XBMC and Netflix on an Android TV Box

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KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 62

#154077 17-Oct-2014 11:32

I've been thinking about buying an android TV box for a friend. I've been looking at reviews and am trying to decide between the Minix Neo X8-H or Tronsmart Vega S89-H.

http://www.tronsmart.com/products/android-tv-box/tronsmart-vega-s89-h.html

http://www.minix.com.hk/Products/MINIX-NEO-X8-H.html

From Geekbuying, the Minix Neo X8-H is US$149.90 and the Tronsmart Vega S89-H is US$120 (delivery is free).

Great review on the Minix here: http://www.linuxlookup.com/review/minix_neo_x8_h_media_hub_review

What I would like to do is have XBMC and Netflix on one device. I have read on some forums that the Netflix app on android devices like the Minix and Vega, will not play at 1080P, and the resolution is much lower. But I'm not sure if this information is accurate or current.

I'm wondering if any Geekzone members have either of the above devices with Netflix running. What resolutions do you get and how would you rate the overall performance of Netflix on the device?

I understand that Netflix and XBMC can be done on Amazon Fire TV, but the device has to be rooted, and recent software updates block rooting. Are current Amazon Fire devices still being shipped with software that can be rooted or have I missed the boat on that?

Thanks for your advice.

Tim

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112 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 30

#1156707 17-Oct-2014 11:39

What about the Nexus player?

http://www.cnet.com/products/google-nexus-player/

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1156725 17-Oct-2014 11:46

Got an android RK3188 based device (MK802IV) running Netflix, Hulu+ and XBMC. I think the Minix is the same hardware basically.

XBMCs built in player works but is not great, but I have got it using MXPlayer now and it's sweet, even 1080p is smooth. Note that mapping an SMB or NFS share from within XBMC doesn't seem to play nice with MXPlayer, you have to mount the share with cifsmanager or similar then use the local path, then it's all good.

Netflix and Hulu+ work well enough, need to find the right version which works on the hardware/firmware/kernel you're using.

I hear good things about Plex too, but you need a reasonably grunty back-end server for it which I don't have rn.

Hope that all helps :)

KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#1156730 17-Oct-2014 11:49

The Nexus Player looks very good, but XBMC is a must for us.

ajobbins

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#1156735 17-Oct-2014 11:56

KiwiTim: The Nexus Player looks very good, but XBMC is a must for us.

Is there an Android App now for XBMC? Nexus Player is just another Android device.

I use Plex rather than XBMC (I think Plex is a much better setup, and is a fork of XBMC) and I see from Google's own literature on the Nexus Player they have shown the Plex app

Twitter: ajobbins

KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#1156738 17-Oct-2014 12:00

ubergeeknz: Got an android RK3188 based device (MK802IV) running Netflix, Hulu+ and XBMC. I think the Minix is the same hardware basically.

Is your device something like this:

http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html

What version of Android are you running? I think the Minix and Vega run 4.4 KitKat. I'm wondering how the Netflix app performs, rather than running Netflix in a browser or XBMC. Do you have a Netflix app running well?

Many thanks,

Tim

KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 62

#1156739 17-Oct-2014 12:06

ajobbins:
KiwiTim: The Nexus Player looks very good, but XBMC is a must for us.

Is there an Android App now for XBMC? Nexus Player is just another Android device.

I use Plex rather than XBMC (I think Plex is a much better setup, and is a fork of XBMC) and I see from Google's own literature on the Nexus Player they have shown the Plex app

I think a lot of these Android TV boxes come with XBMC installed. I know Minix and Tronsmart boxes do. There is huge source of addons for XBMC, including 1Channel and Icefilms, and it can be the front end of my PVR software, so I'm very happy with it.

Tim

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littlehead

222 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 102

#1156780 17-Oct-2014 12:34

KiwiTim:
I understand that Netflix and XBMC can be done on Amazon Fire TV, but the device has to be rooted, and recent software updates block rooting. Are current Amazon Fire devices still being shipped with software that can be rooted or have I missed the boat on that?
Tim

You do not need to root the Fire TV to get XBMC(or SPMC) installed on it. You can achieve this just by using ADB or one of the automatic Fire TV ADB tools. You only really require root if you want access to the Play Store, want to easily bypass the default Fire TV launcher or access USB storage.

