Android TV stick - convert tv into smart tv - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Dmitri · 2012-06-20, 08:19 PM

I was researching which to buy between Apple TV, Roku, WDTV, and Boxee and I came across this:

http://www.pandawill.com/cx01-mini-a...gb-p63620.html

It runs android and it turns any tv with an hdmi port into a smart tv. I was wondering whether anyone had tried anything like this before, and what your experiences are.

It's not quite clear to me whether this thing does what I need it to do. Basically all I need is the ability to watch netflix, youtube, streams from websites like cbc sports, etc and it'd be nice if I could also stream movies from my computer's harddisk to the tv wirelessly. Currently I could do all this by hooking up my laptop to my tv, but that is too much hassle, a small stick that plugs into the back of the tv would be much nicer.

My question is not specific to the usb device that I linked to above, that was just an example, it seems there are a large number of these types of gadgets coming on the market but they're mostly similar.

cafebrad · 2012-06-21, 08:37 AM

that is very similar to what i just ordered. It actually looks a little more compact than mine. I think mine supports more video options but they're close.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...s_just_74.html

sailmaker · 2012-06-21, 09:37 AM

@cafebrad: Your link does not work. ?????

Dmitri · 2012-06-21, 08:49 PM

Please update us with how well it works once you receive it.

And what do you mean by supports more video options, if they both run android then they should support the same video options, no?

Tikker · 2012-06-21, 11:21 PM

Android does not supportall codec out of the box. Just like windows does not

cafebrad · 2012-06-22, 12:06 AM

I just noticed on the spec list for both devices that mine had a few more filetypes listed. dont know how accurate any of that is. It will take a few weeks to ship from china so now i play the waiting game.

sssscary · 2012-06-22, 10:03 AM

How do you control these things? wireless usb mouse ?

cafebrad · 2012-06-22, 11:55 AM

Yup .....

sbermunk · 2012-06-22, 05:47 PM

I'd be cautious about being an early-adopter of these things. The current crop of chinese ARM chips in them just don't seem to be fast enough. I tried one of the 'Pivos Xios DS' boxes, which has a similar kind of chip in it, and it was close to usable (running Android 4.0/ICS, not the default 2.3), but it couldn't smoothly play back a lot of 1080p/24 video clips.
The next generation of low-end ARM chips should be a heck of a lot faster (some dual-core, even) and should be out in the next few months, so I am going to try again when that generation becomes available in retail boxes(/sticks). Otherwise, Android seems like a pretty nice idea for smart-tv sort of device.

Dmitri · 2012-06-22, 07:37 PM

Yeah that's what I was afraid of, the whole reason I want to buy one is for video playback so if it can't play 1080p smoothly then I'd rather wait.

I've noticed that the majority of these devices don't come with a remote, they expect you to hook up a wireless mouse to it, which to me seems very inconvenient. I mean when you're sitting on your couch watching tv you don't have a hard surface to work a mouse, a remote would be far better in my opinion.

habskilla · 2012-06-22, 08:35 PM

@Dmitri

http://riiminikeyboards.com/

Not much bigger than a Harmony One remote.

ScaryBob · 2012-06-22, 10:50 PM

A good quality laser (not IR) mouse is surprising good on surfaces like cloth chair arms. The Logitech M515 Wireless Cordless Couch Mouse works very well. IR mice are hit and miss, mostly miss.

I've tried the Rii keyboards and they work but not well enough to use all the time. I find a remote or couch mouse to be about equal for dedicated HTPC applications. For desktop applications, a mouse is superior. I find the Rii keyboard and a software screen keyboard with mouse to be about equal. YMMV

cafebrad · 2012-06-23, 01:11 AM

I was nervous about jumping in too early too. 75$ isnt just pocket change but its cheap enough to dive in and not break the bank. I suppose if another better one co.mes out for similar money i would wanna give it a go

Veee · 2012-06-23, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitri

Yeah that's what I was afraid of, the whole reason I want to buy one is for video playback so if it can't play 1080p smoothly then I'd rather wait.

I've noticed that the majority of these devices don't come with a remote, they expect you to hook up a wireless mouse to it, which to me seems very inconvenient. I mean when you're sitting on your couch watching tv you don't have a hard surface to work a mouse, a remote would be far better in my opinion.

I have one of these for my HTPC. No surface needed. It works great.

http://www.gyration.com/index.php/gb/home.html

cafebrad · 2012-07-07, 03:41 AM

so i got my mk802 the other day and thought i would add a few comments. Man is it small and light, almost annoyingly so. The cables connected to it are heavy enough to move it around. It can be powered by usb but then you cant hook up the external which i wanted to do so i am using the dc power.
first impressions are that its really cool and pretty fun, but a little awkward compared to an actual touchscreen. Lots of options such as google play store and full web browsing. Its has a few odd quirks such as options for a phone or tablet that are unusable on the stick. eg: shake to do something or auto rotate screen. a few more too. most vids play great, we watched a few things on netflix and some things had the audio and video out of sync. its really annoying so any help there would be appreciated.
any q's are welcome so fire away.

