I was curious to see if anyone has or heard of a ROM optimized for use as a dedicated media center or HTPC for our "old" or broken screen phones? I have 2 GS2s that I'm not using and the specs on them are better than a lot of the smart tv boxes like boxee, roku, etc.
I was thinking of a wi-fi only ROM that would output to 1080p, have VNC, network storage on boot, netflix, hulu, XBMC, bluetooth keyboard, game emulators, video calls via the rear camera, maybe GTV apps, etc, etc.
I know you can piece together something that could work via apps and configs but I was looking for something that would optimize the hardware for such a purpose.
Maybe a new CM branch...that would be amazing! Someday...
Thoughts?
scottsark said:
I was curious to see if anyone has or heard of a ROM optimized for use as a dedicated media center or HTPC for our "old" or broken screen phones? I have 2 GS2s that I'm not using and the specs on them are better than a lot of the smart tv boxes like boxee, roku, etc.
I was thinking of a wi-fi only ROM that would output to 1080p, have VNC, network storage on boot, netflix, hulu, XBMC, bluetooth keyboard, game emulators, video calls via the rear camera, maybe GTV apps, etc, etc.
I know you can piece together something that could work via apps and configs but I was looking for something that would optimize the hardware for such a purpose.
Maybe a new CM branch...that would be amazing! Someday...
Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it would just be cheaper and easier to buy a xios or google media players for $60
then you could have things like and air remote, and have a system doing what it's meant to do.
svtfmook said:
it would just be cheaper and easier to buy a xios or google media players for $60
then you could have things like and air remote, and have a system doing what it's meant to do.
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Click to collapse
It's not cheaper than a GS2 with a cracked screen that you already own. It also appears that those boxes are basically lessor powered android smartphones without the screen and battery to keep cost down. I'm not looking to spend money, I'm looking to use what I already have.
Has any of these $100 androd STBs OS's been ported to any handhelds?
Has any of these $100 androd STBs OS's been ported to any handhelds?[/QUOTE]
It seems like anything you could do with a Raspberry Pi you could do better with the better hardware and the an abundance of sensors in "old" smartphones. Anyone have any ideas at all? Fileservers, wireless repeaters/mesh, RADIUS server, NAS, etc. Just looking for non phone build optimized for non phone call purposes.
I agree that it would be better you use one of these "usb android media centers" that are relative cheap(and i think that it cost less than your SII sell price). I`m really waiting for something like this for rPi!
Related
Hey guys...
The goal is to connect/mirror my tablet to a HDTV wirelessly without a HDMI cord anyone know/recommend a product that would allow this process efficiently? Thanks!
Canious said:
Hey guys...
The goal is to connect/mirror my tablet to a HDTV wirelessly without a HDMI cord anyone know/recommend a product that would allow this process efficiently? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been meaning to ask the same question... I can't find and WHDMI kits for micro HDMI ports, and even the full-sized ones are bulky I'm hoping there's a better alternative that using a full sized one with a converter...
Currently I can't think of any products that I'd recommend or advocate.
WHDI is the technology currently being backed by several manufacturers as being "the answer" to High Definition streaming, but currently the number of compatible devices is exceptionally low.
The only product that I can come up with that is even close to what you're after would be this:
www(dot)galaxywhdi(dot)com/Product4(dot)aspx
You'd need a micro-HDMI->HDMI dongle as well and I'm not 100% sure it's compatible with Android devices, I'm not capable of checking from my work desk.
Squiggle said:
Currently I can't think of any products that I'd recommend or advocate.
WHDI is the technology currently being backed by several manufacturers as being "the answer" to High Definition streaming, but currently the number of compatible devices is exceptionally low.
The only product that I can come up with that is even close to what you're after would be this:
www(dot)galaxywhdi(dot)com/Product4(dot)aspx
You'd need a micro-HDMI->HDMI dongle as well and I'm not 100% sure it's compatible with Android devices, I'm not capable of checking from my work desk.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice, but personally that device is way too hefty for me, and probably too expensive too.
I'm just about to move and am fine connecting my prime to the tv in the lounge using a cable, but that's not going to work in the bedroom. As I need to buy a TV anyway, would some sort of smart/wifi tv offer a (streaming/rdp) solution?
AppleTV is the only consumer product that I have heard of that provides this ability using Airplay Mirroring.
