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Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 15:39
by Beerfuelledman
I've been considering one of these for my TV, being that the built in Netflix seems reluctant to work with any regularity and a decent Android box could also stream & the like. However, there seems to be so many of them out there and contains some great ans some pretty scathing reviews. I'm not really sure what I should be looking out for as an essential feature. Could anyone with a bit more knowledge shed some light on the matter? Thanks

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 15:51
by foxinthebox2001
You mention Showbox, add Megabox to that.
The one essential I would suggest is a box with a hard drive, 6gb at least, that way you can download movies and tv shows instead of streaming, which can be intermittent, even with a fast broadband. Its down to their servers, which can also shutdown at a moments notice.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 16:47
by Beerfuelledman
This is where Ive got to so far lol

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... oid+tv+box

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 17:29
by Beerfuelledman
Ive plumped for a Matricom G-Box Q Quad/Octo Core XBMC/Kodi Android TV Box [2GB/16GB/4K]
Any tips from those who understand XMBC & KODI would be useful.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 20:39
by Merlins_Apprentice
I use the Phoenix video add on to watch the footy, they always seems to have decent streams on there. I tend to watch the nbc sports ones

You need a decent broadband for them though, mine isn't the best so if the kids are online also i get buffer problems but mine is only around 4mb at best

I'll be upgrading soon to bt infinity (or equivalent) thought to sort that

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 23 Aug 2015, 20:40
by Merlins_Apprentice
I actually jail broke my old iPad 1 and installed kodi on that also, so can stream it on that- handy if away or again the kids are using the TV

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 24 Oct 2015, 13:51
by murf
Been told that the M8 box is pretty good. Advised to get it 'fully loaded' with all the software to get stuff like ALL premiership football and movies that are only just in cinemas etc.

All seems pretty dodgy but widely available on Amazon (which suggests a level of legitimacy) from about £32....

Anybody know any more? Got one? Advise if I need to look for a certain spec level???

(I was just looking for when my sky is down (probably wouldn't be delivered in time anyway) but could be good long term )

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 13:07
by thebillfella
Have an MXIII 4k MBox running KODI (visit http://kodi.tv/download/ for the latest version and the forum for advice / tips / tricks with add-ons etc).

I use Genesis for Movies and TV box sets although Icefilms is also good. Sports slightly less successful - tried Phoenix and P2P streams but find them to be hit and miss or buffering problems despite having Virgin Media broadband. Open to advise on this one!

Re: RE: Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 15:26
by thebillfella
Will do. Cheers

Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 15:34
by Maldini
Are these M8 boxes any good to those of us who can just about turn a laptop on?
Simply can't justify the cost of Sky anymore.

Ps...anyone know if you can get the NRL* on them?









*Australian Rugby League.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 15:38
by murf
Reading the M8 reviews, some say it is simple to set up and others that it is tricky but loads of tutorials on YouTube.

Think I am getting one but would like to be advised if better alternative or if there are good and bad makes/specs etc.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 15:44
by Maldini
Yep, just been reading reviews. I suppose at half the cost of what I pay per month for Sky, it's worth a go.

Thanks murf.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 15:47
by Beerfuelledman
murf wrote:Reading the M8 reviews, some say it is simple to set up and others that it is tricky but loads of tutorials on YouTube.

Think I am getting one but would like to be advised if better alternative or if there are good and bad makes/specs etc.
It would be incredibly tricky without the youtube tutorials, but with them its pretty simple. I'd keep the extra money you'd pay to get it 'fully loaded' and use that on a better box.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 25 Oct 2015, 16:31
by murf
Cheers. What would you suggest as a 'better box'? Better than M8 or a better spec'd M8???

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 28 Oct 2015, 15:43
by murf
Beerfuelledman wrote:
murf wrote:Reading the M8 reviews, some say it is simple to set up and others that it is tricky but loads of tutorials on YouTube.

Think I am getting one but would like to be advised if better alternative or if there are good and bad makes/specs etc.
It would be incredibly tricky without the youtube tutorials, but with them its pretty simple. I'd keep the extra money you'd pay to get it 'fully loaded' and use that on a better box.
An M8 Box "fully loaded" is only £32 on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Android-Latest- ... oid+tv+box

Having read a brief discussion on Digital Spy, the one getting the most praise was the Minix Neo Z64, but that is about £92 http://www.amazon.co.uk/MINIX-Android-S ... op?ie=UTF8

I can't find a non fully-loaded M8 box so can't see how much extra I would be paying for that.

What advantages are there in a £90 box over a £30 one?? I don't want or need to go cheap and nasty but am reluctant to pay 3 times as much for something that isn't much better (to be honest, I haven't got much of a clue what I am looking at or what the differences are....). Is there a mid-price box that gets good reviews? Are they all 'fully loadable'???

