Android sticks

ince

ince

ince

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Can anyone recommend an android or other similar stick type device that can run xbmc and play 1080p videos stored on a network.
 
Give me time to type up a review (was about to post a thread this week)

As an early starter, 40 quid gets you the minux neo g4

Amazing WiFi strength compared to flaky ones on other sticks.

Xbmcandroid.com have a custom xbmc build which will play HD content via hardware decoding.
Small workaround for HD playback within xbmc for smb shares, however as a fallback the standalone app mxplayer works great

Cheers
 
da_mic_1530 said:
Give me time to type up a review (was about to post a thread this week)

As an early starter, 40 quid gets you the minux neo g4

Amazing WiFi strength compared to flaky ones on other sticks.

Xbmcandroid.com have a custom xbmc build which will play HD content via hardware decoding.
Small workaround for HD playback within xbmc for smb shares, however as a fallback the standalone app mxplayer works great

Cheers
Click to expand...

hi

i am currently trying to decide if i should go down the android root or just get a raspberry pi

any more details on this particular stick as it looks quite good
 
Once you add Wifi and a powered USB hub to an R Pi, and fiddle with an IR receiver and remote and find a power supply and then buy a case to store the bundle of wires it becomes quite expensive.
 
Skeeter said:
Once you add Wifi and a powered USB hub to an R Pi, and fiddle with an IR receiver and remote and find a power supply and then buy a case to store the bundle of wires it becomes quite expensive.
Click to expand...

I happily ran a Pi off my TV's USB port, and controlled it using CEC via the HDMI port. The only extra cost was the WiFi.
 
I had a pi, it was not wife friendly, xbmc kept corrupting on the filesystem. As has already been said once you've got a pi, then a case, maybe a remote and power supply...hitting the forty quid mark

I'll do some videos before I type up a review
 
As I said above though.. No need for PSU or remote.

I do agree actually, not wife friendly. I have a full x86 PC on the VESA mount on the back of our TV. Much better!
 
Right, as promised, dodgy review by me. Hate hearing me voice on a video so this is my very first YouTube video.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MLBYcHCx2D4

Don't know how to embed the video, overall I'm chuffed with the minux stick, does everything I've asked of it. Definitely a viable home media centre solution, however I'd plump for the next model up if you have the cash, if not 40 quid is cheap for this from eBay.

If you have any specific tests let me know, I realise I've not shown much video playback so if you want to see the HD playback let me know
 
mrbell1984 said:
OK video shame about the boot time of said device though :(
Click to expand...

Indeed, as I say though it boots when the TV turns on, bearing in mind its normally on my main TV, when we get sick of sky we just flick over to HDMI and its sat there waiting. I'd look into the next model up in regards to boot times. This boot was from cold, which may be of concern for some, but its not an issue for me. You could use a 3 pin plug on it and thus force and always on state and avoid boot altogether
 
da_mic_1530 said:
Right, as promised, dodgy review by me. Hate hearing me voice on a video so this is my very first YouTube video.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MLBYcHCx2D4

Don't know how to embed the video, overall I'm chuffed with the minux stick, does everything I've asked of it. Definitely a viable home media centre solution, however I'd plump for the next model up if you have the cash, if not 40 quid is cheap for this from eBay.

If you have any specific tests let me know, I realise I've not shown much video playback so if you want to see the HD playback let me know
Click to expand...

Argh stop ending every sentence as if you are asking a question!! :p

Good to see one of these in action, I've got a full media pc at the min but tempted to get an android stick for the bedroom.

How is the playback quality in iplayer? I tried using iplayer on tv through my mobiles mini hdmi but the quality was terrible, can the android version access the HD streams?
 
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MonkeyMan said:
How is the playback quality in iplayer? I tried using iplayer on tv through my mobiles mini hdmi but the quality was terrible, can the android version access the HD streams?
Click to expand...

Which mobile did you use for testing that?

iPlayerHD looks fine on my phone (1280x768) - I've not tried outputting to the TV though.

These are a few videos of setups I've experimented with.

This is the HTPC, it wakes from S3 sleep (the video was done to show someone TVcatchup), the Harmony wakes it and sets the source (you'll probably hear the AV amp click into life too).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxzp3kHueXc

iPlayerHD running on a Pi - outputting to a 1920x1200 Dell 24"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH3hHx0zmBY

pi running off TV USB and being controlled with TV remote via CEC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atznHyJrV_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Peew0RVC4
 
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