1mo ago

KDE Plasma Bigscreen is the Ideal, XMB-like Environment for GNU/Linux Gaming Devices Connected to your TV

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/50155563

I like to keep bigscreen mode primarily for games, but I find the desktop mode is not ideal when using from the TV even with a Steam Controller to use media streaming apps (Firefox progressive web apps, x86_64 Waydroid Aurora/F-Droid apps, and native Discover Store apps), and adjust other settings.
The answer to this pain-point is Plasma Bigscreen. It has a Android TV like interface, and works well with controllers and remotes (FYI, the most reliable one I've tested, sold under a variety of brands). It's easy to switch between the regular Desktop Mode and Bigscreen from the sddm login screen, it's just a dropdown.
Someone recently gave it some much needed love to promote it to QT6, but it could use some additional contributors to bring it to a production grade environment, hopefully in time for the Steam Machine launch.
If you want the stable QT5 version, it is available with most distro package managers as:
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plasma-bigscreen


  
But it does not work perfectly, there are known issues. I am staking my hopes in the next version.
If you want to try the latest on Arch-based systems like SteamOS without building from source, help with filing bugs (always appreciated), or contribute code, the QT6 version which I find more reliable in some ways, less in others, and some key associated dependencies are
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plasma-bigscreen-git
plasma-remotecontrollers-git
qt6-virtualkeyboard

  
Else for Fedora-based Bazzite, or Debian-based distros like Mint, at least currently you need to build from source or help get the package into the testing branches.
Gitlab
Bugzilla (select Plasma Bigscreen)
One key thing that needs fixing is, since Mycroft voice control closed down, OVOS has continued the voice assistant codebase and skills library, but Bigscreen needs OVOS modules placed in where previously Mycroft was used. Definitely helpful for searching shows/movies with controllers/remotes that have a microphone.

Steam Hardware @sopuli.xyz

Plasma-Bigscreen for TV (Desktop) Mode

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24 comments

I was trying to figure out if they still made Plasma TVs. I’m an idiot.
- Updated titles to be more clear I mean KDE Plasma

This will gain notoriety when Valve starts distributing Android apps on Steam. I imagine the following process:
People buy a Steam Machine, after a gaming session they want to watch Netflix and they can't.
Valve responds with Android apps for streaming services.
The FOSS community reacts and builds an alternative.
- Most streaming services are already accessible from the steam deck/steam os. Granted it might take popping into desktop mode. But I haven't found a streaming service yet that hasn't worked under arch. At least after installing widevine.
  It certainly COULD be made easier. Not even having to leave the main steam os screen. And you can already run android apps under steam os. Again it is arch. I still wouldn't mind valve giving waydroid a little love like they did with wine. On older built in Intel graphics it's jank city with waydroid. But it is older non xe Intel graphics. Jank is it's cornerstone.
  
  Desktop Mode on a Living Room "Console"? You know what I meant.
- I mean waydroid already exists
  
  Good luck making a casual install it and use it.

Sounds cool to turn my Raspberry pi 5 into a media center.
Oh wait this is a Linux gaming community, but am keeping this comment up.
- This might come as a shock, but you can def do gaming on a Pi. Before I got my Steam Deck, I used a Pi for my retro gaming.
  
  yep ik, i did it before(tho i only tried pc games , and it works ok-ish)
- We need /c/linux_media_centre!

This interface looks beautiful. Perfect for a DIY media centre.
I call it media centre because I hate the word Smart TV and everything it stands for.

I pretty much just wanted this to use old laptops as tv streaming boxes
- Assuming I need to buy something to convert ir signals, or maybe a bluetooth remote
  
  I use this. Found it to be the best of the bunch in terms of button functionality, layout, and mouse control.
  
  KDE connect works well enough for watching YouTube etc.

It does look really good. Hoping that the Steam Deck, Machine, and Frame are all successful to a point where there's more interest in TV/gamepad centric UI applications for Linux. Don't need much variety. Pretty much media apps

Huh! I thought this project had been cancelled a little ways back? It looks absolutely gorgeous though!

Love this, perfect for a mini PC hooked up to a TV.

Whoa, this looks, very nice

My first question, working only with the headline and the first paragraph of the post was "I wonder if I can flash this to a smart TV I currently own?" I was excited. Maybe we'd finally made progress and I could have something superior to my early experiments with serviio some 10+ years ago.
Then I got to here and stopped caring because this makes it worse than any Roku in my book:
This project uses various open-source components like Plasma Bigscreen, Mycroft AI, LibCEC
Why does it have AI in it?
- Mycroft, like Snips, was a company that developed a voice assistant, making their hardware and software open source. Their legacy is carried on by OVOS, with Neon as the commercial partner.
  There is no LLM integrated into KDE Plasma Bigscreen, but you are free to (or to not in your case) connect OVOS to one like a self-hosted Ollama + Open WebUI instance or ChatGPT. It does not ship with one by default.
  
  Thank you for the clarification
- It has had AI since before AI became hype. They limit it to places where it is useful intead of claiming it does everything.

24 comments