I recently read that there is a solution in beta that feigns Airplay onto Android devices, but I highly doubt it actually has mirroring, and can only be specific to iTunes supported media formats.
I only wish that Roku follows up on this idea and implements it into some of their models. Being able to directly compete w/ Apple at not just using streaming channels like Netflix but provide WiFi streaming from Android devices would be an instant hit.
Now when Google TV actually hits consumer hardware, you should be able to use something like iMedia Share to stream between two android devices. I stream my videos and music wirelessly to my PS3 using iMediaShare and it works pretty well, just doesn't have many options. All it really does is sets up a media server between the Prime and PS3. Luckily, the PS3 handles media servers very well.
Hey there,
Ive bought the Prime with 64gbs, and added a SD with another 64gb. So Ive got storage enough for a few time of HD videos to watch on the go. Also I take a mini HDMI and boy, that works great. The Prime doesnt struggle at all even playing 1080p through the HDMI port also sends the sound to the tv AWESOME. (I dont know if it sends the sound as 5.1 since the hotels i usually go they dont equip my room with 5.1 sound what a shame).
Now, im staring at my Prime wishing I could control it using my laptop or my SGS2. Is there any app that allows me to do that? just like the XBMC on the pc, that gives me access the library, and control the whole experience using the XBMC remote on the play market?
Just for the record - you do know you can connect an external hard drive to the Prime via the USB dongle or port on the dock?
Even better, it can be formatted FAT32, exFAT and (amazingly) NTFS. I would recommend a drive case with an external powersupply though - although I've been able to power almost anything I throw at the dock (not so much the Prime on its own).
As for controlling the Prime as a media player - I have to be honest here - you're kind of doing it the "wrong" way around.. usually, you'd get a cheap PC (like an Acer Revo) and add a TV tuner and use that as an HTPC, then use the Prime to control it - so you're kind of swimming upstream...
But, given the relative power of a Prime, I'd be surprised if XBMC doesn't come to it.. although I do have to point out - VLC has taken a LONG time to get to Android and they are working on it... so it may be a problem with the Android OS that's holding it back.
Update: Checked the home wiki for XBMC for Android - and there is just such a project - but it's not even in the starting phases yet. As I expected. the problem is that it requires a lot of work to get some of the code into Android.
There are quite few remote apps on the android market that will do what you want to do. With apps like MV Player, it will play anything you throw at it. It works great when you want to kick back and watch something from your tablet. HTPCs are kind of going the way of the dinosaur IMO with gaming consoles and things like Airplay, mini and regular HDMI ports, and Intel's WiDi technology continuing to improve on powerful mobile devices.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2
If someone could find a way to make this thing able to do the directv rvu mode, then I would buy one for every room in my house.
For those who dont know, rvu is the new way a single dtv dvr will communicate with up to 6 (i think) remote boxes to distribute live tv and recorded content. some of the new samsung smart tvs have this feature integrated already.
just throwin this out there
any one have any thoughts on this?
I forgot to mention, the main reason i am asking this here is since i thought the samsung smart tvs have some android functionality.
sounds cool
i thought it would be cool since none of my tvs have good speakers, so this could be a one piece solution for sound, satellite and streaming in rooms other than the main tv room. someone should tell google this.lol
I've looked at what's out there, although the sticks themselves look really small it appears that most of them need (obviously) external power as well as some kind of remote which I'm guessing would be bulky. Is there anything that can be controlled without a keyboard/mouse? Can it be controlled with another Android device?
Unlike most people, who seem to want to use the devices at home for Netflix/cordcutting purposes, I actually want one I could keep in my bag with some kind of storage (SD or USB) full of movies so I could watch them wherever I've got an HDMI screen.
Portability is important, but so is playback of local files. I care less about streaming. Ideally the device would support playing everything up to MKV direct blu-ray rips with subtitles (really critical that subtitles work). Are these android sticks fast enough to do that kind of thing off USB smoothly, with mxplayer or something?
I purchased Minix Neo G4. It plays everything including 1080p mkv via WiFi (150N).
bkam84 said:
I've looked at what's out there, although the sticks themselves look really small it appears that most of them need (obviously) external power as well as some kind of remote which I'm guessing would be bulky. Is there anything that can be controlled without a keyboard/mouse? Can it be controlled with another Android device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a reason I went with the MK802IIIS....I can use my smart phone to control..
Remember that (most of) these sticks won't do (as the software can't) dts/ac3 passthrough over HDMI.
