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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Found another use for a Pi.

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Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5111
Posted: 01:01am 06 May 2025
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I bought a Pi 400 a couple years ago, been using it as a standing computer once a month when I do my invoices.

Recently I trialed Apple TV+, got some interesting movies, but didn't want to sit at my computer or tablet on my lap to watch them. I use a Chromecast device on my TV to stream Youtube movies, Disney, etc, but it wont work with Apple TV+. Apple want you to buy their own streaming device, at a couple hundred $. Go jump.

I connected the Pi400 to the TV, and added a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can sit on the sofa and use the Pi400. I'm using a wired network connection, wifi a bit slow for 4k video in my place.

The standard Pi OS was OK, used Chromium to open Apple TV+ web site and watched movies full screen. A bit of stutter every few minutes, was OK, but could be better.

A bit of research, and installed Tornado OS for the Pi. Its a lot faster at streaming, and you can choose different desktop themes, like Win95, WinXP, etc. I also installed Chromium Media Edition.

Much better result. 4k video, may see a stutter once an hour if that.

Glenn

Footnote added 2025-05-08 12:28 by Gizmo
As stanleyella pointed out further down, Its not Tornado OS, but Twister OS.
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ
 
al18
Senior Member

Joined: 06/07/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 225
Posted: 06:40am 06 May 2025
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AppleTV+ is built into many SmartTV’s built in the last 5+ years
 
IanT
Senior Member

Joined: 29/11/2016
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 105
Posted: 07:37am 06 May 2025
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Yes, my new TV seems to be a lot smarter than me! :-(

IanT
 
damos
Regular Member

Joined: 15/04/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 69
Posted: 12:32am 07 May 2025
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Just pick up an old PC from Gumtree or Marketplace. I got a 4000 series i3 a few years ago for $100 and connect to the TV using HDMI and use a Kodi style remote as a backlit keyboard and mouse. This is capable of doing anything a smart TV does, but much better. If you want 4k get a newer computer, but I can't tell the difference from where I sit and my old Plasma TV is only 1080p anyway but still looks better than anything that isn't OLED.

If you use the DuckDuckGo browser, its YouTube ad blocker works extremely well. I use VLC for videos. All the TV networks work very well from any browser so we never use the antenna connection these days. These probably work on Linux including the Pi, but I am reasonably confident I will get browser updates for many years to come.

Smart TVs often have PCs equivalent to old phones inside them and you rely on the manufacturer to provide updates. They rarely have good browsers so you are limited to content available through their apps. You are dependent on them updating their software.
 
hhtg1968
Senior Member

Joined: 25/05/2023
Location: Germany
Posts: 136
Posted: 11:37am 07 May 2025
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  Gizmo said  I bought a Pi 400 a couple years ago, been using it as a standing computer once a month when I do my invoices.

Recently I trialed Apple TV+, got some interesting movies, but didn't want to sit at my computer or tablet on my lap to watch them. I use a Chromecast device on my TV to stream Youtube movies, Disney, etc, but it wont work with Apple TV+. Apple want you to buy their own streaming device, at a couple hundred $. Go jump.

I connected the Pi400 to the TV, and added a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can sit on the sofa and use the Pi400. I'm using a wired network connection, wifi a bit slow for 4k video in my place.

The standard Pi OS was OK, used Chromium to open Apple TV+ web site and watched movies full screen. A bit of stutter every few minutes, was OK, but could be better.

A bit of research, and installed Tornado OS for the Pi. Its a lot faster at streaming, and you can choose different desktop themes, like Win95, WinXP, etc. I also installed Chromium Media Edition.

Much better result. 4k video, may see a stutter once an hour if that.

Glenn


What is "Tornado OS"? I tried to use google, but i was not successful.
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2394
Posted: 02:39pm 07 May 2025
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What is "Tornado OS"? I tried to use google, but i was not successful.
think means Twister OS?
 
Gizmo

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Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5111
Posted: 02:27am 08 May 2025
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Ah, my bad. Its Twister OS. I'll add a footnote to the original post.
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ
 
stanleyella

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Joined: 25/06/2022
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2394
Posted: 10:24pm 08 May 2025
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used twister os rpi 400 128g ssd and 256g ssd for emulation station. rpi keyboard has common fault .. useless. kingston sdd games roms stopped working, dead drive.
gonna try twister os on sd card and usb kb. the pi400 has sat there for a year
 
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