Xiaomi MI Box S Media Player is $99.00 @ pbtech

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 30 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Bargains and Deals › Xiaomi MI Box S Media Player is $99.00 @ pbtech

1 | 2 | 3

132 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2462246 16-Apr-2020 07:55

farcus:

looking at this article
https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-finally-rolls-out-stable-android-pie-for-the-mi-box-s-with-tons-of-bug-fixes/

Android TV 9 build 2604 appears to be the first version 9 stable release for Mi Box S (released April 2020), so if you're having issues with your box then it is probably worth getting the latest update

So all Android 9 builds before this were beta then. Users should not have been on Android 9 unless they were OK to test these builds, and accept some issues. From other posts I have seen there have been people complaining and saying that the device is rubbish etc while they are on a 9.0 beta releases. These people need to be educated on how software release life cycles work. Personally I would not have gone to Android 9 unless it was a stable release.

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2462266 16-Apr-2020 09:04

I’m a beta tester, we haven’t been advised that beta testing is over.

NumPy

132 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2463290 16-Apr-2020 10:10

Kiwifruta: I’m a beta tester, we haven’t been advised that beta testing is over.

Thanks for that. Are you using the latest beta? And how does it compare to Android 8?

Talkiet

4793 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2463304 16-Apr-2020 10:37

NumPy:

farcus:

looking at this article
https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-finally-rolls-out-stable-android-pie-for-the-mi-box-s-with-tons-of-bug-fixes/

Android TV 9 build 2604 appears to be the first version 9 stable release for Mi Box S (released April 2020), so if you're having issues with your box then it is probably worth getting the latest update

So all Android 9 builds before this were beta then. Users should not have been on Android 9 unless they were OK to test these builds, and accept some issues. From other posts I have seen there have been people complaining and saying that the device is rubbish etc while they are on a 9.0 beta releases. These people need to be educated on how software release life cycles work. Personally I would not have gone to Android 9 unless it was a stable release.

As my email suggested, there was no downgrade option and Xiaomi left the firmware in a terrible state for many months with no way for beta testers to even restore to a previously working configuration. Quite apart from the actual real issues encountered, that level of "support" is enough to ensure I couldn't recommend their products to anyone.

As it happens, minutes after my previous post I did get the new update (lol) and it has installed fine. I will know tonight when I go to play something if the reproducible issues I have been experiencing are fixed. I really hope so... Although it's a lot slower than a Shield, it's fine for a second lounge and if I can get away without shelling out for another Shield then that will be great.

Cheers - N

ps. I am familiar with SW release life cycles. Stranding your users on bad software for months with no downgrade option is NOT how they should work.

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2463307 16-Apr-2020 10:52

NumPy:
Kiwifruta: I’m a beta tester, we haven’t been advised that beta testing is over.

Thanks for that. Are you using the latest beta? And how does it compare to Android 8?

I assume so, I had a firmware update a few days ago.

Prime Video is now installed by default. My use case is pretty simple, 1080p and all steaming is via the web. My only side loaded app is Kayo.

For me, I’ve had no problems apart from Google cast support when v9 was initially rolled out to beta testers, but this was easily fixed by clearing the cache of the cast app and rebooting the Mi Box.

To other commenter who said there is no way to downgrade.
If someone wants to opt out all of beta testing they only need to notify Xiaomi via the beta testers Facebook page. Your device will then be remotely downgraded.

Are people using beta firmware without being an official beta tester?

Talkiet

4793 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2463310 16-Apr-2020 11:00

I took an automatic update offered to me several months ago by the box. If that is enough to strand someone on bad FW then that sucks. I am not sure why you're passive aggressive victim blaming here.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#2463339 16-Apr-2020 12:05

NumPy:

farcus:

looking at this article
https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-finally-rolls-out-stable-android-pie-for-the-mi-box-s-with-tons-of-bug-fixes/

Android TV 9 build 2604 appears to be the first version 9 stable release for Mi Box S (released April 2020), so if you're having issues with your box then it is probably worth getting the latest update

So all Android 9 builds before this were beta then. Users should not have been on Android 9 unless they were OK to test these builds, and accept some issues. From other posts I have seen there have been people complaining and saying that the device is rubbish etc while they are on a 9.0 beta releases. These people need to be educated on how software release life cycles work. Personally I would not have gone to Android 9 unless it was a stable release.

