Android TV - Advice Needed

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browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1852971 26-Aug-2017 14:03

Sony has actually promised to update 2015/2016 and 2017 Android TV's to Android 7. That is pretty good for a TV manufacturer. I think Sony might understand that one of the biggest selling points is the OS and it's updates. However they have been slow, but in saying that if the TV works and has no major bugs and issues why push updates quickly.

Nvidia has pushed 7 updates for the Shield TV, 2 or 3 OS updates, and 4 bug fix updates.

Home Server: AMD Threadripper 1950X, 64GB, 56TB HDD, Define R6 Case, 10GbE, ESXi 6.7, UNRAID, NextPVR, Emby Server, Plex Server.
Lounge Media Center: NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB: Kodi18 with Titan MOD, Emby.
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Kaos

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1854993 29-Aug-2017 22:28

browned:

A cheaper option is buying an Nvidia Shield TV from Amazon for about $300nzd landed.

Is the Shield able to have NZ specific applications loaded on it, like Lightbox and the TVNZ/TV3 apps?

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1855092 30-Aug-2017 08:46

Kaos:

browned:

A cheaper option is buying an Nvidia Shield TV from Amazon for about $300nzd landed.

Is the Shield able to have NZ specific applications loaded on it, like Lightbox and the TVNZ/TV3 apps?

None of our forward thinking media distributors have any apps that install directly onto Android TV from the play store. You can cast but I see that as a terribly solution.

I have installed Lightbox, Neon, Skygo, TVNZ/3 ondemand Android phone/tablet apps using appcloner and ticking the Android TV support option, but none of the experiences are worth the hassle of cloning the apps from a phone or tablet. In my house this is not an issue as Shield TV has Youtube, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, BBC iPlayer (if language set to UK), and Kodi for live tv if ever required.

The frustrating thing about these Android apps is that I have read several times online that converting an app or modifiying from Android to Android TV is not a big issue or time consuming, you can even support both in one app with little work. I would be interested to know what the Sony Android TV's have in the way of NZ apps, it could be possible to clone the apps from them.

If I need a TV (hopefully soon ;-) I will be buying Sony with Android TV, I will still use the Nvidia Shield TV's as the primary device. The kids love the voice search in Youtube and Nvidia Spot will hopefully be released sometime in the coming year.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1855148 30-Aug-2017 10:10

Something to think about ...

Does the TV Manufacturer have any ongoing role in support for the Android OS variant installed in their TV - e.g. in rolling out updates.

If they do have a role, how long will they support the software?

TVs last a long time, but software support may not.

Mike

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1855164 30-Aug-2017 10:34

Yes they do have a roll. But Sony have already started rolling out Android TV 7 for all Android TV's from 2015 through to 2017. I think they might understand the appeal of Android TV and will update it if the hardware can handle it.

The thing to remember is that even if the OS is old the TV still works as a TV and will keep on working. A couple of examples of this is the Motorola Xoom 10.1 tablet I have, still working, it was released in 2011. The HTC One M7 release in 2013, my kids use it for Pokemon after I forced it to install and it can still make phone calls and send text messages.

Quinny

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1855165 30-Aug-2017 10:35

browned:

None of our forward thinking media distributors have any apps that install directly onto Android TV from the play store. You can cast but I see that as a terribly solution.

I have installed Lightbox, Neon, Skygo, TVNZ/3 ondemand Android phone/tablet apps using appcloner and ticking the Android TV support option, but none of the experiences are worth the hassle of cloning the apps from a phone or tablet. In my house this is not an issue as Shield TV has Youtube, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, BBC iPlayer (if language set to UK), and Kodi for live tv if ever required.

The frustrating thing about these Android apps is that I have read several times online that converting an app or modifiying from Android to Android TV is not a big issue or time consuming, you can even support both in one app with little work. I would be interested to know what the Sony Android TV's have in the way of NZ apps, it could be possible to clone the apps from them.

If I need a TV (hopefully soon ;-) I will be buying Sony with Android TV, I will still use the Nvidia Shield TV's as the primary device. The kids love the voice search in Youtube and Nvidia Spot will hopefully be released sometime in the coming year.

My Sony OLED using Android Tv offers Lightbox, Netflix, Youtube, Amazon, Kodi, Plex etc all by default zero sideload out of the box. For more I just used the SonySelect app on tv and for even bigger range google play on pc to search Android Tv then added by saying install to TV. Hulu and BBC will require most likely VPN which is beyond most home users and I have found zero need to bother with personally. Ondemand 1 and 3 are preinstalled via FreeviewPlus (not Freeview of older TVS) as direct apps so did not even need to install. I would recommend Haysack for news and PlutoTV for about every channel you could want (Yes Sky I miss J2 and why oh why do I need an app with 80s music vids to get back what you were so stupid to kill)

The voice search works out of box and is fantastic.

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#1855179 30-Aug-2017 10:54

k1w1k1d:

IMHO the problem with "smart" TV's is that they are current when sold, but manufacturers don't put out updates to keep them current. Once they bring out a new model, they seem to forget about last year's models.

Much better to buy a TV that has a good picture and then connect it to a set top box to use Netflix, Lightbox, Skype etc.

+This,

Choose the best looking panel your $$ will allow, -and use an STB to run content apps etc,

A TV should last 10+ years, but the chances of the OS and 3rd party Apps remaining current over that time is limited.

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robfish

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1866706 15-Sep-2017 10:00

robfish:.......and today I ordered an R99 Android TV box

I have to say that I am a bit dissappointed with this box.

The OS is not "Android TV" so it really needs a mouse for navigation. There is a mouse feature on the remote but it is very clumsy.

Also Netflix will not sign in when my "geo-unblocker service" is running.

Other than that it seems to perform well.

Rob

KrazyKid

1238 posts

Uber Geek

#1866730 15-Sep-2017 10:43

Not Android TV - but Samsung TVs run all those apps you describe from the remote control. Can also cast 95% of all apps to it.
I have a chromecast on the TV but hardly use it.
It still plays all the media formats I have (including H265).

It just works and is user friendly.

(excepting skype and that sounds like it is gone from all TV's)

Samsung spend the $$$ to get the apps developed.

Very happy with my 2015 Samsung. They put out a major update this year which enabled HDR (admittedly probably the last one I expect to see - but that was still 2 years after manufacture)
Yes I spend the $$$$ to get an 8 series but no complaints here.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1866773 15-Sep-2017 11:44

I got burnt by samsung tvs in the past with their old "smart" os. after 2 years it was rubbish and slow (and so many annoying pop ups).

my LG webOS3 is really really fast, im surprised by it. but it wont run kodi (runs plex, netflix). issue with no kodi is i had a movie with subtitles that plex had to then transcode to show the subtitles, and the server couldnt quite handly it. with kodi no transcoding is needed and it can just show them.

I have a series 7 sony android tv, they put in a slow CPU in this one, it has android tv so does kodi etc, but yeah it can be very sluggish at times, eg chaning volume sometimes makes the screen pause.

my series 8 sony android tv is much better, but still not as fast as my LG webOS3 tv.

i have a few mi boxs around the house and a nvidia shield tv. either of these are very good, mi boxs are really cheap and are 4k and run full android tv (kodi, plex, netflix etc).

if youre going for a smart tv, i would get a series 8/9 sony android tv.

but if you can live with a STB, i would get a mibox for nzd$75-100 delivered.

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