Looking for the ultimate hardware client...advice needed

[Revv23]

Well so i didnt want to use a firecube because i refuse to have active listening devices hanging around...so i picked up a chromecast 4k to give a try it's a total POS... been on it an hour cant even get it to install jellyfin app... shocking how bad this product is.

Edit - finally got it installed, and guess what... no suggestions or movie trailers... on the whole its a downgrade from the roku app & not to mention the hardware is inferior.

So being that the android TV player is a bust that likely rules out nvidia shield too. Too bad I was hoping the app would be the same as the android handheld app which is fully featured.

I guess I'm back to the drawing board & gotta figure out some sort of HTPC setup... maybe ill do a steam deck or something?

[Revv23]

I just wanted to summarize what I have learned so far.

Roku & Android TV have same limitations, having used both Roku is the superior experience.

* This means that the only clients that I know of that are fully featured are the following:

1. Desktop Client (windows & linux & steamdeck)
2. Web Client
3. Android Mobile Client (NOT android TV devices)
4. IOS client (Haven't verified Apple TV)

My only Unknown is AppleTV Client, I haven't tried it and its my understanding you have to subscribe to other software to get it working.

I'm seriously thinking about running docked steamdecks, as then I get the side benefit of having a gaming console in every room, however the idea of charging controllers and coaching my family/guests on it's use gives me hesistation. Another thought is trying to figure out what rasberry pie/kodi users use... however pi's seem like such bad values these days. For now I'm going to stay on Rokus while I think about it.

[1hitsong]

> I'm currently running Roku's, and while they work fine (thanks roku team!) they are feature limited. No previews, no suggestions, etc.

You're welcome.

What do you mean by previews and suggestions?

> Edit - finally got it installed, and guess what... no suggestions or movie trailers...

Roku supports local trailers. Terms of service prevent us from playing YouTube videos, so that's the best we can offer.

[Revv23]

> I'm currently running Roku's, and while they work fine (thanks roku team!) they are feature limited. No previews, no suggestions, etc.

You're welcome.

What do you mean by previews and suggestions?

Hey there!

Suggestions are... suggestions. In desktop client click any library and then at the top you'll see it. Previews = movie previews, trailers (must be regional difference no one calls them trailers where i live sorry)

> Edit - finally got it installed, and guess what... no suggestions or movie trailers...

Roku supports local trailers. Terms of service prevent us from playing YouTube videos, so that's the best we can offer.

I understand & hope you didn't think I was in any way knocking it, and as I said Android TV is worse experience with same limitations. Making Roku (IMO) the best TV plugin currently available for the money. My goal in this thread wasn't to knock roku but to find the full desktop version on my TV, as I'm rarely watching JF at my desk. I guess my hope was that there was some sort of FOSS linux TV streaming box out there, but it appears no such luck.

[stewed pork roti]

I'm curious about this, too. If money was no object, what would be everyone's ideal setup?

How to control it? I could use a bluetooth game controller but then having to wake & pair every time we turn the TV on? Does jellyfin even support controllers? I'd probably have to run it through steam?  I can handle that but my family not so much. So I'm back to square one

FYI, If your TV is new-ish and supports CEC, that signal goes through the HDMI cable to your host device. In the case of a PC, the HDMI plugs into your video card, and video cards don't support CEC. However, CEC adaptor devices for PCs do exist. I think they go on the end of your cable and split the CEC signal off into a USB cable. I personally don't know anyone who's tried one, but that sounds like exactly what I would want. No idea how much work it would take to get a HTPC to sleep and wake via CEC, and no idea if the Jellyfin desktop client plays nice with CEC control, but it sounds like it's worth looking into.

I'll be following this thread closely because I want to do the same sort of project

[abpjf]

My most current main HTPC (acts as my personal JF server + playback device) is specced out with the following:

Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Mini ITX Desktop Case
Intel Core i5-13400F CPU
Asus ROG STRIX B760-I GAMING WIFI Mini ITX LGA1700 Motherboard
TEAMGROUP Elite 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5-5200 CL42 Memory
Western Digital Black SN770 1TB NVME
MSI VENTUS 2X BLACK OC GeForce RTX 4060 GPU
Asus ROG LOKI 750W SFX PSU

I also use a Lenovo laptop with an i7 as an external JF server (for other users), another Lenovo i7 laptop as a player (connected to an OLED) in the office, and a Shield in each bedroom.

