NZ supported Android TV box?

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gzt

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#243658 23-Dec-2018 21:39

An older non-technical friend is looking at adding Netflix and Freeview On Demand to his older HDMI tv.

Dish TV smartVU is perfect - except it is WiFi only.

I'm looking for something with Ethernet and something that is available in NZ from a major chain retailer. Any ideas?

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meow
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#2149707 23-Dec-2018 21:47

WiFi will be fine for most use cases.

Otherwise - Nvidia Shield TV: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/news/1404/Nvidia-Shield-at-PB-Tech

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scuwp

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#2149717 23-Dec-2018 22:30

What about a PVR? Panasonic or Dish make them.

Not sure why your requirement that it is android, as will be hard to beat an Apple TV for ease of use and has everything you want, and more.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

ajw

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#2149719 23-Dec-2018 22:33

scuwp:

What about a PVR? Panasonic or Dish make them.

Not sure why your requirement that it is android, as will be hard to beat an Apple TV for ease of use and has everything you want, and more.

Like all apple products, overpriced.

ajw

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#2149722 23-Dec-2018 22:37

michaelmurfy:

WiFi will be fine for most use cases.

Otherwise - Nvidia Shield TV: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/news/1404/Nvidia-Shield-at-PB-Tech

Appears to have wifi only. What a pity roku products, and products like the Amazon 4K firestick are not available from NZ retailers at realistic prices.

gzt

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#2149726 23-Dec-2018 22:58

Apple does Freeview on demand and live?

gzt

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#2149727 23-Dec-2018 23:05

scuwp:
What about a PVR? Panasonic or Dish make them.

Not sure why your requirement that it is android, as will be hard to beat an Apple TV for ease of use and has everything you want, and more.

Getting close to half the price of a new TV. No need for an Android requirement true.

Stu

Hammered
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#2149779 24-Dec-2018 07:44

ajw:
michaelmurfy:

WiFi will be fine for most use cases.

Otherwise - Nvidia Shield TV: https://www.pbtech.co.nz/news/1404/Nvidia-Shield-at-PB-Tech

Appears to have wifi only. What a pity roku products, and products like the Amazon 4K firestick are not available from NZ retailers at realistic prices.

Certainly is not Wi-Fi only. The Nvidia Shield TV has gigabit ethernet. Works well.

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scuwp

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#2149788 24-Dec-2018 08:19

gzt: Apple does Freeview on demand and live?

You go to the relevant On Demand channels app to watch shows, and no live TV. Agree they aren’t a ‘cheap’ box but you do get a well supported unit that is pretty much set and forget, and very easy to use. You don’t need the latest and greatest, the basic model works just the same, or second hand.

Not sure there is an official NZ supported android equivalent other than what you have listed.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Spyware

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#2149802 24-Dec-2018 09:06

You can view live Freeview on AppleTV with iPlayTV and relevant playlist. Also the TVNZ app does 1,2,Duke live.

antoniosk

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#2149916 24-Dec-2018 10:00

scuwp:
gzt: Apple does Freeview on demand and live?

You go to the relevant On Demand channels app to watch shows, and no live TV. Agree they aren’t a ‘cheap’ box but you do get a well supported unit that is pretty much set and forget, and very easy to use. You don’t need the latest and greatest, the basic model works just the same, or second hand.

Not sure there is an official NZ supported android equivalent other than what you have listed.

Three and TVNZ support Livestream on apple tv and have done for some time... but no pause function, and changing the channel is a ridiculous exercise compared to a remote control with broadcast...!

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taneb1

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Mercury

#2149921 24-Dec-2018 10:30

I picked up one of the SmartVu's last week and works great over WiFi can stream in HD without any issues and in full HD with Netflix as well.

If you purchase a normal android TV box - Matt Huisman has updated the apk for the freeview live app on his blog which lets it work on any Android device.

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gzt

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#2149962 24-Dec-2018 12:49

Thanks for all the comments. I was hoping to avoid wifi for support/configuration reasons.

I think it's going to be smartvu on features, support and price.

If I recall correctly my friend's giant tv is 1366x768. Is there a specific switch for that in smartvu?

RedactedRetracted

96 posts

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#2149968 24-Dec-2018 13:01

Most Android TV boxes that have USB ports are compatible with USB ethernet dongles. Personally I have a Mi Box 3 (the newer S is now available), there isn't a huge amount of places in NZ that sell them (personally I got mine from AliExpress, but as with everything on that site your mileage may vary)

robjg63

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#2150005 24-Dec-2018 13:19

Wifi is normally just a set it up and forget it kind of thing these days.
Can't see it should cause you too many problems.

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gzt

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#2150016 24-Dec-2018 14:04

robjg63: Wifi is normally just a set it up and forget it kind of thing these days.
Can't see it should cause you too many problems.

Things like router resets and password updates etc. Ethernet helps to keep it simple. First incident like that I'll look to see if the chromecast ethernet hack (warning: profanity) works on smartvu. Maybe

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