Mibox 4k

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254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1665802 8-Nov-2016 15:37

justinbyoung:

Aliexpress has them, with free shipping to NZ

https://www.aliexpress.com/...

Looks like they will be going on special in a few days. I am very tempted to get one. Testing a Nvidia Shield TV in the bedroom at the moment and loving it. Planning to move the Shield into the living room to take over from the HTPC, and need something to replace it and the new Mi Box is ideal.

Thanks justinbyoung, looks like I only have to wait 3 days :)

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1665807 8-Nov-2016 15:47

Wow there really is lot of choice for Android boxes. I searched for amlogic, lollipop and 2GB on Ali express under $NZ100 and have 25 results. How do I sort the wheat from the chaff?

Mike

Blanch

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1665808 8-Nov-2016 15:49

michaelmurfy:

I am considering getting one of these to replace my Chromecast 2 (of which, keeps rebooting at the moment) - how do people find them?

I was going to chuck my Chromecast until I bought my new access point, only use it for Netflix and photos/ video from my phone.

reven

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#1665809 8-Nov-2016 15:49

MikeAqua:

Wow there really is lot of choice for Android boxes. I searched for Lollipop and 2GB on Ali express under $NZ100 and have 60 results.

but most of those have crap interfaces. I wouldnt touch anything that didnt have android tv 6 on it. I want to use netflix with a proper remote and support for android tv apps like lightbox etc.

reven

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#1665820 8-Nov-2016 16:02

nah looking at that remote and the description thats not android tv, thats just running android 6. so running netflix etc on that might be a PITA and have to navigate it using a mouse like interface.

better to spend a few bucks more and get a proper android tv device like the mibox

justinbyoung

55 posts

Master Geek

#1665824 8-Nov-2016 16:10

It gets tricky because the earlier Mi Box's ran standard Android and look just like the new Android TV version.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1665827 8-Nov-2016 16:14

reven:

nah looking at that remote and the description thats not android tv, thats just running android 6. so running netflix etc on that might be a PITA and have to navigate it using a mouse like interface.

better to spend a few bucks more and get a proper android tv device like the mibox

So where can you buy one? everything on Ali Express seems to be Anroid 5.x

Mike

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

reven

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#1665829 8-Nov-2016 16:16

i bought my from mi.com, but had to ship it to youshop in the states and then here (and it should arrive here in a few days). not ideal, but only way I found that I could guarantee I got the correct model.

justinbyoung

55 posts

Master Geek

#1665830 8-Nov-2016 16:16

https://www.aliexpress.com/...

Blanch

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1665835 8-Nov-2016 16:22

reven:

i bought my from mi.com, but had to ship it to youshop in the states and then here (and it should arrive here in a few days). not ideal, but only way I found that I could guarantee I got the correct model.

looks like the ones justinbyoung and reven linked to are the same?

amanzi

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#1665839 8-Nov-2016 16:34

I'm keen to know what the Android TV experience is like in NZ - are there enough supported apps to make it worthwhile?

reven

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#1665852 8-Nov-2016 16:39

netflix, lightbox, plex, kodi, youtube, google play and has chromecast built in so anything that you can chrome cast to you can chrome cast to this (so i think that includes neon, but never used neon).

out of all the devices available (xbox, ps4, firetv, apple tv), personally I think the android tv is the best to use.

justinbyoung

55 posts

Master Geek

#1665885 8-Nov-2016 17:00

I am using an Nvidia Shield TV which also runs Android TV. It's currently in the bedroom while I test it and get it set up fully.

The apps I generally use on it are Kodi (well to be precise SPMC, which is a Android specific fork of Kodi), Plex, Netflix, the Live Channels app (connecting to my tvheadend server), Youtube and the Chromecast app. They all work well.

I have been using a Windows 10 HTPC running Kodi + a Chromecast in the living room and it's just not as accessible for the wife and kids as the Shield TV when it comes to things like Netflix and Youtube. The Windows 10 Netflix app is a crime, it always starts in windowed mode and doesn't support remotes or keyboard input, and uses horizontal scrolling which means it's not even mouse friendly. We almost only ever watch Netflix in the bedroom at the moment.

The HTPC is also heavily used as a gaming machine so will likely remain connected to the TV purely for gaming, though I might try and make use of the Nvidia game streaming features to keep it all within the Android TV interface.

reven

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#1665888 8-Nov-2016 17:06

justinbyoung:

I am using an Nvidia Shield TV which also runs Android TV. It's currently in the bedroom while I test it and get it set up fully.

The apps I generally use on it are Kodi (well to be precise SPMC, which is a Android specific fork of Kodi), Plex, Netflix, the Live Channels app (connecting to my tvheadend server), Youtube and the Chromecast app. They all work well.

I have been using a Windows 10 HTPC running Kodi + a Chromecast in the living room and it's just not as accessible for the wife and kids as the Shield TV when it comes to things like Netflix and Youtube. The Windows 10 Netflix app is a crime, it always starts in windowed mode and doesn't support remotes or keyboard input, and uses horizontal scrolling which means it's not even mouse friendly. We almost only ever watch Netflix in the bedroom at the moment.

The HTPC is also heavily used as a gaming machine so will likely remain connected to the TV purely for gaming, though I might try and make use of the Nvidia game streaming features to keep it all within the Android TV interface.

yeah a nvidia shield would be good too, but so expensive compared to other devices. I keep an eye on for them on trademe, but never actually seen one yet.

amanzi

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#1665896 8-Nov-2016 17:09

Thanks for the responses, and I don't mean to hijack the thread but this is still relevant to the OP's topic... is it worth buying a TV because of the smart features on offer, or do you just buy the TV based on hardware features and then use an external player for the smart features? e.g. is it worth buying a Sony TV purely because of the Android TV functionality? I've been looking at new TVs recently and have been leaning towards Sony because of Android TV, but if I'm going to end up plugging a Mibox into it anyway, what's the point?

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