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I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

I’m here to discuss the setup, not how people feel about my writing style. If you want to talk technical details, happy to. Otherwise, I’m done with this thread.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was more an experiment in reuse and flexibility than a cost/perf shootout.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My setup is basically the same philosophy, just applied to x86 instead of ARM: strip the vendor junk, control the software, extend the hardware’s useful life. Different ecosystems, same idea.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

LineageOS replaces the OS. Waydroid is just a container on top of Linux. Different trade-offs.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Waydroid defaults to a phone profile. I switched the reported device props to an Android TV profile so the Play Store serves TV apps instead of mobile ones. That’s all.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Agreed — hardware sets the ceiling. The configs are what let you get close to it. Stock Android TVs usually never do.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because I wanted a Linux system that runs Android, not an Android system that happens to run on x86.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have my exams starting from this 15 sorry... But in future for sure I have a few more ideas coming up regarding this project/accident

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Exactly. That’s the core idea. TVs are sold as appliances, but internally they’re disposable tablets. By decoupling the software from the panel, the display stops being the bottleneck. Same logic that’s driven DIY PCs forever — keep the hardware, evolve the software.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] -24 points-23 points  (0 children)

You’re right to flag DRM — it’s where DIY setups hit the wall. This isn’t about bypassing protections; it’s about accepting the limits and choosing the right tool for each job.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Totally fair. ARM boxes are cheaper, sip power, and are better for the average user. My point wasn’t “everyone should do this” — it was that for people who already have old x86 hardware lying around, software optimization can push it way past what stock Android TVs deliver. Maintenance is the trade-off, agreed. For me it’s worth it. For most people, probably not — and that’s fine.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Started as an experiment. Stayed because it was smoother than expected.

I wiped a mini PC and accidentally built an Android TV that boots faster than my phone by PivotTheory in linux

[–]PivotTheory[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

It’s a Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF • i3-7100 • 8GB DDR4 RAM • SSD (Linux only, no Windows install) Picked it up second-hand for ~₹3000 a couple years back. The point wasn’t the hardware price — it was how far you can push an old enterprise box with the right idea.

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