Youtube videos no longer work in my browser.

[Muttley Snickers]

As the title suggests, for some time now whilst viewing Youtube videos I would see a yellow banner message stating that "We'll stop supporting this browser soon, for the best experience please update your browser".  I watched a video this morning without any problems but just now went to watch Dave's latest video and got a message declaring "video format not supported". 

I mainly watch Youtube videos on an older LG Smart TV which runs a gutted version of Chrome 22 and there is no longer any support for this model in regards to firmware or browser updates. The TV features and functions have always worked perfectly but the browser has been somewhat problematic since new as some pages were either slow to load or would not load at all.

So now I need to find a solution to this inconvenient dilemma and my options are to either buy a new Smart TV or get a Raspberry Pi or Stick PC to use as the internet browser on the exising TV. I know some people cringe at the thought of using a Smart TV but for my needs this one has been ideal and I liked that all of the functions and internet activity can be done with a mouse, the TV is also completely silent as well.

I can't really justify buying a new TV so I would appreciate if others could give me some guidance and opinions on the most practical solution. I have computers for other stuff in the study but this one is for the bedroom so it must be silent. The current TV is an LG 32LA6230 with 3 x HDMI and 3 x USB ports and I only use one USB port for a mouse, all of the HDMI ports are free.   

Someone else in the same boat.
https://support.google.com/youtube/thread/27621880?hi=en

[wraper]

or get a Raspberry Pi or Stick PC to use as the internet browser on the exising TV.

It will suck. On anything below RPi 4 it's basically unusable. On 4 you can deal with that but still sucks.

[Mr. Scram]

Getting an external PC is the best long term solution. I won't comment on whether a Raspberry Pi, SFF PC or old junk computer is a better solution as that depends on your means and wants.

[Muttley Snickers]

It will suck. On anything below RPi 4 it's basically unusable. On 4 you can deal with that but still sucks.

Only a few weeks ago a non-technical friend rang and asked me about using a Raspberry Pi 4 to make his old TV "Smart" internet wise. I watched a few vdeos on the subject but didn't think I would need to do the same thing. He went ahead and ordered a RPi 4 from RS anyway and is waiting on it to be delivered so I will get to see how it works before commiting.   

[Muttley Snickers]

Getting an external PC is the best long term solution. I won't comment on whether a Raspberry Pi, SFF PC or old junk computer is a better solution as that depends on your means and wants.

I agree and have plenty of computers, laptops and tablets elsewhere but they are not really an ideal solution in the bedroom, the TV with all its faults has been a good compromise in that regard. 

[chriva]

Get one of those "sticks" you plug in the HDMI socket.

I personally prefer the ones running windows since they just work and I don't have to think about updates. Windows 10 won't be obsolete in many years and you can still run most software for even longer once it is. (Also quite cheap)
Android ones are probably more user friendly but they have a tendency to become obsolete in a year or so with no further updates.

If not above, go for a raspberry. Most if not all of them support CEC. A mode that lets you use the TV remote to control it as long as the TV has support for it. Even my old plasma behemoth supports it so I find it very likely that yours do too
Perfect Kodi etc

[Bud]

Amazon Fire Stick, great for bedroom, has a remote.

[Domagoj T]

I presume it's an android TV? Can you go to the play store and try downloading some other browser? Also, have you tried using Youtube app directly (as opposed to browser)?

[Muttley Snickers]

Amazon Fire Stick, great for bedroom, has a remote.

This looks like a good option and similar to a Stick PC.  I just Googled "Amazon Fire Stick" and clicked on a Youtube review to be confronted with Video format not supported. 
Having to change to a new routine is going to be a real challenge.      

[Muttley Snickers]

I presume it's an android TV? Can you go to the play store and try downloading some other browser? Also, have you tried using Youtube app directly (as opposed to browser)?

From memory (which it severely lacks by the way) it ran an LG webOS Linux based thing and you could only install specific LG applications which required an online account or registration, at the time LG were suspected of monitoring users viewing and online activity so I never signed up. 

