Integration on Homestead Hacker

Integration on Homestead Hackerhttps://homesteadhacker.com/tags/integration/Recent content in Integration on Homestead HackerHugoen-usFri, 03 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400The Brantly TV Computerhttps://homesteadhacker.com/2026/07/brantly-tv-computer/Fri, 03 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0400https://homesteadhacker.com/2026/07/brantly-tv-computer/<h3 id="the-problem-with-my-parents-entertainment--devices-like-a-fire-tv-or-a-smart-tv-is-that-they-are-walled-gardens-we-get-stuck-with-their-ux-choices-locked-down-settings-and-its-impossible-to-fix-remotely-when-it-breaks-so-i-built-them-their-own--the-brantly-tv-computer-a-heavily-customized-linux-htpc-appliance-i-made-myself---leveraging-kodi-with-a-dead-simple-interface-with-an-easy-way-to-go-back-to-the-main-menu-from-anywhere-running-on-a-computer-i-can-remote-control-and-repair-modify-and-add-content-to--from-anywhere">The problem with my parents’ entertainment devices like a Fire TV, or a “smart” TV is that they are “walled gardens”… we get stuck with their UX choices, locked down settings, and it’s impossible to fix remotely when it breaks. So I built them their own: The Brantly TV computer, a heavily customized Linux HTPC appliance I made myself. Leveraging Kodi with a dead-simple interface with an easy way to go back to the “main menu” from anywhere, running on a computer I can remote control and repair, modify, and add content to, from anywhere.</h3> <h2 id="two-bad-options">Two bad options</h2> <p>My folks loathe the term “streaming” because it’s a confusing mess, they prefer the Cable TV grid and DVR that they are used to.</p>