(2017-03-30, 17:38)insync44 Wrote: I installed a 32GB USB 3.0 which I formatted as a internal HD. Big mistake. Kodi took over 5 mins to open and it appeared to mess up my mouse. I don't know if its the USB 3.0 that is to blame since its a USB 2.0 box.

(2017-03-30, 17:38)insync44 Wrote: With only 8GB of internal storage, in today's age its really not enough. I am using a a non-powered USB hub to which I have attached a 3TB portable HD and watch videos through SPMC. I also use a mouse, which I find faster in Kodi, Chrome and even moving between Apps instead of the click, click and I never know on which App its positioned.

(2017-03-30, 18:36)wrxtasy Wrote: I really find it very strange when someone buys a device designed primarily as a easy to use, cheap media streamer and then tries to turn it into a PC and do tasks like web browsing on a TV with Chrome and complain about limited internal storage and speed.

These cheap Android TV OS media players are not intended to be used for that task - its exactly why they don't come with any sort of mouse in the very first place.
Its also why touchscreen Tablets and Phones running the Android touchscreen OS are far easier to use for such web browsing tasks.

The primary problem is users are trying to do everything on the one device. Demanding Kodi usage, Power Hungry Gaming, 4K Streaming, PVR's, OTA TV & deinterlacing, 3D, Flash & Web Browsing, Hi-def Music, Rocket Science, Lunar Orbit Injection....

And that is bound to fail - you end up with too many compromises and then we get to sit here and read about user woes - and you really have to question why they bought such a device in the very first place and if any pre-purchase research was even done.

As an example - I cannot use any Android device for PVR - OTA TV use - because I know there are far better, reliable, working, more flexible options on Linux / LibreELEC devices, so consequently I don't use Android for that task.

(2017-03-30, 20:26)archy121 Wrote:

(2017-03-30, 18:36)wrxtasy Wrote: I really find it very strange when someone buys a device designed primarily as a easy to use, cheap media streamer and then tries to turn it into a PC and do tasks like web browsing on a TV with Chrome and complain about limited internal storage and speed.

These cheap Android TV OS media players are not intended to be used for that task - its exactly why they don't come with any sort of mouse in the very first place.
Its also why touchscreen Tablets and Phones running the Android touchscreen OS are far easier to use for such web browsing tasks.

The primary problem is users are trying to do everything on the one device. Demanding Kodi usage, Power Hungry Gaming, 4K Streaming, PVR's, OTA TV & deinterlacing, 3D, Flash & Web Browsing, Hi-def Music, Rocket Science, Lunar Orbit Injection....

And that is bound to fail - you end up with too many compromises and then we get to sit here and read about user woes - and you really have to question why they bought such a device in the very first place and if any pre-purchase research was even done.

As an example - I cannot use any Android device for PVR - OTA TV use - because I know there are far better, reliable, working, more flexible options on Linux / LibreELEC devices, so consequently I don't use Android for that task.

Very true and needed to be said. I'm also constantly surprised by people's expectations.


I was wondering if you can help with some remaining concerns as I'm on the brink of pulling the trigger on one of these international models. The Box is to play uk on demand services, stream stored 1080p videos and flac audio from Windows server and of course run Kodi. 4K Kodi and YouTube would be a requirement for the future.

Is this box able to run the UK on demand tv apps ? ITV/Iplayer/4OD/5Demand etc

I already have a Roku 2 box and find its interface to these apps annoyingly slow and cumbersome.
Are you able to comment on the speed of the apps and interface quality Vs roku 2 or in general ?

Are all of the U.K tv apps available natively to Android TV or will I have to sideload them ?

I'm concerned side loaded apps will have a slow Cumbersome interface that gives no improvements over Roku2.

(2017-03-30, 18:36)wrxtasy Wrote: I really find it very strange when someone buys a device designed primarily as a easy to use, cheap media streamer and then tries to turn it into a PC and do tasks like web browsing on a TV with Chrome and complain about limited internal storage and speed.

(2017-03-31, 08:27)crestorrep Wrote: Now one thing I will say, it does need to do what they advertised it will, so updates/fixes do need to be ongoing.

(2017-03-31, 07:58)tredman Wrote: There are no UK catch-up apps working correctly on the mi box.

iPlayer via the Kodi add-on works well

Itv hub, native Android TV app extracted from Sony TV, used to work on my mi box and shields but now crashes on boot. There is an itv Kodi add-on which mostly works.

CH4 has never worked

As for 5, does anyone ever watch it

However, the mi box works well as a Chromecast target, so you can just do that.

As mentioned above by wrxtasy, personally I wouldn't bother side loading non-android tv apps as you'll need to use some god awful air remote to control them.

(2017-03-31, 17:59)archy121 Wrote: The fact that it runs Android TV and yet doesn't have proper support for these free service apps makes it a very inadequate device at its price point. I'm glad that you replied in time and stopped me going ahead with the buy.
It would seem even shield will not serve my basic needs.

Maybe things will improve later on and Android TV might actually support basic TV services.

(2017-03-31, 14:04)insync44 Wrote: Come on Google, do I have to sideload Chrome, your own Browser, is not available in your own Playstore? Seriously?

(2017-03-31, 17:59)archy121 Wrote:

(2017-03-31, 07:58)tredman Wrote: There are no UK catch-up apps working correctly on the mi box.

iPlayer via the Kodi add-on works well

Itv hub, native Android TV app extracted from Sony TV, used to work on my mi box and shields but now crashes on boot. There is an itv Kodi add-on which mostly works.

CH4 has never worked

As for 5, does anyone ever watch it

However, the mi box works well as a Chromecast target, so you can just do that.

As mentioned above by wrxtasy, personally I wouldn't bother side loading non-android tv apps as you'll need to use some god awful air remote to control them.

.

Damn -I really was not expecting to discover this. I thought my needs were somewhat basic from an Android TV device.

The fact that it runs Android TV and yet doesn't have proper support for these free service apps makes it a very inadequate device at its price point. I'm glad that you replied in time and stopped me going ahead with the buy.
It would seem even shield will not serve my basic needs.

Maybe things will improve later on and Android TV might actually support basic TV services. Until than I will put up with my Roku2 for TV demand services and keep the PC file server doubled up as HTPC.

Could Amazon Fire TV fulfil my needs ?

(2017-03-31, 21:33)BenPrater28 Wrote: Just tough I would say that you can the Mi Box for £69 at the moment ($85) which makes it very good value for money. Compared to the 100$ price that everyone talks about.
On sale at - https://TheSolutionShop.co.uk/product/Mi-Box/