Apple TV running a web browser of some sort.

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darylblake

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#175440 29-Jun-2015 20:22

Hi,

I am trying to set up a webpage to display on a spare 27" LCD monitor I have set up in my kitchen. I am a web developer so I know how to get what I want on the screen.

However I need something to drive it. I have an old laptop which would be sufficent but it only has a VGA out and this is actually a quite nice 27" 1080p screen so would rather use the HDMI if possible. I also have have an Apple TV and a Roku 2. I would rather see if either the Roku2 or the Apple TV can have some web browser app loaded on them. If you know how i can load a web browser like safari or chome onto an apple TV i will plug it in to this monitor to display what I need.

I only have 2 TV's and one of them is already a smart TV so I can go without either the Roku or the Apple TV. The other one I will plug into my smaller TV in my room (that is not a smart tv) so i can get netfix in there.

Any suggestions I have been googling it but they are all talking about using Airplay. I cant use Airplay for this. I would prefer to use the apple TV if possible too cuz then I could use my mac to display stuff in the kitchen if I want.

gehenna

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#1333695 29-Jun-2015 21:21

Airplay is your only option.

Raspberry Pi is a better option.

littleheaven

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#1333886 30-Jun-2015 09:26

I'm not aware of any way to get an ATV to do that - from what I know, you can't even jailbreak the newer ones. As per above suggestion, a single-board PC like a Raspberry Pi, or one of the little Windows or Android boxes would do what you want. I got a Minix Neo Z64 running 8.1 with Bing for just over $200 and it's a cool little machine. Starts up to a fully-functional state in 10-15 seconds and is a fully-functional PC (as long as you're not wanting to store big files or game on it). You can also get a Z64 running Android.

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Handsomedan

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#1333916 30-Jun-2015 10:02

As said above - you'd need to Airplay to the ATV to make that happen, which means a couple of devices going (not a biggie, but you need the secondary machine to be operational and surplus to your needs, obviously).

Raspberry Pi would be a cheap and efficient way to make this happen.
And you could hide it nicely behind the telly with a bit of velcro.

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wellygary

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#1333917 30-Jun-2015 10:03

If its a Gen 2 Apple TV, yes you can run a browser on it ( after Jailbreaking it)

But if its a Gen 3 then you are out of luck as not decent Jail Break exists,

As mentioned, a Raspberry Pi or some other stick computer is probably the way to go...

darylblake

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#1334129 30-Jun-2015 14:00

Ah Bummer.

Yeh its a Gen 3 so no luck with the Jailbreak.

I got some old laptops but I really want something nice and small. So will have to probably look at a Pi. I knew a pi would work, but would prefer to use something I already had :(