My elderly mum has a Roku Express attached to a dumb 1080p TV, but it's experiencing ever more frequent "insufficient power" failures and she's thinking of buying a new one.
I'm wondering if there's a freer alternative device that would be just as, if not more, user-friendly. Any tips? (I've been browsing Temu but no idea what to pick.)
Must haves:
- replaces the Roku
- allows her to watch OTT channels like Netflix and Prime (not pirated, she has legit accounts for those two), Youtube, Haystack etc
- all done with a user-friendly remote control & 3-metre interface
Nice to haves:
- replaces also the laptop (connected to the TV but basically unused)
- can get & watch Bittorrent downloads
- can watch IPTV (nothing fancy like debrid, just IPTV-org channels or some such)
- makes Bittorrent downloads & IPTV a more integral, easier part of the experience so that she actually uses & enjoys them
- reduces/eliminates ads on Prime, Youtube etc
CONTEXT
She uses the Roku for watching mainly Netflix, Prime, Youtube, Haystack (news), very occasionally TheArchive.TV, FreeMoviesPlus, Plex, Roku Channel (just one show).
I also installed IOTV, a Roku app with IPTV-org linear channels, but she never remembers it, and it's not very user-friendly anyway.
I also set up an old laptop for her, with QBittorrent on it, connected to the TV, but she never actually uses it unless I come round and download/play stuff.
PS I have no experience with "-arr" stack, Jellyfin, VPS, debrid etc.
PPS in case it's relevant, location is Mexico.
Thanks for the info.
Can Google TV devices be flashed with something like LineageOS Android TV to remove the spyware nature (IIRC) of Google TV? And could those apps like Projectivity Launcher etc still work on that?
It would seem that it's possible. Some devices are listed as having official builds and other unofficial builds, the Onn 4K Pro being in the latter category. Most streaming apps would also require Widevine L1 to stream in HD, which would be another step.
Reading this thread would indicate that Projectify Launcher works too. Note that Dolby Vision apparently won't work.