2012-06-20, 08:19 PM	#1
Dmitri Rookie Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Markham Posts: 14	Android TV stick - convert tv into smart tv I was researching which to buy between Apple TV, Roku, WDTV, and Boxee and I came across this: http://www.pandawill.com/cx01-mini-a...gb-p63620.html It runs android and it turns any tv with an hdmi port into a smart tv. I was wondering whether anyone had tried anything like this before, and what your experiences are. It's not quite clear to me whether this thing does what I need it to do. Basically all I need is the ability to watch netflix, youtube, streams from websites like cbc sports, etc and it'd be nice if I could also stream movies from my computer's harddisk to the tv wirelessly. Currently I could do all this by hooking up my laptop to my tv, but that is too much hassle, a small stick that plugs into the back of the tv would be much nicer. My question is not specific to the usb device that I linked to above, that was just an example, it seems there are a large number of these types of gadgets coming on the market but they're mostly similar.

2012-06-21, 08:37 AM	#2
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 100	that is very similar to what i just ordered. It actually looks a little more compact than mine. I think mine supports more video options but they're close. http://www.pcworld.com/businesscente...s_just_74.html Last edited by Dr.Dave; 2012-06-21 at 09:47 AM. Reason: Fixed Link

2012-06-22, 10:03 AM	#7
sssscary Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brockville, ON Posts: 65	How do you control these things? wireless usb mouse ? __________________ CM4228HD, CM 7777, Antennacraft TDP2 rotor

2012-06-22, 10:50 PM	#12
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	A good quality laser (not IR) mouse is surprising good on surfaces like cloth chair arms. The Logitech M515 Wireless Cordless Couch Mouse works very well. IR mice are hit and miss, mostly miss. I've tried the Rii keyboards and they work but not well enough to use all the time. I find a remote or couch mouse to be about equal for dedicated HTPC applications. For desktop applications, a mouse is superior. I find the Rii keyboard and a software screen keyboard with mouse to be about equal. YMMV __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

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2012-06-21, 09:37 AM	#3
sailmaker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 547	@cafebrad: Your link does not work. ?????

2012-06-21, 08:49 PM	#4
Dmitri Rookie Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Markham Posts: 14	Please update us with how well it works once you receive it. And what do you mean by supports more video options, if they both run android then they should support the same video options, no?

2012-06-21, 11:21 PM	#5
Tikker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SaskTel Posts: 906	Android does not supportall codec out of the box. Just like windows does not

2012-06-22, 12:06 AM	#6
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 100	I just noticed on the spec list for both devices that mine had a few more filetypes listed. dont know how accurate any of that is. It will take a few weeks to ship from china so now i play the waiting game.

2012-06-22, 11:55 AM	#8
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 100	Yup .....

2012-06-22, 05:47 PM	#9
sbermunk Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 87	I'd be cautious about being an early-adopter of these things. The current crop of chinese ARM chips in them just don't seem to be fast enough. I tried one of the 'Pivos Xios DS' boxes, which has a similar kind of chip in it, and it was close to usable (running Android 4.0/ICS, not the default 2.3), but it couldn't smoothly play back a lot of 1080p/24 video clips. The next generation of low-end ARM chips should be a heck of a lot faster (some dual-core, even) and should be out in the next few months, so I am going to try again when that generation becomes available in retail boxes(/sticks). Otherwise, Android seems like a pretty nice idea for smart-tv sort of device.

2012-06-22, 07:37 PM	#10
Dmitri Rookie Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Markham Posts: 14	Yeah that's what I was afraid of, the whole reason I want to buy one is for video playback so if it can't play 1080p smoothly then I'd rather wait. I've noticed that the majority of these devices don't come with a remote, they expect you to hook up a wireless mouse to it, which to me seems very inconvenient. I mean when you're sitting on your couch watching tv you don't have a hard surface to work a mouse, a remote would be far better in my opinion.

2012-06-22, 08:35 PM	#11
habskilla Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Moncton, NB Posts: 868	@Dmitri http://riiminikeyboards.com/ Not much bigger than a Harmony One remote.

2012-06-23, 01:11 AM	#13
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 100	I was nervous about jumping in too early too. 75$ isnt just pocket change but its cheap enough to dive in and not break the bank. I suppose if another better one co.mes out for similar money i would wanna give it a go

2012-07-07, 03:41 AM	#15
cafebrad Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: fraser valley Posts: 100	so i got my mk802 the other day and thought i would add a few comments. Man is it small and light, almost annoyingly so. The cables connected to it are heavy enough to move it around. It can be powered by usb but then you cant hook up the external which i wanted to do so i am using the dc power. first impressions are that its really cool and pretty fun, but a little awkward compared to an actual touchscreen. Lots of options such as google play store and full web browsing. Its has a few odd quirks such as options for a phone or tablet that are unusable on the stick. eg: shake to do something or auto rotate screen. a few more too. most vids play great, we watched a few things on netflix and some things had the audio and video out of sync. its really annoying so any help there would be appreciated. any q's are welcome so fire away.