Xiaomi Mi Box Gets Android 8 Oreo Firmware Update

Xiaomi Mi Box Android 8.1 Launcher

Xiaomi Mi Box US is one of the recommended TV boxes if you want a pure  – and official – Android TV experience at an affordable price. However, updates to the latest version of Android has been slow, and until recently the device was running Android TV 6.x (Marshmallow) only, despite Android 8 being released in August 2017, and Nougat a year ealier. But according to reports from reddit users, Xiaomi Mi Box has finally gotten an OTA upgrade to Android 8.x Oreo. Some of the changes include support for Google Assistant, the new Android Oreo launcher for Android TV,  and other new features introduce in Marshmallow and Oreo. More geeky users reported Linux has also been updated to version 4.9.54, and Project Treble is installed with should allow for more timely firmware updates in the future, although without seamless upgrade support. The Android Oreo upgrade has been reported in […]

Google ADT-2 is an Android TV Dongle for Developers

ADT-2-Android-P-Device

You may remember we covered a “4K ATV Stick” last month, as a mostly unknown manufacturer (Shenzhen SEI Robotics) applied for FCC certification, with the device featuring a large G marking, leading some to speculate it may be an upcoming Google device. At the time, I dismissed it, and believed if was just another Chinese “Android TV” or “Android” TV device, but Google has now released a similar looking Android device which probably means I was wrong… It’s not a consumer device however, and after Google ADT-1 Android TV developer kit launched in 2014, Google has now unveiled ADT-2 developer device that runs Android P developer preview with Google Assistant. ADT-2 OTT HDMI stick specifications: SoC- Amlogic S905X quad core Cortex A53 processor with Arm Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 8GB eMMC flash Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a with HDCP 2.2 support Video Decoding […]

$38 Nexbox A95X Pro Runs Android TV, Supports Netflix HD

TV box manufacturers should move and more more from Android to Android TV operating systems, so we can expect cheaper TV boxes offering an Android TV experience. One of those device is Nexbox A95X Pro that sells for $37.99 on GeekBuying (pre-orders shipping in about 4 days), and also happens to support Netflix HD (720p). [Update: The promo on GeekBuying appears to be over, but it’s now available on GearBest for $36.99 with coupon GBA95X1] Nexbox A95X Pro TV box specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905W quad core Arm Cortex-A53 processor with Arm Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 2GB DDR3 Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, micro SD card slot Video Output – HDMI up to 4K @ 30 Hz, AV port (composite) Video – 4K 30 fps H.265, 4K 30 fps VP9 Profile-2, MPEG1/2/4, H.264, HD AVC/VC1, RM/RMVB, Xvid/DivX3/4/5/6, RealVideo8/9/10 Audio Output – Via HDMI and AV ports, coaxial S/PDIF port Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi […]

Com Hem TV Hub is an Hybrid TV Box Powered by Broadcom BCM7271 SoC with VideoCore V GPU

VideoCore-V-TV-Box

Most people reading this blog will know VideoCore IV is the GPU used in Broadcom BCM283x processors found in Raspberry Pi board, but we’ve previously seen work was done on its successor – VideoCore V GPU – in the Linux kernel. It’s unclear whether the GPU will be used in the next generation Raspberry Pi boards, but there’s a least one hardware platform featuring VideoCore V GPU with Com Hem TV Hub, an Android TV TV box for the Swedish market based on Broadcom BCM7271 SoC. UZX8020CHM specifications based on AndroidTV Guide page: SoC – Broadcom BCM7271 quad core processor @ 1.6 GHz with VideoCore V (V3D-520) GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, microSD slot, optional stackable 1TB hard drive Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K 60 Hz with HDR support Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 n/ac WiFi 4×4 MIMO Tuner – Quad […]

4K ATV Stick Looks like the Offspring of ChromeCast and FireTV Stick 2017 with a Big “G” Logo

A new Android TV device has shown up on the FCC website, and generated quite a lot of buzz last time online with the source of the story originating from Reddit or Ausdroid, and picked up by many blogs because the device comes with a “G” logo that looks like the one Google might use… But in all likelihood it should just be another TV stick running Android TV OS, and the FCC listing has been submitted by Shenzhen SEI Robotics, an Android TV box manufacturer. The device is based on Amlogic S905X processor with 2GB RAM, and looks like a mix between the ChromeCast and Amazon FireTV 2017 with its short built-in HDMI cable and rounded shape. Hardware specifications: SoC- Amlogic S905X quad core Cortex A53 processor with Arm Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 8GB eMMC flash Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a with […]

MX10 May Be the First TV Box to Run Android 8.1 “Oreo”

Android 8.0 “Oreo”was launched in August 2017 for smartphones and tablets, and it normally takes some time before the operating system is ported to TV boxes. So far, I had no seen any boxes running Android 8.x, but today I’ve come across MX10 TV box based on Rockchip RK3328 processor, that’s said to run Android 8.1 “Oreo”. MX10 TV box specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3328 quad core Cortex A53 processor with Arm Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 4GB DDR4 RAM Storage – 32GB eMMC flash + SD card slot Video Output –  HDMI 2.0a up to 4K 60Hz with HDR support + 3.5mm AV port (composite) Audio Output –  Via HDMI, AV port (stereo audio), coaxial S/PDIF output Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi USB – 1x USB 3.0 port, 3x USB 2.0 ports Power Supply – 5V2A Dimensions – The box ships with a power adapter, a remote […]

CCC Air Stick 4K TV Stick Runs Android TV, Supports HDR10, aptX HD Bluetooth Audio (Japan)

It’s been a while since I have seen an Amlogic S912 TV stick, and so far none of them would run Android TV operating system. But CCC Air Stick 4K does, meaning it supports Google Cast like a ChromeCast, as well as Voice Commands through a remote control. The company also claims support for aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth audio, as well as online services such as Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, and some Japanese specific services, since the TV stick only targets the Japanese market. Air Stick 4K specifications: SoC – Amlogic S912J 64-bit octa core Arm Cortex A53 @ up to 1.5GHz with Arm Mali GPU System Memory – 2 GB Storage – 16 GB flash Video Output – HDMI 2.0a up to 4K @ 60 Hz with HDR10, CEC support Audio – HDMI audio output, aptX / aptX audio over Bluetooth Connectivity Dual band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi […]

$38 MECOOL M8S PRO W “with Voice Control” TV Box Runs Android TV 7.1 OS

There was a time when most TV boxes would run Android operating system for mobile with lots of modifications to make it suitable for the big screen, except for a few models that would run the official Android TV operating systems. But things are now changing, with announced from Geniatech, WeTek, and others all announcing certified Android TV set-top boxes and media hubs. We’ve even been told Amlogic will now only provide Android TV SDK from now on with no support for “normal Android”, and the good news is that inexpensive TV box running Android TV will become common place, and one of those devices, MECOOL M8S PRO W is the cheapest I’ve seen so far going for $37.99 shipped with coupon DSJMVRWB (pre-order) MECOOL M8S PRO W specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905W quad core ARM Cortex-A53 processor with penta-core Mali-450MP3 GPU @ 750 MHz System Memory – 2GB DDR3 […]