I’ve been using an Amazon tablet with Fully Kiosk for a few months but it frankly sucks ass. Keeps resetting itself or kicking back to the Amazon home screen to name a few issues.

If money isn’t a factor, what tablet do you think would be the dream choice for integrating as a wall mountable Hass tablet?

Fully Kiosk is a great app but still very hacky, so I’d like a tablet that doesn’t require workarounds to keep it in kiosk mode.

I hate telemetry and spyware as well so I guest that puts anything Amazon or Google based out of the equation.

  • Mikelius@lemmy.ml
    English
    5·
    2 months ago

    I use to have the same thing but moved away from the tablet solution and I got myself a pi, and then setup a script to auto start (after boot and auto login) the browser in full screen “kiosk” mode on my home assistant site. I then bought this to attach to it:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0153R2A9I

    I also bought a case for the screen and pi to fit in for a nice visual display (although these days the thing is embedded in my wall), but it looks like the case is now unavailable so might require looking around for one.

    • brownmustardminion@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      This is what I would do if I had the time to spare. I’m surprised there isn’t a market for custom Homeassistant tablet devices.

  • SayCyberOnceMore@feddit.ukEnglish
    3·
    2 months ago

    If money’s not a factor? Maybe a Linux Panel PC.

    I’ve tried a few Lenovos and they seem ok - inc. the Lenovo Thinksmart discussed on the HA forum

    All tablets have a quirk somewhere, but FullyKiosk does a good job - if the tablet is any good - so I recommend it. A colleague used something else… I’ll try to find out what it was.

    Whatever you do get, if it has a battery, ensure you monitor it’s battery and keep it somewhere between ~20% & ~80% with a smart power socket / USB relay

    Based on your statement that you’ve only had this for a few months, my suggestion is to assume you’ll want to change it in 1~2 years, so try cheap, named brand, 2nd hand ones from ebay until you get size and rotation right for how you use it.

    My dashboard on the kitchen tablet is landscape, but portrait in the lounge (on the ThinkSmart on a coffee table) - both seemed too big initially, now they feel too small.

    • brownmustardminion@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I’m leaning towards a Samsung A7 flashed with LineageOS and I may try to use FullyKiosk again. I just really hate the idea of using an Amazon or Google OS. I would build a raspberry pi / touchscreen system if I had the time.

      How important is the battery concern? I’ve read it’s an overblown worry for modern tablets.

      • SayCyberOnceMore@feddit.ukEnglish
        2·
        2 months ago

        Well…

        TBH, I’ve not seen a battery bulge (in a tablet… seen plenty others…), but I do have a tablet which doesn’t seem to hold it’s charge as well as it used to.

        So, have I done in-depth long-term testing… no.

        Personally, I just got some of these USB switches and was more interested in whether I could control it easily (I could)

        Re: LineageOS - yeah, I agree, if you can find the right tablet AND it’s supported, then definitely flash it.

        You might still need to download the latest webview component though.

  • MuttMutt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    For the money the Samsung A9+ is tough to beat IMHO.

    11 inch touch screen in a slim package. Get a cheap jelly case run a couple screws into the wall, slip the tablet in place, route a charging cable.

    No matter what you buy or build it will eventually be obsolete and need to be replaced. A decent tablet will last around 8 to 10 years as a wall mounted dashboard. The A9+ can be found for around 170 right now and the next prime sale will likely see it around 150. So that’s around 15 to 20 per year of use and all you need to do is either install the HomeAssistant app or setup Fully Kiosk.

  • Ignotum@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    Never tried it myself, but doesn’t android come with a built-in kiosk mode? I seem to recall seeing something about that a while back