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submitted 7 months ago by mr_MADAFAKA@lemmy.ml to c/steamdeck@sopuli.xyz
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[-] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 135 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I'd like the Steam Machine to come back with the addition of being an HTPC. Why? Because Valve is big enough to arm wrestle streaming services into releasing an official app.

I basically want a user customizable, privacy respecting Xbox.

[-] someguy3@lemmy.world 27 points 7 months ago
[-] PlasticExistence@lemmy.world 41 points 7 months ago

Home theater PC

[-] towerful@programming.dev 24 points 7 months ago

Way back when netflix was new, windows had a Home Theatre edition of windows.
Beautiful 10ft UI, worked with tuners, could record from them, had no issues dealing with auto-ripped DVDs and had a native netflix integration.
Then netflix pulled out, but windows HTPC was still pretty decent.
Nowadays, it's basically "you have to pay for everything" with a smart TV or a set top android box, maybe lucky enough to have a tuner in it.
Or it's high seas.
I don't think there is really a middle ground.

[-] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

XBMC became Kodi, you can still get that 10ft UI and it integrates with local media files like ripped DVDs and Blu-ray, or it'll interop with any streaming service, or it'll interop with high seas URLs.

That gave way to Plex, which is a webapp to host your local media, which has grown very large and is out of favor. Jellyfin and others have taken up the mantel.

In-between the two are the *arr suites of software which automate file sharing.

It's a rabbit hole if you're interested. Feel free to google any of these names and you'll find a glut of how to articles online.

[-] towerful@programming.dev 6 points 7 months ago

Yeh, I've looked at a bunch over the years. None have that DVR ability that windows Media Center Edition had.
I feel like I should build up an arr stack, go down that rabbit hole, spend my streaming subscription money on a VPN and a private tracker (or whatever is required).
I just haven't yet.

[-] smort@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I run the Plex DVR with my HD Homerun OTA tuners. It works pretty well. Certainly much better than MythTV DVR did

[-] anivia@lemmy.ml 1 points 7 months ago

That gave way to Plex, which is a webapp to host your local media, which has grown very large and is out of favor. Jellyfin and others have taken up the mantel.

I think you overestimate the prevalence of Jellyfin. Plex is still more widely used, for good reason

[-] aodhsishaj@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

I'll sit here and wait for the jellyfin fans to find this comment.

[-] ugurcan@mastodon.gamedev.place -1 points 7 months ago

@aodhsishaj @anivia I started with Plex 10 years ago, used Kodi, Emby, Jellyfin and arrived back at Plex 2 years ago. I think you’re overestimating the prevalence of Jellyfin.

[-] fadedmaster@sh.itjust.works 4 points 7 months ago

HTPC wasn't a Windows thing though Microsoft did have Windows Media Center, which was a pretty slick interface for HTPCs

I used to use XBMC, which is now Kodi, for an interface. Before that I just used a PC running Mandrake Linux with a wireless mouse and keyboard. Haha.

Had a TV tuner, acted as a DVR, and also could play my library of SNES and NES games through it.

[-] towerful@programming.dev 4 points 7 months ago

Windows MCE, that was it! Not HTPC.
I knew a guy that built a career using xbmc in a professional environment, scripted out the wazoo to make it not look like xbmc.
I think I even tried running it on an actual Xbox, and being impressed with it. But MCE on a spare laptop was better. I eventually built an HTPC to run MCE.

[-] laughterlaughter@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Or it’s high seas.

It's always the high seas.

[-] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 19 points 7 months ago

Home Theater PC.

[-] SmoothLiquidation@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

Had to look it up. They mean Home Theater PC.

[-] Zoidsberg@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

Home theatre PC

[-] AceQuorthon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 7 months ago

I thought that meant High Tower PC

[-] makyo@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

They are like 1-2 little steps away from a very good HTPC Steam Deck.

Like if they could just take a little time to make Firefox work 100% in game mode (right now it's not quite there, like you can't go full screen with videos) and make controllers just a little more comfortable for browsing and it'd already be there for me.

[-] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one -5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Why would Valve spend time and money doing Mozilla's job for them?

[-] redisdead@lemmy.world 20 points 7 months ago

Same reason they spend time and money making games work on Linux.

[-] BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one -5 points 7 months ago

They don't spend their own time. They pay CodeWeavers to do that work.

[-] redisdead@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago

Point still stands.

[-] lemmylem@lemm.ee 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

If they added Coreboot support, I would buy it just because of that. (Not 100% FOSS, but it's still nice to have more control over your hardware)

[-] grue@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Or better yet, Libreboot.

Edit: why is this controversial?

[-] lemmylem@lemm.ee 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Libreboot nowadays would most likely still contain blobs in the BIOS, but not as much as regular Coreboot. I don't know why you're being downvoted lol. If Coreboot is supported, they can port it to Libreboot.

[-] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago

That would be cool.

[-] lukecooperatus@lemmy.ml 6 points 7 months ago

I'm not sure what else they would need to do. You can just install Plex or Jellyfin on your Steamdeck right now, and you've got yourself an HTPC. It works great!

What are the missing pieces you're still looking for?

[-] doofy77@aussie.zone 4 points 7 months ago

Probably dolby vision support

[-] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 1 points 7 months ago

4K, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos to start with. Then it needs an HDMI 3.x port along with support for a regular TV style Remote.

I meant it when I said I would like a "user customizable, privacy respecting Xbox.", so basically any capability that an Xbox has (aside from Live obviously) is what I'm looking for and why I want Valve to officially bring back Steam Machines.

[-] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

What are the missing pieces you’re still looking for?

The addition of JF or Plex, even with a Steam Dock, doesn't turn a Steam Deck into a user customizable, privacy respecting Xbox.

For starters it needs integrated streaming apps. I don't WANT to have to use a web browser to access streaming content. Next up those streaming apps need Audio and Video support for 4K resolutions, Dolby Vision / HDR, and Dolby Atmos. My Wife doesn't want to watch Outlander in 1080p with stereo sound on a 65" 4k television and I don't want to do it when I'm watching shows on Disney Plus.

How about an HDMI 3.x port? (Steam Dock is only 2.x).

It needs support for a normal tv style remote control. Game controllers are great but I've yet to find a half decent one that has volume and mute buttons.

The last time I checked a Steam Deck wouldn't automatically start in a 10' interface.

Please understand that I'm not bagging on the Steam Deck with these comments. It's a damn capable device for mobile gaming but it wasn't mean to be an HTPC and because of that its never going to function quite right if you try and make it be one.

An Xbox Series X absolutely murders a Steam Deck as an HTPC when used with commercial services but its not user customizable nor privacy respecting. That's why I want Valve to bring back Steam Machines.

[-] vividspecter@lemm.ee 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I wouldn't expect HDMI 3 given the HDMI group are openly hostile to open source implementations of HDMI 2.1.

[-] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 1 points 7 months ago

I wouldn’t expect HDMI 3 given the HDMI group are openly hostile to open source implementations of HDMI 2.1.

It just takes a company with sufficient market power, like Valve, to get involved. For example Android had this same problem in the early days, then Google realized that their OS required it for market adoption and found a way to get it done.

I understand that it may not be possible but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. :)

[-] Neato@ttrpg.network 4 points 7 months ago

Yes! I already have a full gaming desktop attached to my main 4k HDR OLED tv for watching streaming services that don't have apps on the actual TV (and adblocking). If I could replace that with an HTPC that has gaming capability that'd be great!

this post was submitted on 08 May 2024
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