Tuesday, May 31, 2016

It only took me 24 solid hours to turn my RPi into an operational streaming device

So yeah. I moved to SF, during the Dotcom Days, back when tech was everywhere and we were all about to uplifted into a digital utopia where all the old systems of oppression (like TV) were going to be disintegrated into a democratic anarchy. This is before Facebook and before they really figured out how to make a buck off the World Wide Web and well, what you got is what you got. 

In any case, back in the Dotcom Days, I loved tech. I remember they had pod parties down at Zeitgeist, where people could come and plug in their iPods, you know, before you could talk into it, and play whatever music you wanted. They actually called themselves pod people. I even remember a friend of mine saying that "pod people are just more culturally aware." Yeah, well, he became a pod person like everyone else. Now they don't allow cellphones at the bar, except, of course, they do (of all the places to bluff that rule, you'd think they'd be ballbusters about it, but let's face it, techies are their bread and butter now).

I futzed around with Kubuntu and Linux and ran TOR and have a favorite torrent client and cut the cord long ago. Actually, I still do all of those things. Like how I cut the cord to get away from media mind-control and constant commercial brainwashing, got away from TV, only to, you know, get a huge effing TV! Meet the new boss, same as the old boss!

So, what did I do this memorial day? I set up said boss-god and wall-mounted them to oversee my devotion. AND! I got to nerd out, Dotcom-style. I got a Raspberry Pi and followed this guide on how to turn it into an XBMC OSMC media center in under 30 minutes. And it only took me 24-hours of hair-pulling frustrations to do it. In the end, I turned this little guy:

Raspberry Pi!

Into this:

Bow down before the one you serve.
I mean, I knew it was going to take longer than 30 minutes. As usually, with all this Linux stuff, I had to make all the mistakes. Operating system issues, SD card issues, internet issues, power issues. All of them. But, hey, I'm pretty pumped in the end. One quick note, yes, you can run the Pi wirelessly, but let's be honest here, it works SOOOO much better plugged in. So I hooked the TV and the Pi into a powerline. These things are so brilliant, love powerlines. How is it more people don't know about this? Now passwords, no long cable issues. Plug it in and go. 24 hours later, it's up and running pretty sweet. And given all that I learned, yeah, I could easily set up another one in about 30 minutes... or thereabouts.

So, who wants to come over for movie night?