My nearest way is using my steam controller but isn’t comfy to navigate Netflix or other streaming websites.
OK, buy a webcam and set it up so it’s pointed at your couch or wherever you sit in front of your TV. Make the webcam audio and video stream available on a public server. Then do all your web browsing in vanilla Chrome with no ad or script blockers. Make sure that you always have tabs open for Amazon and Facebook, and allow their web apps access to the webcam data.
The smart TV experience.
On the software-side of things; Kodi is cool. As for remote control, consider referring to Kodi’s Wiki-page on the matter for options.
Btw, honestly your query is way too vague. If possible, please provide us with more info so that we can better help you 😉.
I just probably need
to buy a fire sticka software with a tv-like UI, where I can use a remote to visit streaming websites in an easiest way.Thanks for enlightening us! Fortunately, the answer in my original comment should still satisfy your needs.
I have one of those wireless keyboards with an integrated touchpad. It’s plugged into a small PC, which runs Linux Mint, Firefox, Jellyfin. Plenty comfortable and no invasive tracking.
That’s too bad, have you thought about getting chrome and opening Facebook or something in the background to get that invasive mainstream tech feel? There is something about not being tracked that makes me feel lonely. /S
KDE has an interesting project that lines up with this. Unfortunately I’m not too sure how progress is. Plasma Bigscreen
If it’s the input the problem, I use KDE connect to use my phone as a remote control. You can use the gyroscope in your phone to point to the screen like a Wii controller.
I’m at the couch constantly and just use a wireless keyboard and mouse on the coffee table. The mouse also works fine next to me on the couch as long as I’m not gaming that way.
I did explore the possibility of scrolling options with the TV remote a while back, but the vast majority of PC video cards do not support HDMI-CEC.
Your video card doesn’t need to support CEC if you can get your hand on one of those: https://www.pulse-eight.com/p/104/usb-hdmi-cec-adapter
@circuitfarmer I do that too, but honestly, I wish I could use my Xbox controller instead.
Smart TV experience? As is tons of ads in any app? Crappy user interfaces, out of date apps and plenty of tracking? You want to replicate that?
FWIW I never experienced any of the above besides the tracking, that’s there for sure.
Roku
I will second the Roku. I tried this a few years ago and kept running into issues. Some sites like Netflix don’t offer HD resolution on PC. Then there are other services that have sketchy support for Linux. HBO and peacock are 2 examples.
I use my PC for personal streaming and a Roku for the main TV
I used to pay for Hulu live tv but decided I wasn’t getting enough out of it and bought a Roku instead. Now that I have it with free apps like PBS, crackle, freevee, tubi, Plex, Pluto, xumo, and a few others plus a few paid subscriptions like peacock, paramount, and basic Hulu, I have more content than I know what to do with for a fraction of what I was paying for live tv ($85/month in addition to my internet bill). It wouldn’t be possible without very fast and reliable Internet however.
Yup. Get a $30 Roku and call it a day.
Logitech K400
Plex
Just buy a htpc remote. There are plenty of “remote” which is actually a wireless keyboard with touchpad/air mouse with media control buttons, but with remote form factor. Some of them even have IR learning capability, which allow you to control your tv by cloning your tv remote’s IR signal (tv power, volume, input source, etc).
So what you could do is get one of those wireless gyro mice. Then just point it at the TV like a magic wand and move your wrist around to control the on screen cursor.
Off topic but I’m surprised by the amount of smart tv hate in this thread.
I have a Philips TV with Android TV. I use it for YouTube, Twitch, Spotify and occasionally for other streaming services. I actually really like the experience. Everything is a few clicks on a remote away, the UI is clean, it works reasonably fast.
I’m not going to argue about privacy though, that’s definitely terrible.
What’s more comfortable than a steam controller?√