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What is the best alternative to Google TV?
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Synology Diskstation
All
4
Experiences
Pros
4
Top
Pro
Complete multimedia platform
The DSM includes packages for audio, video and picture services. You can organize all you media within the Diskstation and access it with your browser, the network, FTP, WEBdav and much more. You can even stream your media via the Internet.
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Pro
Easy-to-use interface
Every Synology Diskstation is shipped with the DSM, the Linux based interface. You can access it via your browser and configure and administer the Diskstation. There are a lot of different features for a lot of problems who want to be solved.
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Top
Pro
Enterprise features like LDAP and Active Directory support
There are a lot of features that helps you to implement the Diskstation into your IT infrastructure. The Diskstations support LDAP and Active Directory to connect to existing servers or host a new one.
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Pro
Access your data everywhere
It doesn't matter where you are: you can access ll your data via the internet using the Synology Cloud Services. Another feature is the Dropbox-like client-based sync between your Diskstation and various devices like your Mac, Windows PC or even your smartphone.
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7
0
Android TV
All
6
Experiences
Pros
4
Cons
1
Specs
Top
Con
Your privacy is for sale with this solution
A lot of data is collected about what you are watching - depending on your TV - your voice is recorded (if it has a microphone) or you are observed watching TV (if it has a camera). That data is sent to the manufacturer, Google and 3rd party companies that you never even heard of. This is all done by presenting you a wall of lawyer-gibberish that no one reads and everyone just agrees to because all they wanna do is watch TV.
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Top
Pro
Easy to use
It is bare and easy to use.
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Top
Pro
Sideloading of apps
You can sideload apps.
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Top
Pro
Can run Android apps
It can run all Android apps, however, you might need a mouse.
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Top
Pro
Built-in Chromecast
Android TV has Chromecast built-in.
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Specs
License:
Apache 2.0, GPL 2.0(Linux Kernel)
Based On:
Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
Default Desktop Environment:
Leanback Launcher
Init-System:
Android init
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51
2
PlayStation OS
All
6
Experiences
Pros
2
Cons
3
Specs
Top
Pro
Some good exclusives
It has some really good exclusive titles.
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Top
Con
Remote must be bought seperately
A PS3 or PS4 remote must be bought sperately.
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Top
Pro
Content is available on other devices
PlayStation Store content like Movies is also available on android and iOS devices.
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Top
Con
Power demanding
The PS4 needs ~93 watts if you play something on netflix.
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Top
Con
Vendor lock-in
You have to use their services their app store and so on. There is no way to sideload apps.
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Specs
License:
Proprietary
Based On:
FreeBSD
Default Desktop Environment:
PlayStation UI
Init-System:
?
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4
0
Raspberry Pi
All
3
Experiences
Pros
2
Cons
1
Top
Pro
Not just a Media Center
You can use it for surfing the web, play retro games, and host your own.
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Top
Con
Lack of 4K support
The max video output is 1080p. Edit: Raspberry Pi 4 now supports dual 4K displays. More at : https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/
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Top
Pro
Customizable
A lot of Media Center OS to choose.
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15
1
Roku
All
3
Experiences
Cons
3
Top
Con
Easy to accidentally change channel
It's very easy to accidentally sit on the remote, and stop your video, or exit the channel. Apple Remote does not have this problem.
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Top
Con
Frustrating & complex remote design
For some apps like YouTube, left and right switches videos. While left and right on Netflix will fastforward/rewind. Apple Remote is a better & simpler design, a direction pad & select button is all you need.
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Top
Con
Not a hobbyist platform
It's next to impossible to alter the core of the Roku, like create custom notifications. While new channels can be made, existing ones can't be modified.
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13
1
Kodi
All
12
Experiences
Pros
6
Cons
5
Specs
Top
Pro
Can install on several devices
Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Xbox, Apple TV (jailbroken), and more.
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Top
Con
You may have to jailbreak some devices
This is only for things like a Fire stick, but Android TV boxes etc. should be fine.
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Top
Pro
Lots of plugins available
Like PlutoTV, Curiosity Stream, and YouTube. 3rd party repositories, such as the SlyGuy Repository, contain more plugins like Disney+, Paramount+, Hulu, and Netflix.
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Top
Con
Terrible navigation
Menus over menus with dozens of submenus.
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Top
Pro
Free
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Con
Not Client/Server Capable
While most solutions provide a client/server setup the KODI developers REFUSE to adopt this approach forcing individual setups for every device.
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Top
Pro
Open source
Completely FOSS, licensed under GPL 2.0
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Top
Con
Poorly optimized
Often not a fluid experience on low-end devices.
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Top
Pro
Great customization/multiple skins
You can change navigation flow and other aspects of Kodi with the plethora of customization options and skins.
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Top
Con
No official AAA addons for streaming services
It does not have any official AAA addons and fully relies on the community which result in often broken packages/addons.
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Top
Pro
Can play many different file formats
It supports Blu-ray Discs, CDs, DVDs, USB Flash Drives, local Hard Disk Drives, AirPlay, network file shares, basically every video, audio, and image format available, subtitle files, and even retro game console ROMs.
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Specs
Platforms:
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, AndroidTV, iOS, tvOS
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Experiences
Free
76
14
LibreELEC
All
5
Experiences
Pros
4
Specs
Top
Pro
Free and easy to install and use
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Top
Pro
Ease of use!
Ease of installation and small memory foot print. Boots straight into kodi. Lighting fast operation. Huge support network. Regular updates! Follows development of kodi closely.
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Top
Pro
Runs on a USB stick or SD card as small as 8 gb
Check here for full specs and requirements.
