Hello, I am planning to buy an Android TV box soon, but I want to wait for the Amlogic S912 to come out, I plan to use it for 4k and think more graphical power can't hurt. I figure it will come with Android tv 6.0. Now here is where it gets tricky, I have read that sideloading was removed in Android 6.0.
If this is true, I haven't seen a whole lot of coverage on that, it's big news to me.
I'm wondering, if there is another way of doing the equivalent of sideloading on Android 6.0 and what are the pitfalls I should avoid when purchasing one of these boxes? I really want to be able to install stock android tv, I don't want the prepackaged software that comes with these cheap china boxes (my price range).
Is there a rule to follow for ensuring maximum compatibility with most of the android tv apps out of the box. I don't know if there's some cpu features that aren't included with certain chips, and if that's why the app compatibility issue happens. That'd just be my guess, but I don't know why there are app compatibility issues. This issue more than anything would really help in solving my dilemma.
If you are experienced in this I would really appreciate the advice. Search terms to look up would be very helpful.
Edit: I just found the Questions and Answers forum. Can a mod please move this there? Sorry for posting in the wrong section.
Related
Ok, so I am a software developer and I have a new client who wants to do some stuff with Android which probably requires a root (such as basically locking a tablet down to run a single app).
They are picking out their hardware and are looking into which version of Android to use and also whether or not to use a knockoff Chinese tablet to save money.
From my research I don't believe there is a reliable root of 4.0 yet. I assume this is because there are no big name tablets running it...although, strangely, a lot of the off-brand tablets are.
My other research seems to suggest that most roots are device specific. Is that generally true? If so does that mean that we will have a tough time rooting these offbrand tablets?
They would like to use Honeycomb because of its inherent scalability which would allow them to, theoretically, use either a 7inch or 10 inch tablet. Is this a valid assumption?
Since the app would be really all that the user would see it seems to me that it may, in the end, be better to go with an earlier and therefore more hackable version of Android such as 2.3 even though it wasn't really made for tablets.
Just want to thank you all in advance for your expertise. I look forward to your answers and thoughts.
fp
Anyone have some thoughts to give?
Hey there, i hope i`m right in here and you pros can answer me some questions.
We are currently building a new software which will be released soon, i won`t go into details in here, because we not ready to release some infos about it yet. Anyway, thats not the problem....
Here is my question: Our Software could expand to TVs and now we are searching on how to get our solution onto TV Screens. We cam across all those Android based TV Boxes, we ordered some and tested them, unfortunatly they didn`t offer everything we needed.
Sooo, is it possible to release a custom Android Installation on such a Box?
What if we get the blank hardware boxes, can we get an Android Installation up and running? (With the paid help of some XDA-Developers..)
We would really need a stripped down Version only with our APP and some other stuff running.
Also another question, if it is possible to release a custom box, is it legal to Google`s Terms?
We are brand new in this field, so please be so kind and help us out. If it is possible and we can implement this thing we are definitly will be going over xda-developers, because we just don`t have any clue about Android Systems.
Are you meaning something like this?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244278/meet_cotton_candy_the_dualcore_android_usb_device.html
We all know that Android is flexible enough to be put on phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. FXI, a technology lab based in Norway, decided to add USB drives to Android’s host of platforms.
FXI’s Cotton Candy USB device might look like any other flash drive, but it packs smartphone parts like a dual-core 1.2GHz Samsung Exynos processor and its own ARM GPU for 1080p video playback. It also has lots of connectivity, including Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, and a MicroSD card slot to expand its 1GB of storage.
This Raspberry Pi-eqsue miniature PC comes with Android 2.3 (also known as Gingerbread). When you plug it into a PC or Mac, it automatically bring up a separate pop up for the Gingerbread OS. This functionality could be used to bring Android apps or games to any computer. Alternatively, if your HDTV has HDMI ports, you could potentially turn it into a smart, Internet-connected monitor.
Angry Birds might be a little hard to play on your TV. [Photo: FXI]
The only down side of the device is that it is not supported by Google, so you won’t be browsing the marketplace anytime soon. Instead, FXI is working to get a third-party app store together. For now, though, you'll have to side-load any apps you want to run on it.
FXI is in talks with other companies to bring Cotton Candy to market by the second half of 2012 and predict that the device will cost "well under $200" according to The Verge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MoPhoACTV Initiative
Yes, thats also this kind of thing we might need. But currently we are more looking into these kind of Boxes: cect-shop.com/Android-TV-Box_c55_x1.htm
And we would need a custom Android installation on one of these boxes? As asked above, is this possible and legal?
Why android?
i don't know the exact details about, but I think getting regular linux to run on a set op box is easier and cheaper to customize with exactly the software you want it.
It doesn`t have to be Android. Andorid was just a possible solution we found and the other reason is that i`m capable of programming apps for Android so it was the closest possibility.
You say Linux...hmm... also a possible solution.
Lets tell you at least some details. The Box should run only with our application, and should be able to be connected to a TV where the application is started then and does their thing. It`s a specialized kind of Software Application for targeted companys.
