Android TV Device Comparisons

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Did I read correctly that it is coming in May? That is a bit far off. Especially since it appears Nvidia is (maybe) building a new shield.

The Shield is a premium device (micro game console). I think that AndroidTV needs a $100 decent unit to compete with AppleTV and Roku. I was sad that google dropped the nexus player... it was decent device for $100.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

Did I read correctly that it is coming in May? That is a bit far off. Especially since it appears Nvidia is (maybe) building a new shield.

The Mi Box was announced in May and should be hitting the market any time now... Xiaomi never announced a release date, but I'm sure it was meant for this year.

[NetworkGuy]

Originally Posted by jm9843

Whatever you decide, I'd recommend an official Android TV box and not a generic Chinese box with AOSP installed, never to be updated again.

Keep your eye on the Mi Box which should be better than Nexus Player, under $100, and launching anytime now: http://www.mi.com/en/mibox/

According to this article (1 month ago) it passed FCC testing.

[cncb]

Have they mentioned any pricing for the Mi Box?

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by cncb

Have they mentioned any pricing for the Mi Box?

Nope. It briefly showed up on AliExpress for $90, but that easily could have just been a placeholder. The expectation seems to be $100-150.

There's apparently a new version of the Shield TV coming out, too, which I think is simply going to be a cheaper revision of the existing Shield TV. Either that or it will come with more storage. The 16GB model is sort of in a strange place. Out-of-the-box it is either a very expensive media streamer or a very-storage-constrained gaming box.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by stuckless

The Shield is a premium device (micro game console). I think that AndroidTV needs a $100 decent unit to compete with AppleTV and Roku. I was sad that google dropped the nexus player... it was decent device for $100.

That is true. I got my nexus player for $50, but I think it was a bit under powered. My roku 3 is much smoother.

Great deal at $50 though.

I think they dropped it because they are doing away with the Nexus name apparently. All going be pixel devices now. Hopefully that means we'll get a new Android TV device. It will worry me if they don't release a new "google" Android TV. I want the development and increase the partnerships so we can get more and more apps.

Android TV is great and continued development will make it even better.

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

That is true. I got my nexus player for $50, but I think it was a bit under powered. My roku 3 is much smoother.

Great deal at $50 though.

I think they dropped it because they are doing away with the Nexus name apparently. All going be pixel devices now. Hopefully that means we'll get a new Android TV device. It will worry me if they don't release a new "google" Android TV. I want the development and increase the partnerships so we can get more and more apps.

Android TV is great and continued development will make it even better.

Yeah, if google stops making an Android TV units, then I fear the platform may just die They appear to be really pushing Chromecast, which is an OK concept, but certainly not an Android TV replacement.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Yeah, if google stops making an Android TV units, then I fear the platform may just die They appear to be really pushing Chromecast, which is an OK concept, but certainly not an Android TV replacement.

I think Google is betting on Android TV being integrated in smart TVs, figuring ~$100 for a media streamer is too expensive to be a mass market product. $35 a Chromecast is a much easier impulse buy.

[jchiso]

Originally Posted by jm9843

Whatever you decide, I'd recommend an official Android TV box and not a generic Chinese box with AOSP installed, never to be updated again ...

I'll just throw this out, since I have not seen it mentioned in this forum, but the Minix Neo U1 makes a great Sage Client. It's a true 4K streaming device on which stuckless' mini-client performs responsively. It also excels as a Kodi client (it was the consensus recommended platform when I got mine a few months back, it may still be so today) and supports 1080p, 5.1 streaming from online sources.

The model with the basic remote is only $120 ...

[stuckless]

Originally Posted by reggie14

I think Google is betting on Android TV being integrated in smart TVs, figuring ~$100 for a media streamer is too expensive to be a mass market product. $35 a Chromecast is a much easier impulse buy.

I think that's where they'll ultimately fail These boxes are cheap enough that you'll upgrading them every couple of years to get better features, performance, etc. For a TV, that screen will last you 10 years (which sounds like a long time, but is pretty short when you compare to CRT ownership). Imagine your "smart" tv in 10 years.

Android TV, like any ecosystem, needs apps to survive, and embedding a $100 client in to 10 year several thousand dollar TV isn't a great platform on which to create apps and especially maintain apps.

Ironically I think that creating a TV with chromecast built in and having separate "smart" box is better longer term plan, since what chromecast does really isn't going to change much over the next few years.

[panteragstk]

I think Android TV will do OK. Especially with how many are cutting the cord now. It's only going to get more popular as TV shows get easier to watch without cable/satellite.

[NetworkGuy]

I just got a new Harmony Remote. Can you use it to control these Android TV boxes?

[jm9843]

Originally Posted by NetworkGuy

I just got a new Harmony Remote. Can you use it to control these Android TV boxes?

The Shield Android TV has an i/r receiver and supports Harmony remotes out of the box.

[jm9843]

Originally Posted by reggie14

The Mi Box was announced in May and should be hitting the market any time now... Xiaomi never announced a release date, but I'm sure it was meant for this year.

These are starting to hit Walmarts now for $69 (the sexiest price).

[Ian Davies]

Originally Posted by jm9843

These are starting to hit Walmarts now for $69 (the sexiest price).

It's also on Amazon now.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d_hps_bw_c_x_2

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by Ian Davies

It's also on Amazon now.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d_hps_bw_c_x_2

Careful- I'm pretty sure that's not an Android TV box. I think that's just the older version.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Careful- I'm pretty sure that's not an Android TV box. I think that's just the older version.

Says it's android 5.0, available starting just 9/21. 2 Reviews from before it was released.. :-/

[jm9843]

Originally Posted by reggie14

Careful- I'm pretty sure that's not an Android TV box. I think that's just the older version.

This. Confusingly, Xiaomi released a box in China a while ago with the same name and general appearance. The new one that buyers should look for advertises Android TV (i.e. 6.0+) and Google Cast on the packaging. It also shows app support like Netflix, Vudu, Sling, etc.

[Ian Davies]

Originally Posted by jm9843

This. Confusingly, Xiaomi released a box in China a while ago with the same name and general appearance. The new one that buyers should look for advertises Android TV (i.e. 6.0+) and Google Cast on the packaging. It also shows app support like Netflix, Vudu, Sling, etc.

Confusing, indeed. That's good information. Thanks.

[panteragstk]

The one at Walmart looks to be legit.

https://9to5google.com/2016/09/24/xi...nboxing-video/