Raspberry Pi Pico $3.75 (Was $6.45) + Shipping from $8 @ Pi Australia

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Little Bird Electronics

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  Crownanchor on 09/08/2024 - 21:01

  Anyone getting the Pico 2?

  Pico with loose headers is also on sale, $5.20

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  DannyBoy on 09/08/2024 - 21:44

  Question for anyone that dabbles in the Raspberry Pi lifestyle, is it possible to put together a device that works purely as a basic media player to TV wia an external HDD? Also do any models support 4k?

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    Crownanchor on 09/08/2024 - 21:51

    Yes, can do, but you need a Raspberry Pi computer and not a microcontroller.

    Its very popular, Raspberry Pi Media Centres. Im just not too sure the specifics and how 4K works, but the Pi 5 maybe the best chance.

    • 

      DannyBoy on 09/08/2024 - 21:53

      Cheers, what software do these run? Linux or similar

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        Crownanchor on 09/08/2024 - 21:58

        +1

        Yes, Linux, there are several different Linux OS's dending on the purpose.

        OSMC, LibreELEC and PLEX can run on Raspberry Pi. Also i think ARM Windows maybe supported.

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      Sheep Whisperer on 10/08/2024 - 07:54

      I used run libreElec with a tv tuner hat on a pie 3b+. This is for 1080p as it's not capable for anything higher. The tv tuner allows me to watch FTA TV, but also stream TV to any device. Desktop, tablet or phone, via wifi or LAN.

      For 4k you'd want the Pi5. Once you set up the back-end of Libraelec you can use the USB HDD. Pretty much the same for any of the MediaCentre programs.

      Edit… Upon reading comments below, you would be served far easier and just as cheap on an Android box. If you're a tinkerer, like me, then those boxes limit you to android and that's not enough. Web surfing and light office stuff comes in handy on your down time, sometimes. That and I love to block ads with extensions in my browser, so the NUC or any SBC that can run windows or Linux is my jam.

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    didit7 on 09/08/2024 - 21:58

    +4

    To be honest, if all you need is a media player, it is much easier to just grab one of those android media player from the likes of aliexpress. It will cost much lower and essentially plug and play.

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      DannyBoy on 09/08/2024 - 22:07

      I was thinking this is the simpler option that or a second hand NUC or similar

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        gizmomelb on 09/08/2024 - 23:29

        +3

        for ease of use - you can buy an Amlogic S905X2 based android media player brand new for $40 (ebay or aliexpress) or an Amlogic S905x4 based media player for $80-100 (amazon) which will support 4K playback (I still use my 'x96 max' branded S905x2 media player) as well as DV and Atmos audio decoding (or pass through to an external AVR and let it do the audio decoding, like I do).

        Buy a small capacity micro SD card to install CORE ELEC to (which is a linux based operating system which just boots and runs KODI media player) and comes with a remote control in case your TV doesn't support HDMI-CEC. If your TV does support HDMI CEC (which most modern TVs should) then you use the tv remote to change to the hdmi input that the media player is connected to and then continue using the tv remote to select, play, stop, pause etc. the videos and audio you may have on a connected USB drive (or NAS).

        Imo Piis not worth it apart from a learning exercise - it'll cost you the same/more for a lot less performance.

        EDIT: you could still buy one of these Pico Pis as they have the RP2040 and make the HDMI CEC adaptor board I linked to above :)

        If you want to get much better KODI performance (in that it downloads and displays art from the show you're watching, links in all the actors into a database so you can watch all stuff you have with XX actor in it), link to movie trailers.. all the eye candy - then I'd recommend keeping an eye out on Intel N100 based mini PCs which can be had on special for as low as $150. BUT no mini PC supports HDMI-CEC for easy TV remote control (but there are ways around it like this - https://www.hackster.io/guorongkoh/pico-cec-hdmi-cec-to-usb-… ) I've ordered the parts and will be making a few units to test out (they allow HDMI CEC communication to the PC they are connected to, so you can use the TV remote etc. instead of a separate rf/bluetooth airmouse or infra red remote control).

        An Intel N100 mini PC can also run emulators quite nicely up to about PS2 / Gamecube era games at 1080p upscaling.. so good for media and retro gaming :)

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          DannyBoy on 10/08/2024 - 00:26

          @gizmomelb: Thanks mate, there's definitely a few options there for me appreciate it.
          Having HDMI-CEC support would be great I'll look into small android unit.

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          Denaz on 10/08/2024 - 13:46

          @gizmomelb: Currently watching a beelink S12 pro for the right price. Hoping to use for Plex and emulation :) didn't realise itd go up to Ps2, that's great to hear!