What it should be able to do:
At least an output resolution of 1280 * 720
Connectable with HDMI, DVI etc. to Televisions
As you say Linux, are you capable of doing such a thing? We might need you...
Or do you have some resources where we can find some developer who can achieve this?
surekin said:
It doesn`t have to be Android. Andorid was just a possible solution we found and the other reason is that i`m capable of programming apps for Android so it was the closest possibility.
You say Linux...hmm... also a possible solution.
Lets tell you at least some details. The Box should run only with our application, and should be able to be connected to a TV where the application is started then and does their thing. It`s a specialized kind of Software Application for targeted companys.
What it should be able to do:
At least an output resolution of 1280 * 720
Connectable with HDMI, DVI etc. to Televisions
As you say Linux, are you capable of doing such a thing? We might need you...
Or do you have some resources where we can find some developer who can achieve this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think any experienced linux dev is capable of doing such a thing, not that difficult. Get a good supported distro, remove all the bells and whistles and let it just boot to your application. I think that is the most elegant solution. Android is much more difficult to customize in such a way. I might have the technical skills to pull it off, but I'm not interested, sorry.
It all depends on your needs and resources. Try googling for embedded linux. linuxfordevices.com is a good place to start i think.
Why the choice for a setopbox and not a regular application? In call centers and other businesses normal programs are used to display information on a large screen, while running on a regular OS. The cost of having to develop and deliver support on not only the software, but also on the setopbox and its embedded OS is quite large. You have to take that into account. Given that you post this question on this forum, I suspect that your resources are rather limited. If I were you, I would reconsider the choice for a setop box.
First, thx for your time...and second, i understand what you mean in your post, but our software already runs on Mac OS, Windows and iOs, so we already have an application running. The settopbox would just be an addition, because some of our customers might need such a thing. Thats the reason why i`m doggling around searching for some ideas.
Our resources are limited sure, but not too limited, the reason why i posted here, is because i`m searching for answers here too, and xda is always a good place to ask in my opinion. We are going other ways too, let me make that clear!
So, i understand what you meant by Linux, i am now contacting some Linux devs who might want to achieve this.
Thx!
Hey XDA!
I've bought an Android Mini PC MK802 IIIS model so I could watch mostly Netflix on my TV, however I have several problems.
First of all, the subtitles from Netflix are just waay too small, i can't even read them from my couch. I've Googled and search on XDA but I couldnt find a solution. Isnt there any way to increase the subtitle size? Or just increase overall size, so you eventually can resize before/after you've watched Netflix..? If any developers are reading this, It'd also be very nice if someone could perhaps edit the apk and increase the size this way..? At least I'd be very thanksful for that.
Second of all, the MK802 is very unstable for me. It keeps crashing the apps, and restarting it self several times pr. hours. It interrupts when I watch movies, when I browse or whatever I'm doing. It gets pretty annoying and I was wondering if it is defect or MK802 mostly are very unstable..?
Anyone else at XDA who has this device and what are your experience with it?
Also, it would be very nice with its very own subforum, but I guess there are too few of us with them, that it is possible..?
Thank you very much! - Any help is appreciated!
EDIT: I'm sorry if this isnt the correct place to put this thread, but it was the most obvious place for me at least.
Rallerbabz said:
Hey XDA!
I've bought an Android Mini PC MK802 IIIS model so I could watch mostly Netflix on my TV, however I have several problems.
First of all, the subtitles from Netflix are just waay too small, i can't even read them from my couch. I've Googled and search on XDA but I couldnt find a solution. Isnt there any way to increase the subtitle size? Or just increase overall size, so you eventually can resize before/after you've watched Netflix..? If any developers are reading this, It'd also be very nice if someone could perhaps edit the apk and increase the size this way..? At least I'd be very thanksful for that.
Second of all, the MK802 is very unstable for me. It keeps crashing the apps, and restarting it self several times pr. hours. It interrupts when I watch movies, when I browse or whatever I'm doing. It gets pretty annoying and I was wondering if it is defect or MK802 mostly are very unstable..?
Anyone else at XDA who has this device and what are your experience with it?
Also, it would be very nice with its very own subforum, but I guess there are too few of us with them, that it is possible..?
Thank you very much! - Any help is appreciated!
EDIT: I'm sorry if this isnt the correct place to put this thread, but it was the most obvious place for me at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your netflix works? I have the same unit (I actually have both an mk802II and a mk802IIIs). Mine just sits at the "loading" screen after I make a selection. Another issue I've noticed is ampdroid doesn't seem to work on the mk802IIIs (but works fine on my mk802II).
Overall I'm not having many stability issues, love the mk802IIIs remote off my smartphone using gsensor
DF
hmmm ???
