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I'm trying to find a device which can stream media from my Android tablet to my TV, in a privacy conscious way, and I require no other features. I thought I could do this simply, with a Chromecast knock-off, but that privacy conscious thing is proving to be a sticking point. All I want is a device which can stream media and does not require me to give it internet access (and is cheap), but it's looking like the only way I'm going to be able to do this is with some device which I make or hack myself - either a Raspberry Pi based something-or-other, or something with Kodi on it (like a Fire TV).
However, I'm not finding a ton of information about streaming from Android. Does Kodi even support that? If I got, say, a Boxee Box and installed Kodi would that serve my purposes? Is there some other (cheap) device which I could do that with instead?
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dave77
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2015-09-22, 11:28
(This post was last modified: 2015-09-22, 11:28 by dave77.)
Chromecast? Depends on what you want to stream from I guess, the AllCast is good to have as that streams to Chromecast. Most major apps will natively support Chromecast though. Wait until next week though when Chromecast 2 comes out.
When I cast using AllCast, Kodi does show up on the list but i've not tried it to be honest
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Can you use Chromecast without giving it network access? I'd ruled it out for being privacy abhorrent, but if it'll function just as a media streamer directly from my device then that'd be fine.
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I'm struggling to see exactly what you want to do here.
You want kodi on the tv playing files from your tablet?
Or you want your android screen on the tv?
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I want to stream video from my tablet to the TV in a privacy conscious way.
I haven't been able to find a commercial product which will do that, so I had thought that maybe I could do it by setting up a device running Kodi which would be connected to my TV - a Boxee Box, a Fire TV, or something else.
It would be fine to have my Android screen on the TV, that would certainly accomplish what I'm after, but it's more than I need.
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Still not clear, sorry.
Are you talking about physical files on your tablet?
If so then you could a kodi device (connected to your tv) to access them.
Miracast might give you your android screen on the tv.
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2015-09-22, 19:11
(This post was last modified: 2015-09-22, 19:16 by Starstream.)
Guises what your talking about is display mirroring and is not supported by Kodi (fyi people don't usually refer to it as streaming just display mirroring).
You can buy standalone Miracast receivers very cheaply, they work via WiFi direct and do not require an established network. Boxee Box is old and dead don't waste your money, you'd be buying a door stop.
However Miracast is so finicky, that I would strongly consider a long HDMI cable if the tablet has a TV out instead. Tell your dad to plug cable into tablet when he wants to use it.
Kodi only supports streaming media from a tablet with UPnP/DLNA or Airplay, both require a functioning local network (though there is no internet snooping if that is what your worried about). It's convoluted but you can also set up SMB/FTP network services on tablets and Kodi could access the files on tablet that way, you'd be browsing the tablet file system on Kodi device plugged into TV instead of pushing media via app on tablet with DLNA/Airplay.
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2015-09-23, 09:54
(This post was last modified: 2015-09-23, 09:57 by Starstream.)
There are far better devices out there than the Boxee Box which has a lot of issues, trust me they are not worth it (former owner of one here).
Get a CuBox-i or Raspberry Pi 2 and install Openelec onto SD card for those devices and your set.
* Very good media support (hardware decoders)
* Good Kodi performance (Kodi isn't terribly slow on device)
* HDMI-CEC support so you can use TV remote to control Kodi (CuBox also has IR which will work with MCE/RC6 remotes), alternatively you can also use Flirc to control Kodi with any IR remote.
* Openelec is well supported and manual updates can be downloaded and installed via Kodi
* DLNA/Airplay more reliable on linux/Openelec in my experience.
* Fanless Arm chips so no noise and can be left running 24/7.
If your using an Android tablet I'd recommend BubbleUPnP as your UPnP/DLNA controller, you will have to activate allow control via UPnP in Kodi settings\services.
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Okay, you sold me. I guess a Raspberry Pi wouldn't be that much more expensive and it does seem like it'd be a lot more flexible.