Hackaday · Maken

The Year of the Linux Television?

While the 'Year of the Linux Desktop' remains elusive, a recent project suggests Linux could find a more immediate home in televisions and set-top boxes.

Commercial set-top boxes and smart TVs already utilize Android, which is based on the Linux kernel. However, as these devices become more frustrating due to corporate practices, a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach using Linux is proposed.

A build demonstrated on YouTube uses a miniPC with Nobara Linux and a Waydroid TV build to replicate the Android set-top box experience. It also supports casual gaming through Steam, controlled by gamepads or a USB remote, with DeckyLoader as the frontend.

Setting up this system might be challenging for Linux newcomers, but installers are available. A more complex step involves reflashing a Blu-ray player for 4K disc playback and ripping, though this can be skipped if physical media is not a concern.

Interestingly, older Android TV boxes can also be repurposed as headless Linux machines.

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