No. The previous builds of Android TV 9 for the Mi Box S were not beta builds.
They were official releases that Xiaomi ended up pulling because of issues that became apparent after release.

Xiaomi have a bit of a habit of doing this.
Currently going through the same thing with Mi A2 Lite and Mi A3 android one phones

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

NumPy

132 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#2463389 16-Apr-2020 12:29

farcus:

No. The previous builds of Android TV 9 for the Mi Box S were not beta builds.
They were official releases that Xiaomi ended up pulling because of issues that became apparent after release.

Xiaomi have a bit of a habit of doing this.
Currently going through the same thing with Mi A2 Lite and Mi A3 android one phones

Thanks, I will make sure I don't hit upgrade then until I have checked online and made sure the build is good and stable

askelon

879 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2463393 16-Apr-2020 12:45

The new update works perfectly for me. In saying that the only thing that didnt work for me before (on the original 9 update) was the chromecast and the voice navigation..

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2463798 16-Apr-2020 22:58

Talkiet:
I took an automatic update offered to me several months ago by the box. If that is enough to strand someone on bad FW then that sucks. I am not sure why you're passive aggressive victim blaming here.

Cheers - N

Were you replying to me?

steve2222

499 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2464067 17-Apr-2020 11:24

Slightly OT.

For those with a Mi Box S ( I have the previous iteration) does the built in Chromecast allow you to change the Ambient settings (screensaver/back drop) so that it can show photos from your own Google Photos collection rather than the ones provided by Google as the screensaver?

For a normal standalone Chromecast device you control this Ambient setting through the Google Home app on your phone. But the same setting on the Google Home app for a connected Mi Box 3 does not give you the option to select your own Google photos.

So I wondered if this is a weakness of the Android TV OS v8 that may have been fixed in the v9 OS.

Thanks

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2464071 17-Apr-2020 11:30

@steve2222 google photos is an option. After seeing your message, on my iPhone’s Google Home app I’ve configured mine to use Google Photos. Haven’t yet tested it on the telly.

allan

2044 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2464086 17-Apr-2020 11:56

This thread has gone a bit off-topic and I'm going to make it more so 🙂

I have a MiBox 8 with Android 8 and have found a complete inability to write or copy anything to an external hard drive or USB stick. No problem with reading the content. Have tried devices formatted with NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT, but no joy. A Google search reveals a number of people with this issue, but not thousands.

Yet to find a way to solve it. Anyone else have the same issue, or even better, a resolution?

steve2222

499 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2464090 17-Apr-2020 12:04

Kiwifruta: @steve2222 google photos is an option. After seeing your message, on my iPhone’s Google Home app I’ve configured mine to use Google Photos. Haven’t yet tested it on the telly.

Thanks for reply.

Just to confirm: you have a Mi Box S on latest OS ie Android TV 9?

Appreciate you letting me know when you have tested to see if your own photos appear on the TV when your Android TV box moves to display the screensaver.

PS: I don't get the option to select my Google Photos that you are seeing on the Google Home phone app so I am thinking it is something fixed in the Android TV 9 version and/or something to do with Mi Box S vs Mi Box 3.

Cheers

SCUBADOO

192 posts

Master Geek

#2464140 17-Apr-2020 13:18

allan: I have a MiBox 8 with Android 8 and have found a complete inability to write or copy anything to an external hard drive or USB stick. No problem with reading the content. Have tried devices formatted with NTFS, FAT32 and exFAT, but no joy. ...

MiBox 3 or S?
Our MiBox S since updating to Android TV v9 last January handles all of the above both reading and writing. My USB external hard drives etc. are connected via a powered USB hub.
The MiBox 3 is still stuck on v8 and will only read USB drives. I have yet to find any fix.

1 | 2 | 3