So expect to be using only 2.0 stereo over hdmi.
airdale said:
This is a reason I went with the MK802IIIS....I can use my smart phone to control..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can u use your web browser from phone and see it on the TV ?
i am not meaning to the You Tube Aplication And Etc' i mean really web browse to ANY site from the phone and seeing it on the TV?
and if u can with the minix neo g5 u can do it to???
sagib0 said:
can u use your web browser from phone and see it on the TV ?
i am not meaning to the You Tube Aplication And Etc' i mean really web browse to ANY site from the phone and seeing it on the TV?
and if u can with the minix neo g5 u can do it to???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about having the android stick mirror what is on your phone? I don't think so. Some phones with HDMI out can plug into the HDMI port on the TV and mirror.
When people talk about controlling the android stick with their phone, it means they can use their phone as essentially a touchscreen. The stick should be able to browse to any website that you can browse to on your phone. Unless you've got some kind of restrictions on your router. In that case if your phone is rooted, tether off your phone.
neo g4 come with a remote, that makes it more portable to me
I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 that I purchased last year. There's been a lot of talk (last fracking year) about Miracast, WiDi, and how great it will be to mirror my device. Here we are in May 2013, and the tech is still garbage or non-exstent. I'd appreciate it if someone could help me. Here's the scenario:
My family (like many of yours) is completely perplexed by the function of a TV remote's "Input" button. Once they have to change the input on the TV, all hell breaks loose and I end up having to "fix" everything by pressing the input button to get the TV to the right input again. My family currently owns 2 iPhones, an iPad, and an iPod. I built a Windows 7 Media Center PC with a 5.1 speaker system that we use as our cable receiver, 3D Blu-ray player, media streamer, music player, and AppleTV receiver. Since everything is built into that one box, no one has to change an input, and all is harmonious. The main focus is the AppleTV receiver feature, which is accomplished using a program called AirServer. It's great because anyone can click on the Airplay button on their iDevice and a window automatically pops up on the PC, maximizes, and mirrors the iDevice. No changing inputs. Great, right?
I, however, have a Galaxy Note 2, and the one feature I desperately want is garbage on this device: mirroring. I don't want to stream something through DLNA (because only a limited amount of files/formats/apps support it). I don't want another box sucking up power and requiring me to switch inputs on both my TV and speaker system. All I want is to mirror my device to my PC in the same manner that Airserver lets me mirror an iDevice on my PC. So far, this seems bleak and far-fetched. There are no PC software options to mirror my Android device onto a PC. Besides, even if I were to buy a dongle, the Samsung Allshare Cast dongle is quite possibly the most infuriating piece of crap I've ever used. It stutters, pixelates, and puts my audio/video so far out of synch that it's useless. On top of it all, my Wifi (for internet, on the Note 2) disconnects when using Miracast/WiDi. I tried the Netgear PTV3000, which is also a stuttering, unreliable mess of a device. I'm also not going to root my device. It's 2013, and I shouldn't have to sacrifice receiving OTA updates because Google dropped the ball.
So here's the question: is there a way to mirror my Android device on a PC without rooting or buying another box/dongle? I'd like to keep my Android phone, but I'm switching back to Apple if September rolls around and I'm still going through this. I'm not a fan of the company, but Airplay mirroring just works. No downloading 20 video players and 6 codec packs. No out-of-synch issues with audio. No dropped WiFi. No family members complaining that they "broke" the tv because it's on the wrong input. I want all that on my Android phone.
Thanks
Then I would just go back to apple. As this feature will always be manufacturer spicific so you will have to do it the way that OEM requires and alot of android things will never play well with anything apple. Mainly not Samsung.
Wayne Tech Nexus
zelendel said:
Then I would just go back to apple. As this feature will always be manufacturer spicific so you will have to do it the way that OEM requires and alot of android things will never play well with anything apple. Mainly not Samsung.
Wayne Tech Nexus
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Click to collapse
Yup, it sure seems that way. Samsung stuff only seems to work with other Samsung products. My options are that crappy dongle they make or buy a $1500 TV just to mirror my phone. No thanks.
My biggest complaint about Apple now is the damn lightning connector. I get why they made the 30-pin dock connector when they did, but Micro USB has been around for a while and has the bandwidth to handle everything going in and out of that phone. Making another proprietary connector was just a huge slap in the face to consumers everywhere.