Honestly, probably only need one app for piracy and streaming.
Shoutout to that guy who complained about people not answering your question, only to not answer the question!
Anyways, to answer your question. NO, you cannot install another OS onto your smart TV, much like a PlayStation and XBOX will always use a proprietary launcher (unless you know what you’re doing and are very willing to tinker).
The solutions you have are as follows:
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Keep using your smart TV, but forget and disconnect all WiFi. If possible, remove the WiFi hardware. Then connect a computer running Linux to the display input of the TV. Use this for all WiFi related stuff. (Or get an old, non-smartTV, but good luck!)
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If you truly want to go full schizo and avoid any and all potential telemetry. Based on ur usecase, you do not use TV functionality; you only need a big display. You can get a large monitor or “Commercial Signage Display”. These often dont come with WiFi hardware at all. Then simply connect ur Linux computer like you would an android TV.
I’d recommend KDE plasma “big picture mode” as your desktop env. But Its still in development so YMMV.
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lol at the whole thread full of incorrect no answers. This place is Reddit as fuck.
Tell me your model and I can look around for more specific resources.
Since when rooting counts as a new OS?
Can you unlock the bootloader? No? Then you cannot install a new OS.
By the way, why cannot we see them as a list?
Edit: It seems that website is for webOS only.
while also being the anti-reddit at the same time – i remember posts on reddit of people installing linux on their toaster ovens. lol
Sick af. Been working on a little something myself recently although new job has me going crazy. Working on a semi custom image for older nvidia devices. That’s all I have on hand right now but plan to expand. Debating on android aosp or ububtu. Only issue is widevine. Along with instructions to neuter the tv.
The short answer is: no. You can’t do this.
I spent a long time researching this after my partner insisted on having a TV in the house. The solutions you’ll see online range from “just leave it disconnected from the web” to “use a computer as the default connection”.
I opted for the latter solution. The former is a bad solution because you’ll, at the very best, be stuck with a shit interface full of ads and useless apps. Which computer you use depends on your budget and needs, but I simply don’t see a better solution than that, right now.
While most (maybe all?) TVs actively prevent this, there have ben security flaws that allow you to gain root and go from there. A few years ago I saw my TV+firmware combo was rootable, but newer firmwares patch it. My point is that while you probably can’t just install on your TV model, there may be a security flaw that allows for root access that can be used. It’s also possible that it’s not rootable now, but someone will find a way to jail break in the future. No one can really offer specific guidance without knowing the model and firmware version as whether it’s possible is most likley going to depend on both.
Example of one that worked for my TV (and other older LGs): https://github.com/throwaway96/dejavuln-autoroot It worked by exploiting a bug in the LG media player (I don’t know more specifics).
a better option that doesn’t require specific steps depending on your TV model is just to use a small media PC strapped to the back. and then disable network access for the TV. the benefit of this is that when you buy a new PC, you don’t have to do any research to find out which ones you can jailbreak, because any TV works.
you can then control the media PC with a cheap Bluetooth keyboard/touchpad combo. there are plenty of models available that are no bigger than a large remote and have excellent battery life.
Just use a rasberry pi with a smart tv as a monitor. Most if not all smart tvs lock you into the OEM
Not aware of any way to install something directly to your TV. But a used mini PC with a Flirc USB receiver could run:
Every one of them on the market has a vendor-locked bootloader, so the answer is no. Best you can do is to use a mini PC or a RaspberryPi with Linux on it (there are alternative interfaces for TV).
You can also go with custom Android boxes that you can install ROMs.
So basically the best you can do is to use the smart TV as a monitor. Don’t let them connect to internet.
Not to my knowledge. I have a lighter small form factor PC with Linux on it hooked up to my TV and stream from that.
Not the specific answer you’re looking for, but the one I’ve got as its the one I use for myself…
I have a RaspberryPi as the default input for my TV now. Any and all interactions with the big screen happen through mouse and keyboard now rather than the TV remote besides power and maybe sometimes the volume.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option than that, I believe you can get older chromesasts/firesticks and jailbreak those for more or less the same results I’ve got with my setup, but YMMV depending on what you’ve got and what you seek.
I want to do this, but I think my housemates would riot if they were stuck with the lower quality most streaming services deliver to Linux. Last I checked, you had to jump through hoops just to get 1080p from Netflix in Firefox on Linux, and 4K was nearly impossible. Same deal with a lot of other services.
Is there a way around that nowadays or do you have to either suffer poor quality or pirate everything? I haven’t actually looked into this in a couple years now.
The piracy option is by far the cheaper and easier method all things considered. If you like Free Media (Heck Yeah) then just Google those words or even their acronym and you’ll probably be rewarded with all you could ever want. Of course, this isn’t a legal thing I would ever actually suggest anyone do.
This is how a family could have watched things ranging from entire series to latest it-shows to classic films and newest releases as a family while on a reasonable budget. Of course, mind your local ordnance regarding such things and take appropriate measures when doing anything other than verifying those websites exist for purely educational purposes as governments and corporations are absolutely watching every single byte of data that passes through your pipes unless you actively shield it. You will receive notices about any illicit activity they detect and they would be within their legal right to restrict or deny your access to the internet for piracy and theft.
On an unrelated note, I’m quite happy with Proton VPN and the services they offer. Being Swiss-based with that reputation for international privacy, I’m reasonably assured my data isn’t at any greater risk of loss or breach than anyone else relying on a single point of failure and have my eggs in a basket that is otherwise entirely uninterested in me outside a subscription to keep their lights on.
One monthly fee for privacy and a one-time investment in some basic hardware and you’ve got all of humanity’s recorded media on your television. Uh. In theory.
Edit: word. I swear I English good.
Just keep your TV off the network. Roku TVs have a locked bootloader, probably similar with FireTVs. Best bet is Android or google TV could likely be modded.
