WTB: Android box

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Rikkitic

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#273163 8-Aug-2020 12:34

I'm looking for an extra Android box to use for experiments. Something cheap and cheerful, like a 2nd hand Mi Box or even something generic from AliExpress. I'm not too fussy as long as it works but prefer to look in NZ first, starting here and then maybe Trade Me. Drop me a line if you have something you are not using or have moved on from.

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2536703 8-Aug-2020 14:12

Any preference for hardware?

I have a couple of 'X96' boxes that have Rockchip SoCs, not Amlogic SoCs as the seller claimed.

I could let you have them for $10 each plus postage. No original packaging (damaged) or HDMI cables. Basically unused... once I verified the chip was wrong they were put back in the box.

Rikkitic

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#2536704 8-Aug-2020 14:18

Sounds okay, certainly for that price. I think $10 extra ought to cover the postage for both. Otherwise state a figure. I live rural and am happy with regular post. PM your account number and I will transfer the money.

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Talkiet

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#2536766 8-Aug-2020 16:59

I have a MiBox S I no longer want - It's sh1t as a media player and I finally accepted that and just replaced it with a Shield :-)

$40 if someone wants it.

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.

neb

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#2536781 8-Aug-2020 18:42

SirHumphreyAppleby:
I have a couple of 'X96' boxes that have Rockchip SoCs, not Amlogic SoCs as the seller claimed.

Is there any significant difference between the Rockchip (I assume RK3399) and S095X3? I looked at the current crop of Android boxes a few months ago and they were almost indistinguishable to the end user, at the technical level the only difference was that most were 32-bit not 64-bit, a few had full Android rather than TV, and some had replacements for the crappy default launcher/UI, but I couldn't have explained to a non-geek why to get one and not the other.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2536784 8-Aug-2020 18:51

neb:
SirHumphreyAppleby:

I have a couple of 'X96' boxes that have Rockchip SoCs, not Amlogic SoCs as the seller claimed.

Is there any significant difference between the Rockchip (I assume RK3399) and S095X3?

They are RK322X, and the Amlogic units are S905W. Both will play anything you throw at them, including UHD Blu-rays.

There is notihng wrong with the Rockchip per se, and on paper may even be better than the Amlogic SoC. I wanted to standardise my frontend boxes using a single distribution, CoreELEC in my case.

I'm not an Android user, so I couldn't say what exactly was installed on them... Android of some kind. @Rikkitic, I hope that's not a significant issue for you, otherwise I can take a look.

neb

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#2536787 8-Aug-2020 19:01

SirHumphreyAppleby:
I'm not an Android user, so I couldn't say what exactly was installed on them... Android of some kind. @Rikkitic, I hope that's not a significant issue for you, otherwise I can take a look.

It's all sort of a choose A, B, or C with not much difference, you've got Android TV (most boxes), stock Android (which occasionally has problems since it's designed for a fondle screen interface but gives you access to the full Google Play store), and skinned Android where they've put a less crappy UI on Android/Android TV. For all intents and purposes there's no difference between them, if someone offered me all three and asked me to choose I'd have to flip a coin. Heck, for $10 you can't lose.

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Rikkitic

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#2536792 8-Aug-2020 19:25

SirHumphreyAppleby:

I'm not an Android user, so I couldn't say what exactly was installed on them... Android of some kind. @Rikkitic, I hope that's not a significant issue for you, otherwise I can take a look.

No worries. I can work around anything that gets in the way.

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driller2000

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#2536858 9-Aug-2020 00:06

IME the generic android boxes are more flexible given full Google Play store access - but I have found them underwhelming in terms of performance, codecs and support from NFlix/YT etc re 4K/HD resolution and the interface needs a M&KB - whereas I want a 10 foot interface all driven by a remote.

And IME AndroidTV does all of these things well, so this wins hands down for my use case. And that's with my Shield, MixBox and SonyTV.

Obviously YMMV depending on your specific use case/preferences.

neb

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#2536864 9-Aug-2020 00:49

driller2000:
I have found them underwhelming in terms of performance, codecs and support from NFlix/YT etc re 4K/HD resolution

That's not the Android box, that's DRM, you'll never see anything above 720p on commercial services outside of Apple and Google devices and a vanishingly small number of overpriced, obsolete media players from big-name companies.

driller2000

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#2536926 9-Aug-2020 09:29

neb:
driller2000:

I have found them underwhelming in terms of performance, codecs and support from NFlix/YT etc re 4K/HD resolution

That's not the Android box, that's DRM, you'll never see anything above 720p on commercial services outside of Apple and Google devices and a vanishingly small number of overpriced, obsolete media players from big-name companies.

Understood re DRM - and that's my point ie. MiBox at $90 with AndroidTV on it has no res limitations.

And in terms of performance comment - ugly sluggish UI, poor/non-existant support which turned the 2 I had into doorstops within months - and minimal/nil updates.

driller2000

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#2536927 9-Aug-2020 09:30

Talkiet:

I have a MiBox S I no longer want - It's sh1t as a media player and I finally accepted that and just replaced it with a Shield :-)

$40 if someone wants it.

Cheers - N

Hey Dude - Sent you a PM. Cheers.