A link to the LG spying on users story.
http://doctorbeet.blogspot.com/2013/11/lg-smart-tvs-logging-usb-filenames-and.html

[Bud]

I have a Sony TV with a built-in app and browser but the browser is a total joke and the app is slow responsive. Bought a Amazon Fire Stick 4K and Gosh, what a difference. The stick is so snappy and quick when searching using the remote. The remote also controls the TV sound volume and power on/off, which is handy. I do not watch much of a broadcast TV, mainly Youtube so using just the Stick's remote.  The Stick also has one of those dumb voice assistance but I never use it.

[rdl]

Connect a cheap PC to the TV and carry on.

[NiHaoMike]

Raspberry Pi (all of them) plays 1080p just fine. The 4 will also handle 4K, although I'm not sure of the current state of the GPU drivers.

Something else to consider is getting a wireless HDMI or HDMI over CAT6 kit to connect a remote PC.

[wraper]

Raspberry Pi (all of them) plays 1080p just fine. The 4 will also handle 4K, although I'm not sure of the current state of the GPU drivers.

Something else to consider is getting a wireless HDMI or HDMI over CAT6 kit to connect a remote PC.

It may play fine, if you simply play video in Kodi. If you say it about youtube, it's completely uninformed BS claim.

[OwO]

Playing youtube in the browser does not work well on any platform. Use something like newpipe on android.

[bitwelder]

I have a Raspberry Pi 3, running Kodi/OSMC as my media center, and plugged to the main TV screen.
It addition to watch movies/videos stored on a local NAS, I also use it to comfortably watch all my subscribed Youtube channels via an add-on.

[Karel]

https://www.necdisplay.com/system-on-a-chip/

[PlainName]

but they are not really an ideal solution in the bedroom, the TV with all its faults has been a good compromise in that regard

Wait - your ideal ..ahem.. 'bedtime' viewing is a Dave video? The TV could the least of your problems 

[thinkfat]

I presume it's an android TV? Can you go to the play store and try downloading some other browser? Also, have you tried using Youtube app directly (as opposed to browser)?

From memory (which it severely lacks by the way) it ran an LG webOS Linux based thing and you could only install specific LG applications which required an online account or registration, at the time LG were suspected of monitoring users viewing and online activity so I never signed up. 

A link to the LG spying on users story.
http://doctorbeet.blogspot.com/2013/11/lg-smart-tvs-logging-usb-filenames-and.html

The Youtube app from LGs store is what I use. So far it hasn't stopped working.

[NiHaoMike]

It may play fine, if you simply play video in Kodi. If you say it about youtube, it's completely uninformed BS claim.

Youtube often likes to default to VP9 which is not supported by the Raspberry Pi GPU, but if you force H.264 for streaming or downloading, it works just fine.
https://github.com/kloshar4o/omxYouTube
There's probably some embedded board that's better for Youtube while not costing very much more than a Raspberry Pi, the main disadvantage is less documentation.

Wait - your ideal ..ahem.. 'bedtime' viewing is a Dave video? The TV could the least of your problems 

There's a lot of controversy regarding the health effects of watching TV just before bedtime, seemingly centered on "blue light". Some later studies indicate that overall brightness is more important than just the blue light.

I didn't see anything regarding watching just before bedtime, it's possible the bedroom doubles as a home theater. Makes sense considering reducing stray light and noise is often a goal for both.

[PlainName]

I didn't see anything regarding watching just before ...

If you're quiet... and look up... hear that?

"whoooooooosh"

[bd139]

https://www.necdisplay.com/system-on-a-chip/

That's bloody awesome. Just what I needed for a project as well. Thanks for posting it. 

[amyk]

This is why I don't buy anything "smart"

I just use an HTPC with VLC.

[jonovid]

Getting an external PC is the best long term solution. I won't comment on whether a Raspberry Pi, SFF PC or old junk computer is a better solution as that depends on your means and wants.

I use a USB extension cable from the back of the TV & an USB thumb drive or USB HDD , then download any video off the web Fb , twitter or YT  most at 720p as 4K is over kill  file-size hogs.  one to two hrs of video a day   

[GlennSprigg]

I though I was old... but Raspberry-Pi is dead isn't it???
Like Beta vs VHS !