Looking for a successor to Western Digital Live TV Media Player.

01001101 · 22 Oct 2023 at 19:45

I love my Western Digital Live TV Media Player, but sadly it doesn't support 4k 2160p and Dolby Atmos 7.1ch.

Western Digital have stopped making these media players and so I wanted to ask what is the current successor to this wonderful device?

Thanks in advance.

barmyllama · 23 Oct 2023 at 12:50

Nvidia Shield

01001101 · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:19

barmyllama said:
Nvidia Shield

Nvidia Shield Pro?

hornetstinger · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:25

Happy with my cheapy android box. Not perfect, as supplied IR blaster is terrible, but can't complain for the low price.

Wasn't impressed with Android OS, resource hungry and couldn't disable all picture post processing. Didn't do proper framerate switching.

I'd make sure the Nvdia shield will allow you to install this

CoreELEC

A lightweight OS for Kodi

coreelec.org

01001101 · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:37

hornetstinger said:
Happy with my cheapy android box. Not perfect, as supplied IR blaster is terrible, but can't complain for the low price.

Wasn't impressed with Android OS, resource hungry and couldn't disable all picture post processing. Didn't do proper framerate switching.

I'd make sure the Nvdia shield will allow you to install this

CoreELEC

A lightweight OS for Kodi

coreelec.org

That's what I liked about the Western Digital Media Player is that it was just that. Nice user interface with no bloat ware.

hornetstinger · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:41

01001101 said:
That's what I liked about the Western Digital Media Player is that it was just that. Nice user interface with no bloat ware.

Coreelac is literally Kodi OS. Nothing else, it boots to Kodi. Wheras Shield is Android boot then you install Kodi on top?

Can't complain for these £35-£50 Amlogic boxes. They won't have licensed apps though, so if you want netflix and other subscription services, they won't work. No proper licenses or key with the app or something liket that. I don't use any of those services so I don't care.

01001101 · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:50

hornetstinger said:
Coreelac is literally Kodi OS. Nothing else, it boots to Kodi. Wheras Shield is Android boot then you install Kodi on top?

Can't complain for these £35-£50 Amlogic boxes. They won't have licensed apps though, so if you want netflix and other subscription services, they won't work. No proper licenses or key with the app or something liket that. I don't use any of those services so I don't care.

Coreelac sounds great! Just what I'm looking for in terms of a UI. As long as the box is able to play 4k and 7.1 Dolby Atmos then that's perfect.

I don't need any streaming apps as that's all pre-installed on the TV.

hornetstinger · 23 Oct 2023 at 13:56

01001101 said:
Coreelac sounds great! Just what I'm looking for in terms of a UI. As long as the box is able to play 4k and 7.1 Dolby Atmos then that's perfect.

I don't need any streaming apps as that's all pre-installed on the TV.

Look for amlogic box. All you need to do is install it onto a microsd card, follow the instructions and it will then boot up to kodi. Mines a 905x3 based box.

Not sure what the latest chipset coreelac supports.
You don't need much on the box mine plays 4K fine, and memory usage is low (it's a 2GB box)

Make sure you use a good IR programmable remote, because the remotes that come with them are next to useless. You literally need to walk right up to them for the IR blaster/receiver to work.

or use phone app "Kore"

hornetstinger · 23 Oct 2023 at 14:09

Also if you do want to boot into Android, remove the microsd card, switch it on. Installing coreleac is non destructive. Or when you're in kodi, select "reboot to MMC" it'll then reboot into Android.

They're not perfect boxes but at such a low price I really can't complain, they're literally throwaway media devices.