Streaming Devices Available in NZ

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#2421114 14-Feb-2020 16:33

Rikkitic:

No corrections, just a comment....

You are a long way outside the norm with how you want to use streaming devices.

If a device doesn't have native netflix support and isn't sold by mainstream retailers in NZ it's not going on my list.

Handle9

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#2421115 14-Feb-2020 16:33

timmmay:

You might like to link to this thread with information about USB ethernet adapters that work with the Mi Box.

Done

Handle9

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#2421118 14-Feb-2020 16:35

jonathan18:

A question re controlling the ATV via means other than its own remote: while I get that one could use a Harmony or similar third-party remote, what are controls via CEC like, eg using the TV remote? Does that provide enough control to be a viable alternative?

As a comparison, I've found that most of the time I can get by using the TV remote to control our Amazon Fire TVs; I'm wondering if this is a potential solution to those put off by the original ATV remote as well...

Yes you can use Harmony or CEC. The only things you miss are scrubing using the trackpad and voice search. Some apps do rely on the track pad for fast forward/rewind but mostly Harmony or CEC works ok.

mail2mm

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#2421122 14-Feb-2020 16:42

Interesting summary of streaming devices in NZ. I expect you ruled out Roku because they do not have NZ specific services like Lightbox. That being said I have used a Roku 3 (4200X) for about four years. The system is very easy to use, search actually searches all available services and the remote is brilliant. Easy to use, a headphone jack for private listening and RF communication with the box rather than hit and miss IR.

I also have an ATV 4K. For me, with less than steady hands, the mini-trackpad is diabolical. Difficult to make a selection so if I am just going to watch Netflix I use the Roku or the Netflix button on the Panasonic TV remote. If Apple fix the remote problems with a newly designed remote or Roku comes to NZ I will be ready for a change!

Handle9

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#2421123 14-Feb-2020 16:45

mail2mm:

Interesting summary of streaming devices in NZ. I expect you ruled out Roku because they do not have NZ specific services like Lightbox. That being said I have used a Roku 3 (4200X) for about four years. The system is very easy to use, search actually searches all available services and the remote is brilliant. Easy to use, a headphone jack for private listening and RF communication with the box rather than hit and miss IR.

I also have an ATV 4K. For me, with less than steady hands, the mini-trackpad is diabolical. Difficult to make a selection so if I am just going to watch Netflix I use the Roku or the Netflix button on the Panasonic TV remote. If Apple fix the remote problems with a newly designed remote or Roku comes to NZ I will be ready for a change!

Roku isn't sold in the NZ market and doesn't have NZ app support therefore it's not on the list. If that changes I can add it.

johny007g

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#2421224 14-Feb-2020 20:43

Kiwifruta:
johny007g:

I have Mibox s and bought this to play movies from my external hard drive because my TCL tv updated from android 7 to 8 and unable to play movies from drive after this, and playing movies on Mibox s was working fine so relieved to have this working and able to play movies just worked perfectly also having Kodi available was a bonus.Then Mibox s updated from android 8 to android 9 pie and now can't play any movies as doesn't recognize 3tb ntfs drive anymore and chromecast also broken plus not able to connect bluetooth headphones any more just continously says connecting and does nothing so at the moment i just have useless Mibox s until they get updated. Checking google searches and forums no solutions and have done 3 factory reset with no changes so would not recommend Mibox until fixed.

I’m beta tester of Mi Bix S Android TV 9. Can you PM the details of the problems you are having and I’ll post it on their beta testers Facebook page.

Thanks @kiwifruta for offer of help but unfortunately not going to be any good as wife threw Mibox out in rubbish and long gone.Just to let you know i was not on beta but official update through the Mibox.

johny007g

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#2421225 14-Feb-2020 20:59

Handle9:
tdgeek:
Can a programmable remote such as the Harmony support the ATV4?

Yes, absolutely.

Just be careful with this one.

Yes you can use the Harmony for ~98% of application but depending on in app support sometimes you can not fast forward or rewind with the harmony. For example, fast forwarding works fine in the You Tube and Netflix apps but you can’t fast forward Kayo with the Harmony. I still need to use the Apple remote for that.

I think it’s to do with how some apps are coded with the atv remote swipe function.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Kiwifruta

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#2421244 14-Feb-2020 22:28

johny007g:
Kiwifruta:
johny007g:

I have Mibox s and bought this to play movies from my external hard drive because my TCL tv updated from android 7 to 8 and unable to play movies from drive after this, and playing movies on Mibox s was working fine so relieved to have this working and able to play movies just worked perfectly also having Kodi available was a bonus.Then Mibox s updated from android 8 to android 9 pie and now can't play any movies as doesn't recognize 3tb ntfs drive anymore and chromecast also broken plus not able to connect bluetooth headphones any more just continously says connecting and does nothing so at the moment i just have useless Mibox s until they get updated. Checking google searches and forums no solutions and have done 3 factory reset with no changes so would not recommend Mibox until fixed.

