I’d like to switch from a smart TV to an HTPC, but trying to navigate a standard desktop enviroment regularly with no desk is a royal pain. Is it realistically possible to set up an HTPC that won’t require this for regular use? I expect it’d have to be controlled with a game controller, given that there is probably better (or the same) support compared to using a remote, but thats just a guess.
In particular, I’d like to be able to use a few of the larger streaming services, my own video files, and YouTube. Are there apps with controller (or remote) support for these? I’d also like to be able to browse the web when needed, or better yet, be able to cast to the TV from a phone.
For reference of my own skill level, I’m not tech illiterate by any means, I’ve worked in low-level IT jobs, but when people start talking about recompiling software or that, I tend to start getting lost.
Edit: After extensive testing, it isn’t viable. Almost nothing has support for non-mouse control, so I’ll have to just get a Roku or something.
If you can get a UI set up, like Kodi or something, I liked using my Flirc receiver on my htpc. You can use any IR remote, and completely map the buttons to functions. It was sweet.
If you have experience with Kodi, how did you use it with streaming services (if you did)? I’m seeing a lot of recommendations for it, but testing it out, I didn’t really see a good way to integrate it with things like Netflix or YouTube - not even a good way to launch the Windows apps for them.
Honestly, I haven’t used Kodi in a lot of years. There are add-ons for things like Netflix and YouTube, and I vaguely recall using those.
I found this, for example: https://howtomediacenter.com/en/install-netflix-kodi-addon/
As best as I can tell, the addon recommended there has been discontinued as a result of having to fight Netflix’s DRM. Most recent posts report frequent issues with it. I was looking at other services, and unfortunately it seems the same or worse. I might try launchbox as another user suggested, and just use it to launch Windows apps, but I haven’t tested it yet.