I own and like the steam link, but the reason they don't sell it anymore is because the steam link app is on most smart devices now, and if your TV doesn't support it, you can buy a streaming stick that does for like $30, give or take depending on sales. And those devices are more portable (less wires) and more versatile than a steam link.

Any competitive price for the steam link would be less than what Valve can produce them for. Weren't they selling it for $5 at the end? Pretty sure I picked mine up for $10 or less. Steam can't show ads to subsidize the price of the hardware like every other smart device does.

[–] WalrusDragonOnABike@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Do you just plug the controller/mouse/keyboard into the TV USB port?

[–] Vent@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

I've never tried, that might work? Connecting via bluetooth works. You can even use the tv remote!

[–] wolfshadowheart@slrpnk.net 2 points 10 months ago

The Steam Link itself has USB ports, the Steam Link apps all use Bluetooth controllers

[–] MaxVoltage@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Bruh they sell 50 meter hdmi cords

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

the reason they don’t sell it anymore is because the steam link app is on most smart devices now

Not available for Roku or webOS. That's hardly "most smart devices".

[–] CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Not available for Roku or webOS. That’s hardly “most smart devices”.

From this article...

Steam Link connects your device to any computer that’s running Steam.

Get it now for:

iPhone, iPad, & Apple TV (11.0+)

Android (5.0+) phone, tablet, & TV

Android users without access to Google Play

Raspberry Pi 3, 3+, & 4 *Windows

Linux

MacOS

Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro

I wonder if you added up the percentage of ownership for all those devices listed above, versus all smart devices including Roku and webOS, what the numbers would look like.

[–] cinderous@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

I'm not sure if Tizen OS (Samsung TV) is lumped under "Android" (I'm not even sure if it is Android?) but it also works great on every Samsung TV I've tried it on!

[–] trackcharlie@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 10 months ago

So, a product that has been discontinued doesn't mean that it needs to lose software support, was the point I was trying to make. It would be nice if they still sold them but still good that the people that own them can continue to use them and are receiving security updates for them.

I think it's important that companies like google, samsung, apple, etc are held to at least this standard where products don't need to be changed unless they actually break, rather than forcing software changes that break or reduce effectiveness of the product to try and force the consumer to produce e-waste and buy a new product.

Nothing wrong with wanting new products, however that should be a personal decision made at a personal level by a consumer not one forced onto them by a company who designed products using the planned obsolescence doctrine.