I’m beta tester of Mi Bix S Android TV 9. Can you PM the details of the problems you are having and I’ll post it on their beta testers Facebook page.

Thanks @kiwifruta for offer of help but unfortunately not going to be any good as wife threw Mibox out in rubbish and long gone.Just to let you know i was not on beta but official update through the Mibox.

What a shame.

JimmyH

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#2424434 20-Feb-2020 11:10

I'm a happy Chromecast user. I have three of them at the moment (Bedroom, Lounge, Family Room), and may add a fourth in the spare bedroom if the Roku Ultra I have acquired doesn't do what I want. But many of the options you list are ust as good.

The one bit of advice I would add to this thread is to get a device has a wired connection. The option of using this is handy.

I have found that, particularly in a bigger house with a consumer-grade WiFi router, trying to stream HD video over WiFi can be less than ideal. Plus, if multiple people try to stream at once, WiFi can struggle to cope. That's why I paid a bit more to get Chromecast Ultras ($85 on sale). If you can't run ethernet directly, a decent ethernet-over-powerline setup works fine as an alternative in my experience.

Handle9

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#2460005 12-Apr-2020 16:34

Updated the Firestick and Mibox sections

Rikkitic

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#2460051 12-Apr-2020 16:50

Chromecast is stupidly unhelpful for me. Sometimes it works from my laptop to my Shield, sometimes not. It took awhile before I figured out that the problem has something to do with Chrome browser. Usually Chromecast says it can't find the Shield. As soon as I close the browser and re-open it, Chromecast magically finds it. I got tired of the nonsense and just ran a dedicated HDMI cable under the house to the TV, which works fine.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Oblivian

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#2460066 12-Apr-2020 17:33

Rikkitic:

Chromecast is stupidly unhelpful for me. Sometimes it works from my laptop to my Shield, sometimes not. It took awhile before I figured out that the problem has something to do with Chrome browser. Usually Chromecast says it can't find the Shield. As soon as I close the browser and re-open it, Chromecast magically finds it. I got tired of the nonsense and just ran a dedicated HDMI cable under the house to the TV, which works fine.

Google Cast (now called chromecast built in)

Chromecast

Cast tab

Not quite the same. And caution is needed as it's a little more complicated.

It'll sound picky, but this is Geekzone afterall where people focus on the technical aspects more than your average supermarket appliance stop.

Your shield is a certified Google Cast equipped Device. Chromecast is generally the name of the bundled consumer package. And the method you refer to is actually when attempting to cast a tab (mirror, or use page uses web-app), from chrome, to a Google Cast device.

Rikkitic

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#2460087 12-Apr-2020 18:15

Oblivian:

Not quite the same. And caution is needed as it's a little more complicated.

It'll sound picky, but this is Geekzone afterall where people focus on the technical aspects more than your average supermarket appliance stop.

Points taken but the result is that Chromecast is a bit of a pain and I am not the only one who thinks so. Also, it is not just tab casting. Also desktop. It just can't see that there is a Shield waiting to receive. If I restart Chrome browser everything is sweet. I still think that is a bit stupid. What is the point?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tdgeek

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#2460105 12-Apr-2020 18:54

Rikkitic:

Oblivian:

Not quite the same. And caution is needed as it's a little more complicated.

It'll sound picky, but this is Geekzone afterall where people focus on the technical aspects more than your average supermarket appliance stop.

Points taken but the result is that Chromecast is a bit of a pain and I am not the only one who thinks so. Also, it is not just tab casting. Also desktop. It just can't see that there is a Shield waiting to receive. If I restart Chrome browser everything is sweet. I still think that is a bit stupid. What is the point?

Yes, I got a CCu to test Spark Sport, works sweet. Then it didn't on my 5Ghz. Rang helpdesk, she said as it works on 2.4 its not faulty, so bye. On the phone for ages, no luck. She didn't get that resetting wont work if another device is connected. In the end no luck. I can switch off the iPad and iPhone and reset myself, but it shouldn't be that bad. It does work well but so does my Airplay. But my Airplay always works.

Dunnersfella

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#2460138 12-Apr-2020 21:01

I have a Chromecast and a UHD Chromecast - both can (and are) hardwired when setup.

Yet I have simply stopped using them and rely solely on Airplay instead.

They just need to spend more time on C/Cast...

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