G-Box Midnight - success as client - Linux

[ccihon]

Found a cheap solution to provide xbmc goodness, complete as NPVR client, to my bedroom tv, via a G-Box Midnight Android TV box. I did find the Android OS and various Android builds of XBMC not quite up to task for HD content, but after installing a specific Linux XBMC-only build firmware on the box, I can say it is fully functional, for less than $100 total. Has wifi and ethernet, and a usable ir remote with xbmc-specific buttons.

New builds are coming out all the time, and the Android and Linux builds are still beta, but very useable so far.

Hardware: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009BWC3J4

Linux XBMC for this box: http://www.j1nx.nl/linux-xbmc-beta1-amlogic-m3/

[johnsonx42]

very nice... and so cheap.

and they have the NPVR add-on in their build?

[ccihon]

Yes - I tried two different android releases and two Linux stand-alones, all optimized for this box - all contained the NPVR add-on (and many others) and worked to varying degrees, this the best of them. The really cool thing about the XBMC client is how it extends npvr to so many devices and OS's. One issue to keep in mind, I think, is wifi/ethernet speed, as it seems .ts HD playback is about as stout a stream as you will push to an xbmc device. That's why a box like this, with an ethernet port, is more useful than those with wifi only, although I will say the wifi in this thing can keep up if your n-router is in the same room.

[mvallevand]

I use the Pivos XS which is the reference version for the amlogic chipset with the difference that Pivos is sponsoring all the development, and you get almost daily updates rather than waiting for other boxes to simple take the Pivos work and offer nothing back to the community. My personal feeling is the extra $10 or so (I paid $105) is well worth supporting the xbmc devs working for Pivos. If the Pivos model fails so could all these boxes except the RPi. My Pivos is the best small xbmc client too.

For Android (I think android xbmc dev was started by Pivos too) there are more powerful cpu/gpu combos now, each month they seem more powerful so my advice is don't rush if you don't have to. The Ouya looks interesting and more are coming each month. Many will even support Aeon Nox almost like a "real" htpc.

Martin

[ccihon]

The developer for this version of gbox Linux acknowledges the pivos contribution and has pledged a third of donations he takes to them and a third to the xbmc team itself.

The gbox devices are marketed mainly as Android tv boxes rather than xbmc solutions, and clearly a few folks have borrowed the Pivos work for other boxes. I just wanted to clarify this one as a working solution, as there are so many tv sticks and boxes out there and it is unclear if they can be used as a pvr client, let alone a media player.

[johnsonx42]

Martin, I don't see the Pivos XS any more... is the Xios DS Media Play (http://www.pivosgroup.com/xios.html) the current version of it?

[mvallevand]

Sorry yes DS. Originally they were going to make a special linux XS for xbmc but then they opted to release linux to their Android based DS client.

Martin

[jcjefferies]

Yesterday while looking for a mini-ITX motherboard I found an Android board made by VIA which was about A5 size which was described as a sort of jumbo Raspberry Pi. They did a version in a crude box which make it look like a book. Not been able to find anyone selling it in UK.

G-Box looks like a similar thing but in a proper box but the few on sale in UK seem expensive as if 1:1 dollar/pound exchange rate! The reviews on Amazon are not too good suggesting it is Beta version. It certainly looks very interesting.

I only started looking at XBMC yesterday using Openelec booting on an old PC from an old USB memory stick. The mini-ITX case I was going to get is not much smaller than the old slimline PC I am using as an NextPVR client at the moment. A smaller device like this is very interesting!