Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - Printable Version +- Kodi Community Forum (https://forum.kodi.tv) +-- Forum: Discussions (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=222) +--- Forum: Hardware (https://forum.kodi.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=112) +--- Thread: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) (/showthread.php?tid=94268) |
RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - serieofilo - 2015-10-19 Thanks again for the help ... Yes, I was confused because I didn't understand why because the license the Pi could decode HD audio to Multichannel PCM... No licenses when purchasing = no fees the vendor need to pay ... But if the Pi or WeTek has the right hardware then, by software (the open source projects you talked about) they can decode to Multichannel PCM ;-) Great news! RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - antman68 - 2015-10-20 I don't see a scenario in the first post that exactly addresses my needs. If the answer is somewhere else, it's buried in nearly 90 pages of posts. I'm looking for something to feed a 36" TV in the bedroom viewed from about 4-5m (13-17') away:
It seems to me that a relatively modest Android box or stick would do the trick (albeit one with dual-band wifi, so maybe not so modest). Is there any point in going with windows or a Chromebox? Is there anything specific that meets these specs? To allow for easy switching between Kodi, browser and other apps using the remote, would it be best to run Kodi in the main OS or dual boot OpenELEC from a USB or microSD? RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - j-m-s - 2015-10-20 I would recommend an android box with Amlogic S812 chipset. Something like a Tronfy MX IV Telos box or beelink S82 plus or GTQ S812. 3 y.o. android boxes are too slow. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - wrxtasy - 2015-10-20 1) Recorded TV playback with good quality deinterlacing: - Chromebox ------>>>>>> Get this if you want to playback all codecs without hassle, apart from 4K/1080p HEVC. - RPi2 - An AMLogic S8xx box 2) Remote control Android Apps, (you may need to use an Air Mouse) - An AMLogic S8xx box 3) Do you want sorted out Firmware that will give you 1080p HD Netflix and HD on other video streaming Apps with minimal hassle on an AMLogic box ? Yes > WeTek Core (out 1st Nov - only AMLogic box available with 1080p HD copy protected video streaming apps.) No > MINIX Neo X8-H Plus or some other S812-H box. (720p Max. copy protected streaming Apps) The WeTek and MINIX AMLogic boxes mention above happen to come from Kodi Diamond Sponsors. The companies behind them actually care about stable, regularly updated Firmware. Yes you can get cheaper AMLogic S812-H devices but you will also get less than satisfactory Firmware with a bunch of desirable Kodi features missing. (23.976 / Dynamic Refresh Switching + more) EDIT: Note all AMLogic boxes will have Kodi playback problems with mpeg2 content in .vob files. (ie DVD ISO's). All Ok if these mpeg2 DVD's are ripped to any other containers like .mpg etc 29.97fps VC-1 Interlaced Rips will also have playback problems. I have not tried Android Apps like MX player with these types of problem files yet. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - antman68 - 2015-10-21 Thanks j-m-s and wrxtasy. Wrx, like you, I'm based in Perth. That's why I want to keep away from the US-centric proprietary boxes. What's wrong with Rockchip boxes, particularly RK3288 ones? How are they at playing mpeg2 content in .vob files? Are there any sticks worth considering? I don't think that we would be bothered if we were limited to streaming at 720p from internet sources. That's DVD quality, which is fine for a bedroom TV. I honestly don't think we'll stream much that isn't already stored on our network. We don't currently have a Netflix or other paid subscription but that's not to say that we won't at some point in time. Still, unless being limited to 720p would mean that we would not have access to certain content (i.e. it is only available at 1080p or higher), I don't see a problem with the limitation. I anticipate that 80% or more of the box's use would be streaming from our network and most of that would be recorded TV from the WIn 7 box in .wtv format or a networked Panasonic Blu-Ray/PVR in whatever format it uses, about 10% would be streaming from online sources (predominantly YouTube unless we subscribe to Netflix or some other subscription service, in which case this might increase to 15-20% with a corresponding decrease in network streaming) and the remaining 10% browsing and my wife playing Solitaire. I would prefer to view all network-stored videos in Kodi and avoid other apps, like MX Player or VMC, for the convenience and, most importantly, WAF (and KAF). If 720p is fine for streaming from online sources, do we need an s812-H box or can we get away with something lower powered like an S802, S805 or even an MX dual-core box? Keeping in mind that this is not for home theatre use but for the bedroom on a smallish screen from a fair distance where picture quality is not as important as ease of use and stability. I guess that the biggest issue will be to find something with 5GHz wifi built-in. Again, for this mix of uses, is it okay to just run everything, including Kodi, under Android or should I consider dual booting with OpenELEC for Kodi? Where can I find a list of Kodi sponsors as I see the benefit in buying a product from a business that actively supports it. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - wrxtasy - 2015-10-21 KODI Sponsors
RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - antman68 - 2015-10-21 Thanks wrx. My thoughts on your suggestions:
