Xiaomi Mi Box / Mi Box S [Android TV OS]

Budza

Budza

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Soul Assassin said:
You're probably going to want to try and find the non S version if you're going to watch 2160P on Plex because the S version can't direct play HD audio but the normal one can.

You just set the GUI to 1080P, if you set it to 4K it's not as smooth but that doesn't affect the playback.

If you're thinking about that Android Central "review" you can ignore it, I'm pretty sure that person is a moron.
Click to expand...

AC was one of the few I've read.

Not the only one mentioning the device only just manages 4k.

I hadn't heard about the audio issue on the S- will check it out.

Interesting that GUI can be 2k and media 4k.
 
Soul Assassin

Soul Assassin

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@Budza I like this review, this person tested pretty in depth and actually sounds like they know what's up:

REVIEW: Xiaomi Mi Box S with Netflix 4K HDR support

They were able to playback 10 bit 4K x265 at 140Mbps which is beyond the 128Mbps Blu-Ray maximum bitrate.

The only thing I never see mentioned is it has issues with Netflix 5.1 aka Dolby Digital+, it's the only thing I've ever had an issue with, it works and plays but you get random audio dropout. You will watch for a couple of minutes and the audio will cut out for a split second, then it can be 30 minutes later or 3 minutes later it will happen again.

The guys that make CoreELEC for other no name Amlogic boxes with the same SoC have found the issue and fixed it but the Xiaomi devs will have to implement it.

Edit: Apparently there is also a Netflix addon for Kodi that fixes it but I can't confirm.
 
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Soul Assassin

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WaxLyrical

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crawler said:
Please let me know if you find alternative

What 'standard' android box is decent and worth it?
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Turbo download manager comes the closest, but downloads fail due to some "Java.net unkown host exception error"

Depends on your budget.
 
Soul Assassin

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I saw someone somewhere mention the Netflix addon for Kodi again today so I decided to check it out, I mean why not.

It's great, it's super easy to install, once you send over the zip file to your Mi Box, install the repo and then install the addon it will auto update going forward. It installs all the dependencies it needs automatically.

Since we have all the needed Widevine levels etc on the Mi Box it will do 4K HDR and up to Dolby Atmos but now the thing that I like, since it loads the stream and plays it with the Kodi video player that means you get automatic frame rate switching, I played something and it set my TV to 24Hz mode. Now the thing most people will want because their receivers don't support it and I want because of the bug in the Amlogic kernel that causes audio dropout, seeing as it uses Kodi you can go into the Kodi settings and enable Dolby Digital transcoding, that way it transcodes the Dolby Digital+ to Dolby Digital.

So now anyone that has a older receiver can have Netflix with 5.1 audio.

Edit: I have no idea if it works with Optical too but I do think it does, so even people that have 5.1 capable receivers that don't have HDMI can have Netflix with 5.1 audio.
 
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xbmcfan

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Soul Assassin said:
I saw someone somewhere mention the Netflix addon for Kodi again today so I decided to check it out, I mean why not.

It's great, it's super easy to install, once you send over the zip file to your Mi Box, install the repo and then install the addon it will auto update going forward. It installs all the dependencies it needs automatically.

Since we have all the needed Widevine levels etc on the Mi Box it will do 4K HDR and up to Dolby Atmos but now the thing that I like, since it loads the stream and plays it with the Kodi video player that means you get automatic frame rate switching, I played something and it set my TV to 24Hz mode. Now the thing most people will want because their receivers don't support it and I want because of the bug in the Amlogic kernel that causes audio dropout, seeing as it uses Kodi you can go into the Kodi settings and enable Dolby Digital transcoding, that way it transcodes the Dolby Digital+ to Dolby Digital.

So now anyone that has a older receiver can have Netflix with 5.1 audio.

Edit: I have no idea if it works with Optical too but I do think it does, so even people that have 5.1 capable receivers that don't have HDMI can have Netflix with 5.1 audio.
Click to expand...

Enjoy while it still works.

Widevine Verified Media Path coming to you soon in the near future.
https://www.widevine.com/news

It already rendered the Amazon Prime Video addon for Kodi useless and Netflix is to follow soon :(
It also means you won't be able to use any browser on Windows/Linux apart from Edge and Chrome to stream Widevine content in future as each app or browser needs to get certification from Google.
Kodi will never get a license as it's open-source and not closed source and can't pay Google millions in license fees each year.
 
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Soul Assassin

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xbmcfan said:
Enjoy while it still works.

Widevine Verified Media Path coming to you soon in the near future.
https://www.widevine.com/news

It already rendered the Amazon Prime Video addon for Kodi useless and Netflix is to follow soon :(
It also means you won't be able to use any browser on Windows/Linux apart from Edge and Chrome to stream Widevine content in future as each app or browser needs to get certification from Google.
Kodi will never get a license as it's open-source and not closed source and can't pay Google millions in license fees each year.
Click to expand...
The Amazon Prime addon on Android still works, 1080P and 5.1 audio.
 
RiazK

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The MiBox S is on sale on the Ebucks store via the FNB app. Up to 40% off depending on your level.
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Dimpie (COMPUTEK)

Dimpie (COMPUTEK)

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^ Yip, and they're also now out of stock and were only selling at dealer price to the public because they were trying to get rid of the old stock before the new stock of the 4(S) arrives .... which hopefully would be in the next 7-10 days :thumbsup:
 
Soul Assassin

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I can't remember now who it was that was having issues with Amazon Prime Video on the S, try version 4.11.4 of the app.
 
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techaddict786

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MraL said:
We do not support range extenders... they will mess with your wifi...
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Thinking mine is actually messing with my WiFi; whats the best way around this and could you guys recommend any other options? Router or alternative
 
hj2k_x

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Soul Assassin said:
I can't remember now who it was that was having issues with Amazon Prime Video on the S, try version 4.11.4 of the app.
Click to expand...
It was me! It's still not working. I saw there was a new version of the app so I tried that and it didn't help. 4.11.4 working for you?
 
StoneCold

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hj2k_x said:
I had a range extender. It was messing with my WiFi and the Mi Box was still not working.

Get one of there WiFi over powerline jobbies. Working 100% now. Plug and play in the truest sense.

http://takealot.com/og/v1/PLID46644704
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Jip, those work the best, have a pair myself.

Although, I'm saving them for just in case. Have my MiBox connected to an Ethernet adapter which is connected to an old router which I configured in WDS mode which talks with my primary router. Might sound like a cumbersome setup but does free my Ethernet over Power plugs for backup duties.

BTW, I want to check out Amazon Prime video. I take it that version 4.11.4 works the best (from that Reddit post above)? Anyone have an APK that they can share for me?
 
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nevadayz

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Hi guys,
Are there any places in Jhb that are selling the MI Box S? Looking at a few online stores, but a bit impatient and looking for a new toy today :D
 
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