Skip to content

Web Apps

Jump to bottom Edit New page
mikeyd edited this page Oct 20, 2015 · 28 revisions

Table of Contents generated with DocToc

Web Apps

Table of Contents

Notice!

As of 20151020, in the latest Steam Client beta, and SteamOS beta itself, Netflix and other DRM-protected content (e.g. Amazon video) now work in the native SteamOS browser! You can reference this short video I put together.

Hereafter, "Web Apps," will no longer be worked, on, but will stay for some time for anyone else that wishes to use it (if it still works with the current Chrome version).

#Summary

Be advised this is a work in progress. Netflix will launch via google-chrome-stable and connect to netflix in --kiosk mode. A default users config directory for Google chrome is copied over, so that the "unexpected shutdown" message is avoided (since for now, you must use the center Xbox 360 controller / PS3 controller to exit.). I am currently working on creating some snap in script code to add Hulu, Youtube, and so forth. I need to gather the images and test those sites first though.

#Controls

This assumes you have enabled mouse control for the web app in question for supported gamepads listed during the script.

Supported gamepads

  • Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller (wired)
  • Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller (wireless)
  • Sony Dualshock 3 Controller (wired)
  • Sony Dualshock 3 Controller (wireless)
  • Sony Dualshock 4 Controller (wired)

Gamepad

  • Left Joystick (Up/Down/Left/Right) - Move mouse cursor
  • Right Joystick (Up/Down/Left/Right) - Scroll wheel
  • A/LB/cross - Mouse left button
  • B/RB/circle - Mouse right button
  • X/square - Spacebar (useful for pausing fullscreen videos)
  • Y/triange - Esc (useful for exiting fullscreen mode on videos)
  • Dpad (left/right) - backward or forward page navigation
  • Dpad (left/right/up/down) - Digital button navigation with
  • R3 (right stick click) - Reset zoom status to default view.
  • Back button - Exit web app
  • LT/L2 -Zoom out
  • RT/R2 - Zoom in
  • R3/Right stick click - Reset zoom position to default.

####Keyoard

  • CTRL+W will close the current tab (recommended).
  • CTRL+SHIFT+W will close the current window.

#Custom Shortcuts

The extension Shortcut Manager will allow you to add your own custom shortcuts. Open any /usr/bin/NAME-Launcher.sh file and remove the --kiosk temporarily. Launch the web app and add this extension. Details for the exetension are in the link. This is beneficial if your air mouse or remote does not have a CTRL key like mine.

#Pre-requisites

  • Some Linux knowledge
  • Access to desktop mode of SteamOS (Settings > Interface)
  • Password for the desktop user set. (Fire up a terminal window and enter passwd to gain access to sudo

#Installation

sudo apt-get install git
git clone https://github.com/ProfessorKaos64/SteamOS-Tools
cd SteamOS-Tools
./desktop-software.sh install webapp

#The Process

The script, on initial launch, the script will display relevant warnings and also ask you to add the Debian repository(s) if not detected first. You will need these added for installing Google Chrome, so please add them if advised to do so. You will be allowed to select a few "preset" web urls for the web app. You can choose custom to enter your own.

Note:
One nice device to have, until I can figure out some gamepad input to control the arrow keys, is to buy a nice Air Mouse like this device on Amazon. I personally have this device and can attest it works great on SteamOS / Plex / Kodi, as well as general purpose tasks.

#Adding launchers to SteamOS

Return to Steam Big Picture Mode and click on your library. Choose the "+" sign and "Add non-Steam game to my library." Locate "Netflix", or any other web app, and hit ok/A on your controller. As of 20150901, The Steam beta client has moved this to Settings > Add Library Shortcut.

#Additional artowork / Steam banner images

If you wish to add images / banners for your own custom URLs or web apps you add, you can checkout these resources:

Troubleshooting

There are rare occasions where antimicro does not release its process when you are done with a web app. If cases such as this, use the center button on your gamepad to select the "Exit Game" option from the Steam overlay. If extreme cases, a reboot will do the trick if all else fails.

#Thanks

Thanks to Shark, Ryochan7, and Dubigrasu of the Steam Universe forums for the launcher help.

#Troubleshooting

This section will cover common known issues, how to possibly deal with them, etc. If you have any questions, comments, or criticisms, please submit an issues ticket on GitHub. Most issues will be stored within the issues section, not in this location.

Issue 1:
The Google Chrome window for the web app does not cover the entire screen.

Solution:
If you start Chrome in desktop mode and its window is adjusted to fit between a left and top bar, the next time is started in Xephyr it will use exactly that size and not fill the screen. Perform the following in a terminal window session:

sudo su - steam
google-chrome

Resize Chrome to be really full screen (so to cover everything) using F11 on your keyboard, then close it with Ctrl+W. Return to Steam, and try it again in Xephyr to see if that is still the case (or even try smaller window sizes to see if it remembers them).

Add a custom footer

HOME

Main documentation List

Hardware

Software

External Links

Clone this wiki locally