I grabbed an Android TV box...
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My original firestick finally died. I had one of the earliest preorders and got mine for $20. It is overheating for whatever reason, but it put up with alot of hard use as our main media streaming device.
It was reliable, but underpowered for our heavy use. I figured I would just grab a fire tv, but these android boxes caught my attention. I decided to grab this one to give it a shot.
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Looks like a nice box.. let us know how you like it
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my issue with anything android based is updates. Android seems to have a new major flaw every other week (yes I'm not not serious, but there are definitely updates often). Not only a lack of updates for the current version, but often the inability to upgrade to the next Android version.
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@dashrender said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
my issue with anything android based is updates. Android seems to have a new major flaw every other week (yes I'm not not serious, but there are definitely updates often). Not only a lack of updates for the current version, but often the inability to upgrade to the next Android version.
I always find it funny. But the major Android security holes are more akin to Linux security holes. Don't do stupid stuff with your device and 90% of the time those bugs/flaws/whatever won't be an issue.
That being said I agree with the update bullshit. Google/AOSP is working to resolve that from some of the most recent news thankfully.
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I had 5x s905x Android boxes scattered around my house. A different brand (Nexbox), but it seems all brands are pretty much an Amlogic reference design.
I really liked them - fast and flexible. I was able to set up the interface to be usable for family. Apps for everything imaginable and auto-update.
Unfortunately, we took a lightning strike nearby a few month ago and it fried every one of the boxes, plus a couple of network switches. No other end devices, just those TV boxes.
I added several network surge surpressors throughout the house and replaced the TV boxes with Fire TVs. I prefer the Nexbox to the Fire TV. Amazon makes it tough to change the launcher and the new interface is much more concerned with selling you something than helping you find what you want to watch.
I think you'll be pleased with the Android box.
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@coliver said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
Google/AOSP is working to resolve that from some of the most recent news thankfully.
They definitely are, but it's borderline to late. OK Not really, but it's like banning the sales of new guns today. You won't see the believed effect of less guns for decades because of the shear number of them out there already.
The same goes for android phones. Luckily, it's pretty unlikely that it will take decades for most of the old ones to fall out of the market, but a decade is definitely possible. And of course that decade only starts after a self updating version gets out there.
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I use the Shield, I like it a lot.
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We have been happy with Rokus. We also have a couple chromecasts
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Post back here after 2 months of usage.
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@breffni-potter said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
Post back here after 2 months of usage.
Not quite two months of usage (about 6 weeks), but I wanted to report back before I forgot about this thread. The android TV has become our main media box on our tv. I bought another one to replace my firestick on our tv in our bedroom.
It is still running much faster than my firestick ever did, and all classic roms (Nes, SNES, gameboy, N64) run very smooth without issues. We are also playing through several android games such Xcom, KOTR, and more all of which run flawlessly. We are able to download Netflix and Amazon Prime videos offline to take with us when traveling to my parents house for the kids. Which is not possible with Firestick.
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@irj said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
@breffni-potter said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
Post back here after 2 months of usage.
Not quite two months of usage (about 6 weeks), but I wanted to report back before I forgot about this thread. The android TV has become our main media box on our tv. I bought another one to replace my firestick on our tv in our bedroom.
It is still running much faster than my firestick ever did, and all classic roms (Nes, SNES, gameboy, N64) run very smooth without issues. We are also playing through several android games such Xcom, KOTR, and more all of which run flawlessly. We are able to download Netflix and Amazon Prime videos offline to take with us when traveling to my parents house for the kids. Which is not possible with Firestick.
I had an Android TV box forever ago when it was still froyo/honeycomb. It was an awesome little box for cheap. I can only assume they got a lot better.
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Oh yeah, we use the FireStick sometimes and it is so obvious that our AndroidTV box crushes it, even just for menu navigation.
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I tried the ASUS one when it first came out. I may have been to early on the bandwagon. I tried it, apps would crash, or just not work. When I called support I had to be escalated twice before I found anyone who even knew what the product was, then they just said they didn't know how to help me. After a week, i returned it for a refund, and best buy had stopped selling them. It was cool, it just didn't work for me.
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Does it come with a remote (like a FireStick) or do you need to use a mouse and keyboard?
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@rojoloco said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
Does it come with a remote (like a FireStick) or do you need to use a mouse and keyboard?
It comes with a remote, but it is terrible (IR). I bought this air mouse with keyboard for $14 on amazon.
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What is the Channel selection like on the Android TV?
I assume it supports the basics a la Netflix / Hulu / Vudu / Amazon ?
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@dafyre said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
What is the Channel selection like on the Android TV?
I assume it supports the basics a la Netflix / Hulu / Vudu / Amazon ?
Depends on what you build. Mine has Netflix, Amazon, Weather Channel and lots of others, but not HBO Go.
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@dafyre said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
What is the Channel selection like on the Android TV?
I assume it supports the basics a la Netflix / Hulu / Vudu / Amazon ?
I have all of those except Vudu. In theory it supports any android app. Some apps do benefit from the airmouse vs the d pad like netflix. The aftermarket remote I have allows you to switch been mouse d pad on the fly.
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I will say that the way the airmouse remote works requires a little learning curve. After a half hour or so it becomes very natural.
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@irj said in I grabbed an Android TV box...:
I will say that the way the airmouse remote works requires a little learning curve. After a half hour or so it becomes very natural.
I got one with mine and it was weird at first. Interesting though.
