I have been rather unhappy with my smart TV’s functionality as I feel it isn’t smart for me but smart for the manufacturers. I just can’t use it how I want to. I would love to overwrite the existing OS from Android to Linux. I’ve recently converted from Windows and loving Mint.
I haven’t read too much regarding Linux smart tvs as my searches mostly come up with raspberry Pi and overwriting an Android box. I don’t want to connect anything and just want my tv to boot up in Linux when it’s turned on, and get some of my apps going. Is there a way to do this?
For reference I have a Sony Bravia with Android installed on it.
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There are folks form KDE who are trying to implement the Plasma Bigscreen solution: https://plasma-bigscreen.org/. Seems promising to me :)
Though, I’d still recommend to use an external device to avoid breaking the TV OS up ;)
That does sound promising. I hope they get it up and running!
It was abandoned for awhile but a few months back someone has taken up working on it and made a bunch of headway. Looks significantly better than the screenshots on that website.
That said, I think the UI of choice for Linux machines is going to be Steam Big Picture Mode. I’ve been using it as my SmartTV for awhile now and I really can’t think of anything else I’d want. The excellent controller support just makes it untouchable.
The easiest way is to buy a raspberry pi and install libreelec on it
I’ll answer your question right now without beating around this bush, what you are asking is simply impossible. In fact I will take it one step further, not only is your request not possible using your preexisting TV there is no such consumer TV that you can purchase as of now that will just run Linux. Furthermore there is not a single Linux distro as of now designed to run internally inside of TVs (there are distros for set top boxes, not TVs).
Is it possible in theory?
Possibly but until a single confirmed case of a successful Linux installation on a TV is found I will consider this impossible (furthermore the chances that the successful Linux installation occurs on your specific model of TV is slim).
This would explain why all my search results never showed me the option. At least I got my answer.
Thanks!
Agreed. Theoretically possible, but practically not possible unless you are an embedded hardware engineer with access to Sony’s datasheets and potentially crypto keys. Some sort of external box is much more practical.
The requirements to make replacement Linux firmware for a TV would be
- A degree in CompSci
- Experience in hardware engineering
- Extensive knowledge of the TV circuitry
- All low level schematics of the TV
- Extensive knowledge of the processor used
- Extensive knowlage of the original firmware and boot process
- Extensive knowledge of embedded Linux systems (most likley Alpine)
- Kernel sources for the TV OS as well as somehow gaining acess to all firmware files
- Extensive knowledge on low level internal TV communication protocols
At that point just make your own smart TV using a commercial display
You won’t need EE knowledge, that’s all abstracted away in silicon. You just need to know how to drive the chips, and they’ll manage the inputs and outputs.
I doubt the TV OS is any kind of Linux. Usually embedded systems run something like vxworks. Sometimes Minix. Real fancy ones run Android (which is derived from Linux, yes).
If you can unlock the bootloader, it might be possible to install a Halium distro like Droidian on it. I wouldn’t recommend doing so, however, and there will be missing functionality, such as being able to use any video inputs or watch live TV. It will basically be a large smartphone without a touchscreen.
Instead, I recommend disconnecting your TV from the internet and connecting an external device to it as others have recommended. See if there’s a way to autoboot your TV to an HDMI input. You can also get a USB CEC adapter to use your TV’s remote on your external device for something like Kodi, for instance.
Well, technically Android IS a type of Linux.
But your solution is to not use the smart functions of a Smart TV. Do a factory reset of your TV and get some sort of external device like an Amazon Fire Stick or Apple TV or Raspbery pi or even a Linux Laptop. Treat your TV like a monitor for a small computer. Relying on the TV is the worst possible scenario.
Well you already have Linux on your TV. Unfortunately it’s android which is capitalist crap. They’ll no doubt make it extremely difficult to remove their malware. Even if you could overwrite, you would still be using the shitty computer inside your TV.
Like other people have said, I think the best solution is using an external machine. I use an older laptop running Kodi for my TV. It’s pretty awesome. Just make sure your machine has the specs for your needs. It shouldn’t be hard to find something more powerful than the TV.
You already got your answer so I won’t repeat them. You cannot even replace the live TV app on your smart TV. I spent a somewhat huge time to fix what’s wrong on my mother’s TV but sadly best I could do was sideloading apps and blocking ad channels on pi-hole. Probably the best way is to buy Raspberry-Pi and install LibreElec. At least that’s I’ll suggest next time we need such device.
I love Raspberry Pis, I have about 6 of them running around the house right now, but for TV work I prefer a beefier computer like the newer N100/N150 fanless models.
I checked them and they seem pricier than R-Pi, though it might worth because x64. I found an Intel N97 model named GMKtec G5 and actually it seems great, much more power consumption than R-Pi though.
They do draw more power than a Pi-5 even, but they are still practical in fanless mode and interfaces are significantly smoother and quicker. Of course, if all you care about is the streaming video you can get a PiZero to do that for you.
Currently we don’t need any until this current setup breaks or become obsolete thanks to TCL or Google (also old netbook does the job for Jellyfin), but when the time comes I’m actually more interested in this whole living room PC setup, of course will need to find a compatible remote controller.
a compatible remote controller.
I use VNC on my phone… it’s not as “clickable” as a traditional remote, but then I hate that form of TV browsing anyway. That’s one of the strengths of using a real PC: more direct and powerful search capabilities. We have a couple of others setup (Family room, one bedroom) which use touchpad keyboards as remotes.
I wouldn’t mind touchscreen but apparently there are remotes with keyboard on it and not that expensive (don’t know about the quality though). They supposedly work on any PC related setup. I guess I know now what we’ll get next time.
My kids are occasionally rough on their bedroom “remote” keyboard with touchpad. I got a stack of 4 of them from AliExpress for under $15 including shipping (same thing from Amazon sells for $20 each, still not too bad but why pay extra?) Of course, now that I have the stack of spares, the first one has lasted over a year…
Had the same thought a year ago. The options which we have looked so ugly though i somehow ended up with a HTPC with Windows of all things… but i wish there would be a real simple Linux WM similiar to Apples TVos… Don’t like the Plasma Bigscreen either… Maybe its a great project to get into Wayland…
The cheapest is to buy some android box with armlogic processor and install coreelec on it. You can do it for 20 bucks, then you have a kodi oriented linux distro on your tv.
Though I prefer to straight up connect my laptop to the tv with a small remote keyboard and have full computer functionality. I’m looking to change the laptop for a miniPC when the laptop finally breaks down. I would use a normal DE. Nothing specially suited for smartTV usage. But you get used to it pretty quick.
