For a 74 year old

by jaredcheeda

Trying to find something with the simplest UI I can. If it literally just booted up to a file explorer, defaulting to the external HDD, that would be great.

Criteria:

  • HDMI out - to tv
  • USB - for ext HDD
  • Ethernet - To transfer files to the connected external HDD from another computer on the same network
  • Remote - with as few buttons as possible
  • No streaming, no netflix, etc. None of that. Just a box that can play video files off of an external hard drive.
  • Dead simple UI for easily navigating and playing videos. It's fine if there's an "advanced ui" so long as it can boot up to the grandma friendly mode by default.
  • Plays any media format (not just H264/MP4)
  • Not made by Apple

Edit: Found an app called "Launch on Boot". So with that, assuming it works, I should be able to make any Android TV device boot to a file system or video player app.

clarkss12

Any inexpensive device running either LibreELEC or CoreELEC, can't get any simpler than that. Pair that with a good RF remote, and you have a device that will play every video and audio codec that you can throw at it......

From a 72 year young techie.......

steven_crilly

One of the ELECs (open or libre), essentially just boot straight into Kodi that cant be skinned with very simple skins, uses HDMI, can support HDD, has ethernet, has remote and large codec base.

I havent done one in a few years but I flashed a cheap android box with it for an uncle and its still in use today with nearly no support calls over that time

Liudmer

A95X MAX, it has a very simple UI with very big icons and the controller works to turn on/off the TV and change the volume, it comes with a HDD bay, i plugged a 1 tb SSD to make sure it won’t overheat and make the reading of media faster; install VCL player (will play pretty much any format, select the folders in the SSD to be read only by the app and customize to your needs... after installing all you need, turn off wifi and that’s it... that’s how i watch my favorite movies and series at home, without eating up the wifi signal and not dealing with connection issues; i’m planning on getting this same setup for work and play movies while doing my job

Ultra_HR

This subreddit is for discussing Android TV, a specific software platform. Post this somewhere else.

Adeciccio

Formuler Z8 easiest setup.

BiggussDikkuss

The Simplest device - Plug n Play is the Vero 4K+:

https://osmc.tv/vero/

But if you also want to Drag n Drop - Network Transfer files from a PC/Mac to a connected USB Hard Drive then as suggested below by u/clarkss12 get an AMLogic chipset device like a Ugoos X3 Cube + a Plug n Play - WeChip G20 remote:

https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916

Do some minor DIY - burn/flashing CoreELEC Kodi on to a Class 10 U1 microSDHC (and SD adapter) using a PC/Mac and the free Etcher program:

https://coreelec.org/

https://www.balena.io/etcher/

That will then play anything you throw at it - better vs ANY Android TV device, especially for tricky old stuff.

OSMC on the Vero4K and CoreELEC boots straight into Kodi. It really is the easiest to Boot straight into what you want once some minor setup is conducted.

(hint go into Kodi > Videos on Main screen interface and select USB hard drive).

(hint2: in Kodi Settings > Interface > Startup > you can select Kodi and CoreELEC device to auto start straight into the Videos section)

12Ab_xyz

I can only say go for mi box s or wait for google or mi stick with 2gb ram

12Ab_xyz

anything with Ethernet wont be simple or cheap.