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Top
Pro
Runs well on a Raspberry Pi
Runs cooler than Kodi on a Pi.
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Specs
License:
mainly GPL
Based On:
OpenELEC
Default Desktop Environment:
Kodi
Init-System:
Buildroot
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Free
39
12
Apple TV
All
5
Experiences
Pros
2
Cons
3
Top
Con
No built-in Chromecast
Unlike official Androidtv devices it has no Chromecast built-in.
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Top
Pro
Seamless Airplay support
The Apple TV works seamlessly with Airplay for streaming from Apple devices.
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Top
Con
Remote is very easy to lose
The remote is incredibly small and can easily fall between couch cushions.
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Top
Pro
Simple consistent UI
All apps need to conform to the Apple TV UI, meaning they all act similarly.
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Top
Con
Aged
Compared to newer internet TV options, the Apple TV is a lot less powerful, and has less capabilities, such as not supporting games or voice search.
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11
4
Fire OS
All
7
Experiences
Pros
2
Cons
4
Specs
Top
Con
Ads
There are plenty of ads for Amazon Prime or products.
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Top
Pro
Sideloading
Since it is based on Android you can sideload any Android app.
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Top
Con
Amazon account
Needs an Amazon account.
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Top
Pro
Cheap devices
Amazon FireTV devices are cheap and have often a discount.
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Top
Con
Focuses on Amazon content
The main purpose of the stick is to provide a portal to Amazon's various online services.
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Top
Con
Proprietary
The UI is proprietary software.
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Specs
License:
Proprietary on top of Android TV
Based On:
Android Open Source Project (AOSP)
Default Desktop Environment:
Fire TV Launcher
Init-System:
Android init
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Experiences
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7
4
Amazon Fire TV
All
7
Experiences
Pros
5
Cons
2
Top
Pro
Voice search
There is a dedicated voice search button on the remote so you can quickly bring up the voice search prompt from any app that works fast and accurately.
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Top
Con
Lots of Amazon advertisement
The Fire TV prefers Amazon services, and is tailored to purchasing shows and movies through Amazon. The voice search does not clearly expose if it's already available on a non amazon service.
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Top
Pro
Has support for tons of media service integrations
The Fire TV has support of the following of services: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, ESPN, Pandora, Showtime, MLB, iHeart Radio, Vevo, Vimeo, Crackle, Bloomberg, Twitch, NBA, Amazon Music, Plex, YouTube, Tune In, Flixster, Quello, AOL on, WWE, HuffPost Live, Frequency, Red Bull TV, and Smithsonian Channel.
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Top
Con
Inconsistent UI between apps
Each app has a unique UI making it harder to jump between each app, and requires you to learn a slightly different UI for every app.
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Top
Pro
Has a simplified kids mode
There is a mode called "freetime" that lets you whitelist specific apps and set watch time limits for kids, or for a simplified interface with only certain apps.
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Top
Pro
Most powerful set top box
Even though it's only $99, it's far more powerful than its competitors, with a quad core processor and 2GB of ram, and that power really shows in the fluidity of the UI.
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Top
Pro
Bluetooth Remote
The Fire TV remote doesn't require line of sight, and has a microphone for voice search, thanks to bluetooth support.
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Experiences
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3
2
SteamOS
All
6
Experiences
Pros
3
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Con
Hard to install
If you've installed Arch you're probably fine, but for those used to simple installs like (Ubuntu to name just one) you should prepare some patience, determination, and painkillers. Good news is, it's getting better (it's very young).
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Top
Pro
Native graphics processor support
The OS natively supports Nvidia, Intel, and AMD graphics processors.
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Con
Not built around the desktop experience
SteamOS is, first and foremost, meant to act as a gaming console - it doesn't ship with even some of the most basic applications, such as a file manager or image viewer. As a result, using SteamOS as your primary operating system would require a fair bit of work.
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Top
Pro
Streaming service integration (under development)
Valve is in talks with streaming companies such as Spotify and Netflix to bring their features to SteamOS.
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Top
Pro
For entertainment, it just works
What media center software do for videos, it does for games (and later videos).
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Specs
License:
Proprietary on top of Linux
Based On:
Arch Linux
Default Desktop Environment:
Steam Big Picture, Kde Plasma
Init-System:
Systemd
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86
56
Plasma Bigscreen
All
5
Experiences
Pros
2
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Con
Uses KDE applications
There are no Apps designed for the system, instead it modifies the way regular KDE applications are displayed.
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Top
Pro
Runs on cheap hardware
You can make any TV a smart TV with only a Raspberry Pi.
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Top
Con
GNU GPL
This License is much more restrictive than Androids Apache license, which will lead to less developers/interest.
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Top
Pro
A free (as in freedom) alternative
To all the proprietary set top box operating systems.
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Specs
License:
GNU GPL
Based On:
Debian>Ubuntu>KDE Neon
Default Desktop Environment:
KDE Bigscreen
Init-System:
SystemD
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5
5
tvOS
All
4
Experiences
Pros
1
Cons
2
Specs
Top
Con
Vendor lock-in
You have to use their services their app store and so on. There is no way to sideload apps.
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Top
Pro
For Apple fanboys
If you're already on the Apple ecosystem so you don't have much choice.
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Top
Con
Expensive
It's a very expensive device compared to other devices with the same features.
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Specs
License:
Proprietary
Based On:
FreeBSD>macOS/iOS
Default Desktop Environment:
tvOS UI
Init-System:
?
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4
7
Built By the Slant team
Find the best product instantly.
4.7 star rating
Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to Safari
Try it now - it's free
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