Ok im hoping to at least get some feedback - Im new to the Mini PC thing - and was actually thinking of picking up the rikomagic mk802IIIS or even a Zealz GK802 or mk808B. but im totally confused and wondering about capability. These things look pretty cool... id like to play around with one of these and try to use it as a media server (music, video, secure ftp) which of the following devices would be best suited to this? I know some are easier to root and get linux installed un them but if someone cold point me to a better place to inquire more about the capability of such devices that would be great. At the moment as far as a dual core that can support Ubuntu based distro it would appear that these 2 devices ( mk802 IIIS & MK808B) appear to be the best from a hardware perspective until the rockchip 3166 comes out or a version of linux is able to run on the GK802, but in case i over-looked some other option or what not which of these would be a good fit for a low-power media server?
steve_77 said:
Ok im hoping to at least get some feedback - Im new to the Mini PC thing - and was actually thinking of picking up the rikomagic mk802IIIS or even a Zealz GK802 or mk808B. but im totally confused and wondering about capability. These things look pretty cool... id like to play around with one of these and try to use it as a media server (music, video, secure ftp) which of the following devices would be best suited to this? I know some are easier to root and get linux installed un them but if someone cold point me to a better place to inquire more about the capability of such devices that would be great. At the moment as far as a dual core that can support Ubuntu based distro it would appear that these 2 devices ( mk802 IIIS & MK808B) appear to be the best from a hardware perspective until the rockchip 3166 comes out or a version of linux is able to run on the GK802, but in case i over-looked some other option or what not which of these would be a good fit for a low-power media server?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this site http://www.freaktab.com/
I'm looking to get an Android TV device and I am overwhelmed with options. I want something that is fully unlockable with an active development community. What originally got me interested was the Amazon Fire TV but after reading up it seems the new units are no longer rootable/unlockable. That lead me down the path to other devices. I think I've settled on the AMLogic based devices (if there are other suggestion I'm open). It looks like there are basically 3.
S905 - Older chip and stuck with Android 5 roms
S905x - Newer with 4k but performance is not as good at the S905. More dev/roms available
S912 - 8 core. Has DVB S2/T2 support (not sure what that does for me though) Does not seem to be a lot of dev for this. Only one thread I saw.
Based on these assumptions I'm leaning toward a X96 - S905x 2GB/16GB model for $42.99.
Also. Do the non Amazon devices support Amazon video? My current chromecast's do not and that is one reason for the upgrade.
I am in a similat boot here
Decided on the X96 because I found the page for the firmware updates before I found a link to buy the box LOL
Apart from the missing BT a great box considering the usual limitations.
Amazon video only works on Amazon devices AFAIK but I don't use it.
Same story for Android TV, great hype about it but I think it is just a crippled launcher with really limited content showing up - mainly Youtube and Google but nothing else.
The S912 seems to be the affordable alternative if you need BT and a bit more computing power for games but S905D boxes are slowly turning up.
Same for devices running on Android7 and offering up to 3GB/32GB.
But Android7 for TV boxes is in an early beta to say it nice with a lot of bugs and half cooked menu structures - better to wait a bit longer if you ask me.
And since the hardware for these boxes is literally identical within the families it comes down to personal preference and what can be modded or not.
Personally I am starting to think that despite the huge price tag the Shield is still the best option in terms of quality, hardware and support.
DVB is for terrestial and satellite TV.
Thanks. I did not realize there was no BT on the S905x boxes. My only concern there is I was planning to use a wireless BT keyboard with it.
Almost all wireless keyboards that come with a dongle will work, for example the Logitech and MS ones, same for the dirt cheap and tiny touchpad keyboards you get on Ebay.
BT is only a problem if you need it for game controllers, weather stations or to pair some speakers to it.
I see. I went ahead and ordered a X96 that included a mini keyboard last night. I figure for $47.98, including shipping, what the heck right? I'll have a cheap new toy to play with.
Once you played enough you will start playing even more when you try different custom roms
hi please help i flashed wrong twrp recovery i think now my amlogic smartbox failed to boot in recovery mode and the main problem is my smartbox Encryption Unsuccessful Factory reset, when i click factory reset nothing happend please guide how to solve this
Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk
Hey there, wondering if anyone has tried to hack/upgrade the Bomaker Polaris? It is running Android 6, if nothing else would be nice to upgrade it to Android 9, but also wondering if there are any general guides, or if there is a good way to check if the internals are generic enough I'll have luck hacking it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated
lost-ooze said:
Hey there, wondering if anyone has tried to hack/upgrade the Bomaker Polaris? It is running Android 6, if nothing else would be nice to upgrade it to Android 9, but also wondering if there are any general guides, or if there is a good way to check if the internals are generic enough I'll have luck hacking it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a Polaris too. The built in OS is one of the few cons. I'm currently using the Google TV chromecast which thanks to the CEC, controls work decent enough. What sucks is it only has 2 hdmis and I have to use one for the chromecast since the built in OS is unusable. I'd also ask for some keystone adjustment software to make that process way easier
Something I realized is the newer JMGO U2 looks like it has the exact same hardware as the Polaris! Same CPU, same sensors, same input panel, etc. That means both devices could possibly be combined into one thread on here and with increased user numbers, we may discover cool hacks/mods for both of them. I would even be interested in trying Luna OS (JMGO's OS) on my Polaris. Of course the ultimate goal would be full android TV, but that's probably not an easy port at the moment (Because both the Polaris and U2 are stuck on Android 6.0)