Starstream - AWESOME feedback!!!!
1) Better build quality of box,
- include HDMI and optical audio output with the proper licensing for bitstreaming Dolby/DTS (already done by many boxes) HD audio bitstreaming would also be nice but could bump the cost.
--> How much does licensing cost?
- over the air updates to the box, no manual firmware installs.
--> I think G-Box is doing this now? If firmware updates are automatic, would this cause problems for XBMC, add-ons and other issues?
- support for running XBMC full screen in the ROM.
--> isn't this default?
2) Not a lot of choice here, Amlogic is most stable of Android platforms for XBMC which a lot of boxes use so your not really any different, the Amlogic M6/MX is to be replaced by the M8 later this year but all those units are likely to jump on that too. Perhaps an Nvidia Tegra 4 might be a viable option considering the work done on the Ouya (Tegra 3), the Tegra 4 is much faster than the Amlogic M6 (maybe M8 too) but might cost a lot more.
There are two [well one] Tegra 4 boxes out there, the Mad Catz Mojo which is terrible (just stock Android) and another one called the Nuvola NP-1 which costs $300 because it does 4K output which is ridiculous and is almost vaporware as it's been coming soon for a few months now. Another T4 box was at CES an Ouya like console but it is China only.
Anyway the main draw of the Tegra 4 is it's processing power so it can run XBMC faster then the other boxes.
--> which is the best choice if I want to keep my retail price at under $130?
4) I personally don't, factory restore option would be useful puts everything back to the way it ships out of the box.
The main point is that this is really just for XBMC and the Android bit is a side show, I think a Tegra 4 box provided you can keep it under say $160 might be interesting to some.
--> The restore feature could have 2 options: 1) put everything back to the way it was when shipped out of the box, and 2) puts everything back to a certain date eg. before a firmware / XBMC / add-on update. Do you think this will be useful?
Tegra 4 sounds promising, but $160 seems high considering the competition.