(author here) We use the device instead of a Raspberry Pi, not for anything too serious: we attached it to a screen and have a small server running with an API where you can write single pixels into the framebuffer (a bit like /r/place)

Ironically, the Raspberry Pi started as a failed set-top box.

I always thought that SoC was wildly popular.

It is, because Broadcom had a surplus of them and couldn't get anyone to adopt it for a streaming device. So an enterprising Broadcom FAE decided to turn it into an "educational" Linux desktop device.

The "wildly popular" part came when people realized BRCM was dumping these boards cheaper than any existing Linux SBC at the time. The educational angle is long gone.

The educational angle is far from gone. The Raspberry Pi Foundation handles that part of it now.

https://www.raspberrypi.org

I would agree that most of the Pis sold are not used for education, but that doesn't diminish their importance in that area.

The education part continues. Raspberry Pi continue to make teaching materials, run training etc. I think the focus is the UK.

Pretty much any device like these (as well as most modern TVs with network ports) can probably be turned into computers or, at least, X terminals.

This is an ethically neutral activity. The mere act of transforming a device into such a computer doesn't add or remove any nefarious goals, if you have those goals, you can get another device intended to be a Linux computer and still accomplish them (and it would be much easier). If the transformation is done in contravention of the owner, it's bad, but it sounds like from the article that the ISP has written it off and in any case, they say they are doing this nondestructively.

I'd argue 100% ethically positive; it's the sprinkling of unnecessary devices by companies that's the negative.

In a worst case scenario the company (so called "owner), will just charge you for its replacement. Since it was well calculated that a) the box was useless and b) would never be asked for again and c) (as I've said) would just be charged a certain amount for non-return -- I hardly see how it's an ethical activity. If the owner was one person that was needing this device -- fine. But this is just a company doing business...

Running Linux is the goal. It might be useful if you want to drive a TV, say. And of course, since it already runs Android, it's pretty close to "intended to run Linux" to start with.

Plenty of applications for a Linux box that aren't "nefarious". Maybe digital signage, or backup server, to name two.

I have an android TV using armbian with a nextcloud instance, transmission, pydownloader, radarr and sonarr. I have another running a quake 3 server. They are cheap raspberry pi alternatives with a nice case and a very good power supply using 12v instead of 5v, which is more stable.

Vey interesting, does the remote also work? How do you asses Linux compatibility of those boxes?

I just look for ones with a rk322x chip and use this image:

https://forum.armbian.com/topic/12656-csc-armbian-for-rk322x...

On the contrary, I struggle to think of "nefarious" goals.

Many of these SBCs are programmed in stupid ways. For example, there was a whole subforum on a popular Dutch site that was shut down because it turned out the way ISPs make you pay for premium channels is to... not encrypt them in any special way and hide them in the front end. This was all configured through a JSON file over an unencrypted protocol. The whole project began because people wanted to record their shows onto the disabled USB drive, and ended up exposing trivial ways to get around subscription limitations.

People immediately MitM'd these devices to get unlimited free bonus stuff, and the forum was copyright struck to hell.

These devices are programmed so badly that once you give any user any modicum of control over them, you can bypass almost every restriction your TV provider can think of. Modify one or two files and you've got an excellent piracy box.

Personally, I think this whole situation is terrible and I think that it's up to providers to fix their shitty DRM, but legally speaking these boxes don't become your property.

Do you have the name of the forum maybe?

Getting a cheap NAS.

Or, if you manage to get a dozen, it can become an educational cluster where students can get hands-on experience with managing computer clusters.

Entirely correct, although I question the value of investing time with such a goal in mind when ex-corp laptops, desktops, and thin clients are available, inexpensive, likely more powerful, and require no hackarounds to be serviceable Linux systems. I feel an effort like this should be enjoyed for its hack value, rather than for any potential practical purposes.

If you get one model up and runnning, getting a couple dozen of them up and running is easy. 2GB and 4 cores per node is not too shabby either. My last Pi-based cluster has Pi Zero's as nodes, with single puny core with a very minimal 512MB per node.

...to not have to throw it into a landfill ? How's that not natural conclusion to you ? It's in the title of article...

I don't know about supported video playback capabilities, but being a settop box under your own control is pretty good by itself. It can play back music, video, do light desktop duty -- any place you just need one or two browser tabs, it will probably work.

less e-waste. If you cared enough about our planet, you'll know that