Help.....

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 Nov 2015, 16:45
by blahblah
Will the cheap Amazon box be useful on a Saturday afternoon?

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 Nov 2015, 17:00
by murf
blahblah wrote:Will the cheap Amazon box be useful on a Saturday afternoon?
Apparently, yes (the "fully loaded" bit means it includes apps(?) for that sort of semi-legal stuff)....

PS Still haven't ordered one so any advice from anybody greatly received!

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 Nov 2015, 17:11
by blahblah
My (limited) understanding is that it needs "Apps" as it runs on Android ie a mobile phone\computer interface. So it isn't clear if it is web-based ie it will play random sites on Monday evening, Sunday late afternoon etc as the boxes can be locked down....

It would be handy if someone had one, and could provide some enlightenment.

Plan B (shite band) is to connect old laptop to tv :(

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 11 Feb 2016, 21:20
by el_cee
They are ok but nothing you can't achieve with a laptop and I find a laptop easier to use.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 11 Feb 2016, 21:23
by el_cee
FYI - If you do go for an Android box this Facebook group gives useful info for setting it up without having to pay someone to pre-install everything https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBBUILDKODI/?fref=nf

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 May 2016, 13:44
by foxinthebox2001
Discovered a new android app.
On browser Google for Cinema Box, and clink the links to download app.
Some great brand new series from terrestrial and satellite channels, also has a lot of new movies.
Just watched ep 2 of GoT 6, excellent quality.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 May 2016, 17:06
by Surprised
foxinthebox2001 wrote:Discovered a new android app.
On browser Google for Cinema Box, and clink the links to download app.
Some great brand new series from terrestrial and satellite channels, also has a lot of new movies.
Just watched ep 2 of GoT 6, excellent quality.
Brilliant app!
Just downloaded and watching GoT6 episode 1.
Do you know if programmes can be downloaded and watched offline?

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 May 2016, 17:45
by foxinthebox2001
Surprised wrote:
foxinthebox2001 wrote:Discovered a new android app.
On browser Google for Cinema Box, and clink the links to download app.
Some great brand new series from terrestrial and satellite channels, also has a lot of new movies.
Just watched ep 2 of GoT 6, excellent quality.
Brilliant app!
Just downloaded and watching GoT6 episode 1.
Do you know if programmes can be downloaded and watched offline?
On a tablet, touch the screen anywhere when the film/episode begins playing.
There are 3 drop down icons at the top right corner, touch the down arrow and you have the option of downloading.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 May 2016, 17:55
by foxinthebox2001
On the front menu there are 2 icons top right, the file icon goes to categories, the other one is search.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 02 May 2016, 18:03
by Surprised
Search isn't very good. I searched for GoT and got loads of different stuff.
Another good app is filmontv although it's only good for showing UK tv for free such as BBC, ITV, C4, Dave.
The other tv channels and movies aren't up to much

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 03 May 2016, 00:16
by Surprised
Stopped working now

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 03 May 2016, 08:40
by Moist von Lipwig
Surprised wrote:Stopped working now

yes, I've been using filmontv for a while now as it was just easier than switching between iplayer/itvplayer/4OD etc and its switched to being paid for over the weekend. Uninstalled.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 03 May 2016, 09:04
by foxinthebox2001
Surprised wrote:Search isn't very good. I searched for GoT and got loads of different stuff.
Another good app is filmontv although it's only good for showing UK tv for free such as BBC, ITV, C4, Dave.
The other tv channels and movies aren't up to much
When you search try typing the most obscure word of the title, game of thrones brings up every title with game, of, or thrones in it.
But just type thrones, and you get straight to it.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 03 May 2016, 12:40
by Surprised
Moist von Lipwig wrote:
Surprised wrote:Stopped working now

yes, I've been using filmontv for a while now as it was just easier than switching between iplayer/itvplayer/4OD etc and its switched to being paid for over the weekend. Uninstalled.
SD is still free but HD has been a pay thing a while now. If I have to pay for SD then the app is gone.

Re: Android TV box

Posted: 03 May 2016, 12:44
by Moist von Lipwig
Surprised wrote:
Moist von Lipwig wrote:
Surprised wrote:Stopped working now

yes, I've been using filmontv for a while now as it was just easier than switching between iplayer/itvplayer/4OD etc and its switched to being paid for over the weekend. Uninstalled.
SD is still free but HD has been a pay thing a while now. If I have to pay for SD then the app is gone.

ah, maybe I've had it on HD there without realising it, I'll go back and check.