Android Hardware

[mvallevand]

Testing of uidroid has been on several different devices and platforms.  It should work on Android, Android TV, Google TV and Amazon devices.   For those of you that don't need the clutter of the launcher on these platforms I suggest looking into the Wolf launcher.

Video decoding on your device is based on the device capabilities. Audio support uses your devices hardware and in addition it use ffmpeg for mp3, ac3, eac3, flac, vorbis, opus, dca/dts  truehd and ac4 if your device doesn't support it.

Here is what I tested and my opinions which are not totally unbiased.  I tested on 4K but I don't have any HDR monitors.  5:1 audio seemed to work on all devices when part of the stream.

1.  TiVo4K

My recommended client so far has been the TiVo4K because it has a remote key with the number pad and it is often on sale for $30 online or at box stores.  I feel you have to "deTiVo" it for best performance.  Having a second USB port makes it easy to add an RF based remote with keyboard  One major con for this device is it is wifi only and it is hard to find network adapters.  It is also only at Android 9 and the future support is unknown.

2. Google Chromecast

The Chromecast is  a good value but the remote is basic DPAD and return.  It isn't hard to connect a USB C hub with wired networking and extra USB ports RF remote dongles, but doubles the cost.

3. Amazon Fire TV Max.

The latest Amazon device is pretty fast and the remote is a little better then the Chromecast but it only can take USB A hubs.  It is also relatively expensive, but no doubt Amazon will have sales.  It is also the only Android device I have tested that play AV1 via uidroid.

4. Phones and tablets

I have tested uidroid on several phones and tablets but  the touch and gesture support is too limited and you'd need to connect a Bluetooth or USB remote to make it really useful.

5. Khadas VIM3L Android

Everything worked but the video performance is lacking, use CoreElec instead.


Please feel free to provide your feedback on other devices.  Also post questions on hardware here.

[Jaggy]

2. Google Chromecast

The Chromecast is  a good value but the remote is basic DPAD and return.  It isn't hard to connect a USB C hub with wired networking and extra USB ports RF remote dongles, but doubles the cost.

First off I guess I better explain I know basically nothing about android as I did have a Nextbook android tablet years ago & while it did it's job fairly well overall I found the whole  experience very frustrating & therefore have basically kept away from android (apart from my phone) ever since.

I am looking at going down the Chromecast path, primarly because some Chromecasts are avaliable in NZ & also the addition of an 'RF' remote would be from a user point of view an upgrade on the IR that the NMT use.

A couple of questions I have are which Chromecast would be better for my application as for one thing I would like to be also able to load (in android outside NextPVR) the android AccuWeather weather app (to replace the NevtPVR weather plugin) & an android RSSReader app again to replace the RSSReader plugin.

We seem to have both Chromecast ver 3 & ver 4 (with PlayTV) avaliable here & I 'think' I saw a Chromcast Ultra the other day, of course prices differ quite a lot depending on which model you look at.

Then I have been looking at usb connected RF remotes (most from Amazon with NZ delivery)....which is quite a confusing subject all on it's own & I wouldn't say I have seen any that have jumped out as saying 'buy me'

[mvallevand]

I should have been clearer the only Chromecast that would work is actually called Chromecast with Google TV sometimes CWGTV on the internet.

For video I can't find anything to complain about with it and if wifi is bad near your tv it is probably easiest for adding a hub. 

The Amazon FireTV 4k might be cheaper I've seen them on sale recently for $25 and Black Friday sales are coming.  It has a few more remote keys but no numbers.

With a flirc USB device I did use an NMT and Hauppauge remote with Android but I tend to use RF and Bluetooth now.

In general Android and Google TV are different from basic Android because they are designed to be used with a remote.  If you don't need apps like Netflix you can install new front ends called launchers that can make the front end much easier to navigate.

Martin

[Jaggy]

So far I have short-listed....

Chromecast
https://www.einfo.co.nz/google-chromecas...le-tv.html

Ethernet + USB HUB
https://www.dicksmith.co.nz/dn/buy/kogan...8cQAvD_BwE

(although there is one $20nz cheaper that I may consider but it's one of those sites if everything goes right with shipping etc. it gets 5 user stars if anything goes wrong it gets 1 user star)

Remote
https://www.amazon.com/BuzzTV-ARQ-100-Wi...40&sr=8-44

[mvallevand]

Yes that is the CWGTV. The remote has a lot of keys and uidroid will be fully usabley but all the extra keys won't be fully supported in uidroid until sub makes a requested enhancement. A dedicated stop key is useful since I do feel it is nice to not use long keys.

Getting used to the numbers on top for skipping would take getting used to after all these years.

You really don't need to pay extra for HDMI on the hub. However if that hub works with your phone you could use it with the remote to run uidroid from the phone.

Martin

[mvallevand]

I don't have one of these yet https://www.t-mobile.com/accessory/tvisi...gle-tv-kit but it is an interesting device since it has Ethernet not wifi and has a better chip then used on other devices, except the (Shield and S922 type devices). Having h/w AV1 makes it a bit more future proof too.

Apparently it is free for T-Mobile users too so hopefully some of you can get this and let it know how uidroid, Kodi or sub's Android app work on it.

Martin

[VCR58]

Very interesting!

I assume the Ethernet port is only 100MB since there is no mention what the speed is in any of the specs I could find. Still, it may be worth it. If I knew it had 1G Ethernet I would definitely get one.

Rex

[VCR58]

I wonder if this remote works with that Hub? https://www.t-mobile.com/accessory/tvisi...0214704436

[mvallevand]

I would expect it would Looks like they plan on getting into legitimate IPTV. Great remote for uidroid users.

Marti

[mvallevand]

Here are a review on the TMobile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUwGc2pE7_A unfortunately only 100 Mbs, but certainly for PVR files that will be more than adequate. I still want to try especially with their remote.

Marin