Android Mini PC (HDMI Dongles)

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timmie23

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Has anyone here used any of these Android mini PCs?
It is a dongle that connects to your TV via HDMI, and then has Android on it.
I see the new ones are Dual Core 1.6GHz with 1GB RAM, Wifi, Bluetooth, USB, etc.

I really want to buy one for my bedroom.
Currently Netflix and XBMC on my iPad, but want to replace it with a 32" or 40" mounted to the wall.
Was thinking about going RasberryPi, but if the TV is mounted to the wall, where would you put it?
That's what makes this mini pc dongle so attractive to me. Cause it will be able to plug into the side of the TV, and not be an eyesore.

Here's the one I want to get, as well as the keyboard/mouse combo.

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/MK80...AM-8GB-ROM-Mini-PC-TV-Box---Black-313213.html

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/RC11...roscope-for-Android-Google-TV-Box-306420.html

Any feedback or experiences will be appreciated.

From the dozen or so videos and reviews I've watched and read, it all looks good and very fast.

I just want to be able to install Netflix and XBMC. So it should be more than enough. Just want to hear some previous experiences if someone here has had any with these devices.
 
Dude - I came across these earlier and was doing some light reading on xda.

Forgot to get a thread going to ask for user experience.

Also keen on this.
 
Well for R440 for the device and roughly R200 for remote. What you got to lose.
 
Nice, thanks for the heads up. Looks like they ship a bit faster.
I'm really going to get one, only see good reviews for these online.
Will give feedback when I get it. See it takes about 2 weeks to get here, but in my opinion, worth the wait.
 
the price is $39 incl free shipping just incase that link goes bye bye

edit: i see new members also get an extra $5 off so not bad at all...
 
That's the old version. Get an MK808 or MK808b. That's the newer revision.
Big difference between the two.
The one you linked is Single Core A8 CPU. The one I linked is Dual Core A9 CPU. Also the one you linked has 4GB Flash Memory, compared to 8GB on the one I linked. Also, Bluetooth 3.0 in the one I linked. Spend the extra $7 - $8 and get a much better one.
Hope you haven't bought one yet. The site I linked and that samr1wp linked are offering free shipping as well.
 
What about FLAC playback? Seems a little strange that an Android device doesn't handle FLAC format
 
timmie23 said:
That's the old version. Get an MK808 or MK808b. That's the newer revision.
Big difference between the two.
The one you linked is Single Core A8 CPU. The one I linked is Dual Core A9 CPU. Also the one you linked has 4GB Flash Memory, compared to 8GB on the one I linked. Also, Bluetooth 3.0 in the one I linked. Spend the extra $7 - $8 and get a much better one.
Hope you haven't bought one yet. The site I linked and that samr1wp linked are offering free shipping as well.
Click to expand...

nah haven't bought it as yet, thanks for all the info. that really is a big difference.
will check it out now
 
flarkit said:
What about FLAC playback? Seems a little strange that an Android device doesn't handle FLAC format
Click to expand...

I think that's just with the standard stuff that they put on there. Remember, it is full android, so whatever you'd be able to do on your phone or tablet, you'll be able to do on this. Install XBMC, Netflix, Games, etc. So just think they copy pasted something and didn't really give to much attention to codecs, etc. I mean it has Google Play on it, and you can install whatever you please, so FLAC shouldn't be an issue.
 
sm68 said:
I got this one last week and am very impressed with it. It's fast, boots up quickly and steams my shows wirelessly over my network without issue.

Plugs into the HDMI of the TV and gets power from the TV's USB.

http://www.cloudsto.com/new-mk802iiis.html
Click to expand...

Cool. So you like it even though it is the previous model. You should've gotten the MK808 though. They say it is a lot faster and smoother and has better WiFi, but too late now I guess... But just as long as it works, that's all that matters.
 
Does anyone know if you could turn this type of thing into a wifi hotspot using a 3g dongle?
 
Thanks. I'd have thought that it would be powered at the tv through USB, and use a hub to connect 3g modem and keyboard mice, etc .. and then use a wifi hotspot app from google play.
 
Hi Guys

We tested the mini pc with xbmc and plex and it handled every file format that we tried without any issue.
If anyone in Durban would like a demo please pm me or Gadgets2Go and we will arrange one.

We previously sold the MK802 version but we have moved away from the "MK" brand because of the lack of support from the company and quality issues.

The current ATV's we sell are unique and they come with their own IR remote as standard

Hope this helps
 
Nimz said:
Hi Guys

We tested the mini pc with xbmc and plex and it handled every file format that we tried without any issue.
If anyone in Durban would like a demo please pm me or Gadgets2Go and we will arrange one.

We previously sold the MK802 version but we have moved away from the "MK" brand because of the lack of support from the company and quality issues.

The current ATV's we sell are unique and they come with their own IR remote as standard

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Nice! How's the functionality for non-technical people?
Could you give this to a luddite and have them access Youtube / Netflix without too much hassle?
Also, I assume you could plug in an external Hard drive?
In other words - is it a viable alternative to say, Apple TV for the technically (very) inept?

One more question - I assume one could plug one of these into the HDMI input of their AV Receiver rather than straight into the TV?
Anybody tried that?
 
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