There are conflicting reports of some newer ordered Fire TV's being able to be rooted using timing techniques and/or being vigilant in completely blocking any updates from occurring. I actually have a newly ordered from Amazon Fire TV currently on the way to me via Youshop, so may be able to test this.

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1156810 17-Oct-2014 13:35

KiwiTim:
ubergeeknz: Got an android RK3188 based device (MK802IV) running Netflix, Hulu+ and XBMC. I think the Minix is the same hardware basically.
Is your device something like this:

http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html

What version of Android are you running? I think the Minix and Vega run 4.4 KitKat. I'm wondering how the Netflix app performs, rather than running Netflix in a browser or XBMC. Do you have a Netflix app running well?

Many thanks,

Tim

That unit exactly. From memory it's 4.2, I haven't risked upgrading it yet. Netflix works fine, once I found an appropriate version, browser and XBMC aren't options on Android afaik

KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 62

#1156833 17-Oct-2014 14:23

littlehead:
KiwiTim:
I understand that Netflix and XBMC can be done on Amazon Fire TV, but the device has to be rooted, and recent software updates block rooting. Are current Amazon Fire devices still being shipped with software that can be rooted or have I missed the boat on that?
Tim

You do not need to root the Fire TV to get XBMC(or SPMC) installed on it. You can achieve this just by using ADB or one of the automatic Fire TV ADB tools. You only really require root if you want access to the Play Store, want to easily bypass the default Fire TV launcher or access USB storage.

There are conflicting reports of some newer ordered Fire TV's being able to be rooted using timing techniques and/or being vigilant in completely blocking any updates from occurring. I actually have a newly ordered from Amazon Fire TV currently on the way to me via Youshop, so may be able to test this.

I would like to hear how you get on with your new Amazon Fire TV box. I like the concept of having root access. If you need root access to play media on a usb stick, then I should think having root access is a must.

KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 62

#1156836 17-Oct-2014 14:28

ubergeeknz:
KiwiTim:
ubergeeknz: Got an android RK3188 based device (MK802IV) running Netflix, Hulu+ and XBMC. I think the Minix is the same hardware basically.
Is your device something like this:

http://www.rikomagic.com/en/product/showpro_id_39_pid_19.html

What version of Android are you running? I think the Minix and Vega run 4.4 KitKat. I'm wondering how the Netflix app performs, rather than running Netflix in a browser or XBMC. Do you have a Netflix app running well?

Many thanks,

Tim

That unit exactly. From memory it's 4.2, I haven't risked upgrading it yet. Netflix works fine, once I found an appropriate version, browser and XBMC aren't options on Android afaik

Good to hear the Netflix app works wel in 4.2l. I hope it works ok in KitKat 4.4.

gsr

112 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 30

#1156862 17-Oct-2014 14:57

There is a fork of xbmc working on the android tv.

http://www.androidauthority.com/xbmc-spotted-working-android-tv-416120/

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KiwiTim

405 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#1156932 17-Oct-2014 15:58

gsr: There is a fork of xbmc working on the android tv.

http://www.androidauthority.com/xbmc-spotted-working-android-tv-416120/

This makes the Google Android TV box much more interesting. I wonder if the British flavour will have the iPlayer?

JimmyH

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#1157097 17-Oct-2014 19:29

I have the Minix. It comes with an optimised version of XBMC preinstalled. The hardware is great, but the firmware is still a bit rough around the edges - although it's still being actively developed with new betas frequently posted. You can also install the Netflix app off the Play Store and it (reportedly, I haven't tried to run it) works, but isn't certified for HD so you only get SD.

If they get the bugs out of the firmware and get the netflix functionality certified then I will buy a second unit for the bedroom. As I said, for the price the hardware is superb.

driller2000

936 posts

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#1157111 17-Oct-2014 19:43

this could be an option

http://www.xtreamer.net/Wonder/

i might get one to have a play

have a couple of xtreamer products:

ultra - which is my htpc in the lounge ht set up
xtreamer - media streamer used on the third tv
etrayz - oksih nas but retired by server

driller2000

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#1157113 17-Oct-2014 19:47

or maybe this:

http://www.google.com/nexus/player/

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