So, what's the best value for money, US$120 max., dual-band wifi, Android box (or stick - I'm interested in sticks because they are easily hidden away) with acceptable, but not necessarily cutting edge, graphics and, preferably, made by a Kodi sponsor or at least with good, stable, supported firmware (KK or Lollipop)? RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - wrxtasy - 2015-10-21 Ha Ha, let me guess your a touch typist, judging by that stream of text....... We have come full circle now, if you want stable sorted out Firmware in a Plug and Play Android package with excellent support. Its the Kodi sponsor's devices to go for, these are both AMLogic S812-H devices:
I'm beta testing the WeTek Core at the moment and for my requirements (very similar to yours) its brilliant. Live TV Streams from a backend server, Android Lollipop, Apps, Kodi 15.2, Web Browsing, HD Netflix, RF Air Mouse Remote Control and a whole bunch more all in the one device. Add a BT Keyboard and your good to go. Released 1st Nov at a rumoured price of EUD 109 (USD $125), inc. TNT Air Freight to the door. See my Signature below for a review. If you think I'm banging on about Kodi forum sponsors here a bit, well your right. The reason being is that they actually know how to produce a Android Kodi compatible device with decent stable Firmware. You should see the carnage over on the Kodi - Android sub-forum with users buying cheap devices with frankly crap firmware, no support, and it all ends up in tears. Plus the MINIX and WeTek devs have actually contributed (a lot) behind the scenes with code that benefits the wider Kodi community, and for that they deserve all the praise i can give them. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - antman68 - 2015-10-21 (2015-10-21, 09:32)wrxtasy Wrote: Ha Ha, let me guess your a touch typist, judging be that stream of text....... No, just typed it during my lunch break. I tried to insert a blank line between each dot point so that it would be less of a wall of text but it wouldn't work for me. (2015-10-21, 09:32)wrxtasy Wrote: Other AMLogic SoC's running Android will be too slow Too slow in what respect? (2015-10-21, 09:32)wrxtasy Wrote: If you think I'm banging on about Kodi forum sponsors here a bit, well your right. The reason being is that they actually know how to produce a Android Kodi compatible device with decent stable Firmware. You should see the carnage over on the Kodi - Android sub-forum with users buying cheap devices with no support and it all ends up in tears. I have no issue with this. I want to avoid the pitfalls of unsupported devices. The Wetek Core looks very interesting at that price although the lack of a stop button on the remote is a bit of a concern. Not an issue if I buy a Bluetooth all-in-one air mouse/remote/keyboard. I hope this is a more acceptable amount of text. Less than 120 words (my bits, that is). RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - wrxtasy - 2015-10-21 Too slow in the respect of snappiness of the Android interface, App switching, Web browsing will be painful. It just won't be a pleasant Android experience. In regard to the WeTek Core remote control, I too was of the opinion that a stop button was needed. But its not that much of a PIA and only a few extra button clicks to stop. Also you can use this Kodi Addon: http://kodi.wiki/view/Add-on:Keymap_Editor To reprogram buttons easily. I'm going to repurpose the back Button in a Stop during video playback only. EDIT: Just used the Addon, very easily done to reprogram the Back into Stop and works well RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - j-m-s - 2015-10-21 antman68, you are right in that you do not need 4K video. but since you get boxes like this: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/TRONFY-MXIV-MX4-Telos-Amlogic-S812-Android-5-1-Quad-core-2-16GB-H-265-4K/32406549785.html for $80, why buy a box with an old chipset just to save 10 bucks? these new boxes with S812 chipset have a very good and clear picture, have a very fast GUI and most also support dolby sound. and you will still be happy with them in 2 years. if you connect a webcam they also work good with skype, facebook or line. and you can even print. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - j-m-s - 2015-10-21 I wonder why WETEK want to sell the Core box as it is the same hardware like a lot of chinese companies are selling. The "Play" with DVB tuner was somewhat unique, but without tuner? Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - tredman - 2015-10-21 (2015-10-21, 19:07)j-m-s Wrote: I wonder why WETEK want to sell the Core box as it is the same hardware like a lot of chinese companies are selling. Because it is google certified and has Netflix in HD - decent Kodi performance, with good deinterlacing and Netflix in HD is something I have been after for a LONG time! RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - wrxtasy - 2015-10-21 1. Stable Firmware that actually works properly with Kodi. 2. Regular Updates to squash any bugs Guaranteed. 3. From a Known Kodi Sponsor, so you know what you are actually getting is quality. 4. 24p HD Netflix 5. OpenELEC, that just works properly as well. 6. Support Support Support Basically you get what you pay for with Android Kodi devices, spin the roulette wheel and save a few $$$ You might get lucky, but mostly you won't with these Chinese Android devices with no support. They use a pump and dump marketing, worse still users even end up being Alpha Testers of their Firmware. RE: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015) - ayteck - 2015-10-21 hi, i have a pivos xios with linux since 2 years.. But now i want to upgrade it because it is really slow.. i am navigating in the forum couple of days but i am really confused i look some threads and i say to myself: "yes i must to buy chromebox"... After than in another thread i say; "no no it must be Raspberry Pi 2" etc etc... as a result; i have nothing in my hand Please help me.. -my price limit is up to 200$ -very important for me is audio issue it must be awosemo support (Passthrough and decode) i have Sony AVR and i am use it with this. -and ofcourse speed 3D and 4k support is important but not deadly... Also IR Remote is important but not deadly... Which hardware is for me? chromebox? Intel NUC? HiMedia? RPi2 ? as you see i am really confused... so many options.. |