[Revv23]

My most current main HTPC (acts as my personal JF server + playback device) is specced out with the following:

I also use a Lenovo laptop with an i7 as an external JF server (for other users), another Lenovo i7 laptop as a player (connected to an OLED) in the office, and a Shield in each bedroom.

Thanks for your specs, but this doesn't really answer any of the core questions about running that setup. How do you control it? Can a normal person control it without having to take lessons?

Sheild runs on android TV app which also isnt fully featured so can't be considered here for ultimate setup.

[abpjf]

My most current main HTPC (acts as my personal JF server + playback device) is specced out with the following:

I also use a Lenovo laptop with an i7 as an external JF server (for other users), another Lenovo i7 laptop as a player (connected to an OLED) in the office, and a Shield in each bedroom.

Thanks for your specs, but this doesn't really answer any of the core questions about running that setup. How do you control it? Can a normal person control it without having to take lessons?

Sheild runs on android TV app which also isnt fully featured so can't be considered here for ultimate setup.

You skipped past where I specifically replied to OPs question about controlling an HTPC - seems like everyone here did. Running the PC JF player works exactly like any other STB client. Use one of these as the controller, works exactly like an LG Magic Remote:

https://www.amazon.com/W10-GYRO-Keyboard...078NT49MJ/

What lessons does anyone need to "mouse and click" around a player client?

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I can't speak to the mfr, but this mini-PC currently on sale for $145 (Forum admin: I'm not shilling and hopefully not violating any kind of retail-linking policy; just sharing info) prices you $50 BELOW a Shield Pro and will kick ass as a JK client, heck, even a server:

https://www.acemagic.com/products/acemag...95-mini-pc

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My most current main HTPC (acts as my personal JF server + playback device) is specced out with the following:

I also use a Lenovo laptop with an i7 as an external JF server (for other users), another Lenovo i7 laptop as a player (connected to an OLED) in the office, and a Shield in each bedroom.

Thanks for your specs, but this doesn't really answer any of the core questions about running that setup. How do you control it? Can a normal person control it without having to take lessons?

Sheild runs on android TV app which also isnt fully featured so can't be considered here for ultimate setup.

You skipped past where I specifically replied to OPs question about controlling an HTPC - seems like everyone here did. Running the PC JF player works exactly like any other STB client. Use one of these as the controller, works exactly like an LG Magic Remote:

https://www.amazon.com/W10-GYRO-Keyboard...078NT49MJ/

What lessons does anyone need to "mouse and click" around a player client?

---

I can't speak to the mfr, but this mini-PC currently on sale for $145 (Forum admin: I'm not shilling and hopefully not violating any kind of retail-linking policy; just sharing info) prices you $50 BELOW a Shield Pro and will kick ass as a JF client, heck, even a server:

https://www.acemagic.com/products/acemag...95-mini-pc

[tmsrxzar]

for a client that supports *almost everything - use Kodi+Jellyfin for Kodi
for a client that supports DTS:X, TrueHD passthrough as well as most other audio (except AC4) - use Kodi+Jellyfin for Kodi
for a client device that supports DolbyVision - android must be used (or an android box with CoreELEC)
for a client that is easy to configure and control - you must limit features which takes it out of the "ultimate" category

but with everything there is a caveat, Kodi can be tempermental on android, most android boxes to not support DTS via ExoPlayer, no PC supports DolbyVision, wired vs wireless, there is no streaming content (netflix, prime, hulu) on a PC or CoreELEC except lower quality

"Ultimate" is very difficult to quantify for "All Users" as it is per user's experience

[abpjf]

or for one with more GPU EUs, the Beelink S12 Pro with an N100 CPU is currently available for $159 on Amazon (clip the $60 coupon to get to that price).