Android TV Device Comparisons

[trk2]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

Maybe this will give the shield some competition???....

https://www.zidoo.tv/Product/index/m...McQ%3D%3D.html
.

Bold move, naming their media player after the most famous web cam of all time.

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

Maybe this will give the shield some competition???....

https://www.zidoo.tv/Product/index/m...McQ%3D%3D.html
.

I'm curious about the HDMI in feature. It says HDCP 2.2, but doesn't mention resolution. It also says it supports re-encoding, but doesn't mention resolutions for that either. My experience has always been that if they don't mention it, it's not that great.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I'm curious about the HDMI in feature. It says HDCP 2.2, but doesn't mention resolution. It also says it supports re-encoding, but doesn't mention resolutions for that either. My experience has always been that if they don't mention it, it's not that great.

I could be wrong, but this seems like just another Kodi box... The fact that it's based on Android and not Android TV is enough for me to judge it as not very useful

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by stuckless

I could be wrong, but this seems like just another Kodi box... The fact that it's based on Android and not Android TV is enough for me to judge it as not very useful

I agree. I found a review that basically showed that's all it's really good for. I was interested in the HDMI in if it's 4k for other interests some forum members have expressed.

[jchiso]

Originally Posted by EnterNoEscape

I'm curious about the HDMI in feature. It says HDCP 2.2, but doesn't mention resolution. It also says it supports re-encoding, but doesn't mention resolutions for that either. My experience has always been that if they don't mention it, it's not that great.

These boxes are all pretty much hit and miss. If they do two things well, they will do three things poorly. When they say they can handle 10-bit hevc it may mean for 1080p, but not at 4K. Or it may just be at 24fps, not 60fps. Add onto that the inherent limits of Android. Some of these systems are capable of handling higher-res, high-fps content with Kodi (LibreELEC/SPMC) but may not perform as well under Android.

That being said, if it does street at $239 it would have to be aimed more at Dune HD Solo 4K than the Shield ...

[EnterNoEscape]

Originally Posted by jchiso

That being said, if it does street at $239 it would have to be aimed more at Dune HD Solo 4K than the Shield ...

That looks like a more well rounded product.

[Fuzzy]

I don't see either the X10 or the Dune HD Solo doing much for me that the $69 Mi Box doesn't.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by stuckless

I could be wrong, but this seems like just another Kodi box... The fact that it's based on Android and not Android TV is enough for me to judge it as not very useful

What is the difference between a box running Android and a box running Android TV?

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by wayner

What is the difference between a box running Android and a box running Android TV?

The entire UI, and the app selection. Andriod TV is limited to apps that are designed to be operated with a d-pad remote, for starters. The regular Android UI is focused primarily on touch screen interaction.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by wayner

What is the difference between a box running Android and a box running Android TV?

As fuzzy noted... "Android" is designed for touch and "Android TV" is designed to be used with a remote (no touch).

From an application point of view, many apps will have a "TV" set of layouts and a "Touch" set of layouts... the layouts that are chosen when the App Starts is controlled by Android OS. For example, if you install/launch YouTube on an "Android" device connected to a TV vs an "Android TV" unit connected to the TV, the user experience is very different. ie, on many of these boxes, when you start the app, the app might be overscanned (cut off), and it might be hard to navigate because the "Touch" version is being presented.

Many of the boxes create their own "Launcher" which s good to navigate to an app, but then when you start an app, it's the "touch" version and you find yourself wanting to throw your remote at your TV after using it for a few seconds.

So, In short, on these boxes, they never install/launch "TV" versions of the popular apps you use, and you will hate the user experience and end up thinking "this is android... it sucks". It's not just about how you launch an app, but how the launched app is designed visually and interactively to be used with a remote and not touch.

[jchiso]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I don't see either the X10 or the Dune HD Solo doing much for me that the $69 Mi Box doesn't.

The MiBox does not have an ethernet port and does goofy things with 4K VP9 content from YouTube, and is hit-and-miss with its hardware decoding of 4K hevc content ...

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by jchiso

The MiBox does not have an ethernet port and does goofy things with 4K VP9 content from YouTube, and is hit-and-miss with its hardware decoding of 4K hevc content ...

I did say 'for me'... I don't foresee having a 4k display for quite some time.

[SWKerr]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I did say 'for me'... I don't foresee having a 4k display for quite some time.

I added a 43" 4k set earlier this year for my new home office. The price difference between the 4k and 1080p sets is pretty small now. I would still not replace my other 2 existing sets now unless they went bad but 4k is now mainstream priced.

I upgraded my video card to be able to play 4k and 1440 games but even with that I am pressed to notice a real difference. As a Computer monitor 4k has some benefits but they are minor. I think for TV 4k only makes a noticeable difference when you are pushing a really big screen, at 43" I can hardly tell the difference on the rare occasion I even get 4k content.

[jchiso]

Anyone have success running the Android client on an Odroid C2? I installed the client a few months ago and the performance was really spotty. I don't know if OS or client updates may have improved things ...

[Greg2dot0]

Over the weekend, I went through this thread and was super psyched to look into a Mi Box, only to find out that they are no longer available...even on the manufacturer's website. http://www.mi.com/en/mibox/ Only place I've found is either over-priced or used on eBay.

Does anyone know if this is a production issue or is the box EOL already?

[NetworkGuy]

Walmart still has them for sale.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mi-Box-Android-TV/54827138

[wayner]

These are only sold at Walmart and they seem to go in and out of stock on a very regular basis. Set up an "In stock alert" at Walmart.com and hopefully it will be back in stock within a week or two.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

Walmart still has them for sale.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mi-Box-Android-TV/54827138

Except their web page gives conflicting information as it says:
Out of stock
Only 3 left!
Shipping not available
Pickup not available

[Greg2dot0]

Wow, I checked last night and they showed out of stock but was able to grab one this morning after seeing your response! Supposed to be delivered Thursday. THANKS!

[Fuzzy]

Keep in mind, when they say "Only 3 left!", they are referring to their online sales stock - that does not reflect the stock at your local store, which is listed under the pickup options.