Simplified Smart TV via Raspberry Pi 

**** June 2021:  Switched to LibreELEC.  Seems MUCH more stable than OSMC image used in past ****
*** Notes to self based on instructions from - https://www.technadu.com/install-kodi-on-raspberry-pi/8258/ ***
*** See Also:  Official Kodi HOW-TO:Install_Kodi_on_Raspberry_Pi ***

1. Download appropriate image for RPi hardware from LibreELEC download page  @ https://libreelec.tv/downloads_new/

2. Flash to Micro SD - Raspberry Pi Imager is my current favorite

3. Add to Pi (insert SD) and Boot ... Kodi (LibreELEC) comes right up and begins guided install
   (Easiest to use Keyboard & Monitor for initial install)

   • Select Language & Timezone
     // Settings:  Interface->Regional, if you are not asked during install //

   • Set Device hostname (MoviePi, for me)

   • Enable SSH (for remote access)
     // Now forces PW change!   Step 4 below only if necessary! //

   • Read/Accept License

4. TURN OFF AUTO UPDATES!  (I will take care of these for my user base!!!)
   // Settings:  System -> Add-ons -> Updates = Never Check for Updates //

5. <possibly more linux tweaking/hardening to come here>

That's it ... probably 10 mins from start to finish 

STILL via Keyboard/Monitor:

Touchup Kodi Settings

Main Menu/Settings (Gear ICON)
(Hint1:  Use ESC to navigate in settings!)
(Hint1:  Exit sub-menus via dot-dot/up-level *not* ESC key!)

Settings:

• Interface Settings->Skin Pellucid 

  • Configure Skin:  

    1. Stop video playing on return to menu -> ON!

    2. Low CPU power mode -> ON!   (Not sure what this does, but Pi2 IS low power!)

  • <I HAVE had to reboot after skin change ... may be necessary>

• Add-Ons:  Install from repository->All Repositories->Video Add-ons
  Make sure you test (Launch) Add-Ons ... also nice if they are legal

  • Crackle:  No need to config but  Launch to test! 
    It may install additional add-ons before it works (e.g.  Widevine CDM)

  • Google Drive:   Little more tricky

    1. Launch addon.  The first time will force gdrive logon/credentials

    2. Add an Account, you'll need a browser running during this one - ipad/phone or nearby computer

       • On Browser, goto https://drive-login.herokuapp.com/ and enter code provided by add-on

       • Easier:  Scan QR code using your phone and set account/login from there

    3. Should now be able to navigate thru gdrive - ours contains mp4 videos 

  • YouTube:  This one may make your head spin!  Often a MOVING TARGET ON Google Cloud Console - Screens change every time I visit!

    1. You'll need a Google API Key.  Refer to guide @ https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/kodi/youtube-api-key.html
       WHEN you get stuck in steps below ... it has pictures of the screens!    

       • Visit the friendly Google Cloud Platform Console via https://console.developers.google.com & Login

         • If you don't already have an API Key, create a New Project ... THEN ...

           • Enable APIS and Services

           • From API Library Welcome, click on YouTube Data API v3 & ENABLE

           • Click on CREATE CREDENTIALS

           • Fill in project info and click on What credentials do I need?

           • OATH Popup:  Set User Type as External and click on Create, then SAVE

           • Credential Wizard, click Refresh and click Create OAuth client ID ... then DONE Button

    2. NOW, add your API keys to YouTube Add-on.  Guide @ https://github.com/anxdpanic/plugin.video.youtube/wiki/Personal-API-Keys

       • Settings->Add-ons->Youtube->Configure

         • API->Enable API configuration page (this web interface will allow copy/paste of keys!) 

         • HTTP Server->Select Listen IP and use IP Address of Kodi Server (I may have used localhost 127.0.0.1)

         • Goto:  Http://<ipaddress>:<port>/api (Default port is in HTTP Server settings)

           • Paste in API Key, API ID (aka Client ID) and API Secret (from google clown console)
             (Psssst:  API Secret is buried in "OAuth 2.0 Client IDs")

    3. Finally, boot Kodi!   It will make you feel better too!

    4. When you launch YouTube Add-on the first time, you will will be 'guided' through connecting the device to Google

       • go to https://google.com/device

       • Enter code displayed on Kodi screen

       • <We use a special google email/user for youtube and google drive so traffic/behavior is not attributed to any specific person>

• Have a bourbon, you'll need it!

Almost done .... 

Updates:

Force Kodi to update - this will take a while because we started with an old/outdated image with functional Lirc (MCE Remote)

• Back to Settings->System->Add-ons ... you should see Updates setting, ours is set to Install updates automatically

• I THINK a Kodi boot will force check for updates.  It seems a little unpredictable

Check/Update All Add-ons after Kodi Update

• Click each Button from mainscreen and play a video to test things out, it also forces updates ...
  (you may see some weird $h1t, but better you than some unsuspecting 95 year-old who want to watch a TV show from 1975!)

  • The updated Crackle, for example, forced another add-on install - Widevine CDM and pulls it our of a Chrome OS recovery image

That's That!

Ack!  Lesson Learned:  Turn off Automatic Updates!

An update in Jan 2022 seemed to cause streaming videos to pause/buffer ... a lot!   Basically unwatchable but my parents are so used to my contraption quirks that they didn't mention it!  Fixed, still running on a RPi2, but not easy

Waaay too much debugging .... ended up being the latest version of Widevine - looked like an auto update forced the update of an add-on called Inputstream Helper and a DRM gizmo called Widevine CDM.   The answer for me was to go through the update, then rollback Widevine to version 4.10.2252.5.  There was a LOT of chatter (and misdirection on the interweb), this forum post led to the fix:  https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/25189-since-2-weeks-openelec-rpi3-buffers-all-the-time/

Took the opportunity to rebuild & retest the recipe using LibreELEC-RPi2.arm-9.2.8.img on a better SD (16g)

Lesson Learned:

1. TURN OFF AUTO UPDATES!!!  My 95+ year olds DON'T NEED TO DECIDE IF WIDEVINE SHOULD BE UPDATED!!!!!!!

2. REMEMBER TO MAKE  A DISK IMAGE OF GOOD/COMPLETED PROJECTS!