dopinder/

https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/wade/

Radxa zero SBC https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/radxa0/

Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K) (check on XDA thread, I'm not sure on the current status on bootloader and Widevine) https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/sabrina/

For Raspberry Pi, there's konstakang's unofficial builds https://konstakang.com/

[alias_neo]

Thanks for the links.

The Kang one is the Pi version I spotted. The Walmart devices in assuming are US. Radxa could be decent if we get builds for the Zero3.

The Chromecast one could work but last I checked there was no unlock for the newer devices with 4K.

Ideally I want hardware I won't have to battle to keep control over (getting too old and jaded for that).