this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2025
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My jellyfin collection has finally become large enough that I have been able to cancel all my streaming services. My issue now is that I want to get rid of my Roku's that are hooked up to each TV.

Is there a good alternative? It MUST be family approved, meaning:

  1. It is not visible (no desktop/laptop hooked up)
  2. It is low power
  3. It has a simple remote control
  4. It supports Jellyfin
  5. It is relatively cheap (< $150)

I am sure I could build something out of a raspberry pi, but:

  1. I don't need another project I have to fiddle with
  2. It MUST support new codecs (h.265/AC1/aac/...) as I want direct play from my server
  3. If it stutters/buffers once, it goes into the trash!

I've generally been mostly happy with my Roku, and my pi.hole blocks most of their analytics, but last week, I pressed the home button on my Roku and it started play a video add with audio. Completely unacceptable (That has happened twice in the last week). And in general, the more of this crap I can get out of my life the better!

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[–] wckring@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If it's an option, the Xiaomi mi box it's a cheap android TV device that plays probably everything. Costs around 60 euro in eu. If not you coul always go for Google TV with a custom launcher to block stock android launcher ads.

[–] iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

Google TV forces its own launcher on top after every goddamn update. They're becoming really obnoxious.

[–] merthyr1831@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

It's surprising how slow open source is on replicating Roku. So many manufacturers could be using Linux to bypass androidTV and RokuOS bullshit. I suppose AndroidTV is good enough even despite that.

[–] keyez@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

There are a couple of devices, a few months ago during a similar discussion on Lemmy I saved this but doesn't seem to be many videos or reviews out in the wild

https://www.pishop.us/product/vero-v/

https://osmc.tv/about/

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[–] enemenemu@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
  1. If you do not want stuttering, use a graphics card. Higher energy consumption but you can play everything
[–] CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If they have a 5th gen or newer Intel CPU, Quicksync will work excellently for transcoding. No discrete GPU needed.

[–] enemenemu@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As many as most GPUs without all the extra cost and power draw. Nvidia sets a transcode limit of 2 sessions unless you disable it. You really shouldn't ever be transcoding 4k content. Most people will duplicate 1080p and 4k content and not share the 4k library for remote streaming/external users to avoid transcoding, and 1080p transcodes are no sweat. Furthermore, the goal should be to avoid transcoding wherever possible, so it's unlikely that you'd have multiple people doing intensive transcoding simultaneously if you follow the above advice. You'll want everyone to direct play as much as possible.

[–] enemenemu@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As many as your hard drives or upload bandwidth can handle since they would be playing directly and not transcoding.

[–] enemenemu@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago

Thanks, it's good advice that you do not need a gpu if you watch movies in 1080. It's sufficient for 99% setups anyway

[–] Gabadabs@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 week ago

I've personally been using a raspberry pi with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. I just run jellyfin in Firefox and navigate with the mouse - the keyboard rarely ever being necessary. I was able to increase the icon size so it's acceptable on a tv and bookmark any streaming websites I use. It's certainly not as clean as using something like an apple tv, but it's serviceable and I don't have to fiddle with plugins like when I tried Kodi. Honestly though, apple tv probably fulfills what you're looking for like others have said.

[–] primemagnus@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It seems like the most obvious answer is to build your own with a Pi. Run Linux and then install any player you want. You could even use the Pi as the head then network your storage.

Also, FWIW, the latest Apple TV hasn’t seen an upgrade in about 3-4 years, so if you do go that route, bear that in mind. A new model is coming sooner than later (hopefully this year).

[–] Jarix@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Did you read far enough to see that didn't want another project? Or did you just decide that needed to hear a suggestion they already rejected again because if YOU tell them they might listen to you?

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