Hello,
I never really write reviews, but here it has to be, since my experience with the device is very mixed and I want to provide assistance to newcomers. Second, I hope to bring my small contribution to all manufacturers - to judge a little more eye on details - in our day and age.
STEP1
Delivery TOP !!! 24 hour, compliments to the seller (not Amazon).
STEP2
We wanted our old WD TV, 1,5 years old, peel. Too slow and unstable. Only he does not play a movie, then. If pull, wait 1 minute and wait and movie going again ... Sorry that's not so just plug. Although the defense - Western Digital yes delivers good technique. Therefore, the premise of new media player for the living room and had a box, which I can also be used professionally as presentations. Since I myself am from the multimedia specialist, I write here a little technology-oriented.
So attempting to unpack. Packaging was not verschweist. Does not matter here, because we have seen that everything tidy
is together and no one had before in his hand. Have specially paid attention and looked for footprints. So so new and unused. Material is aluminum, therefore a little heavier than a plastic bomber. I like it. Processing externally looks good. Only the power button hangs at a slight angle. Do not bother me now though. GOOD: SATA adapter and HDMI cable in scope. Unfortunately is not self-evident.
STEP3
Connecting. And now come the mixed feelings. The display on the front displays a nearly fatal with time. Especially since it eingentlich no one needs and the display nor brings a different function. I've pasted over with colored scotch, because they are fed real. Conceptually, the display can not be dimmed at the factory. Perhaps found by chance an app that allows.
The box moves to approx high 30 seconds. In the price range that was the fastest player I had in hand (the above WDTV has all the required 2 minutes). Surface is Linux (Android 4.xx). For my needs, it is sufficient. But the graphics are underground. Structure similar to a Mac or iPhone. Even from her operation. But visually not the point. The calendar is even in Chinese! Hello ??? We are in Germany. There deliver the first star.
We have a 2TB Western Digital USB hard drive. Holiday videos, photos and a few HD movies and Youtube downloads. So pretty much every conceivable format. Therefore connect the same during operation. Was immediately recognized. Browse for files can not be beat. The Fernbedieung responding (at pleasant pressure point) immediately. The contents of the folder will be displayed immediately. So you recognize the 4-core processor and the RAM (incidentally, was also purchasing decision). I called the device properly. Images open close again. Open Movie, fast forward, rewind. New film pure. I am by the archive as a Locust. The device makes no quirks, plays far from any format Ruckelfrei. Absolut top.
STEP4
XMBC - This was my second reason to buy, because the manufacturer even advertises on its website so. Was pre-installed as promised. Version 13.1 (Gotham) in the default skin (user interface). And now come the real problems. Where the heck do I find to embed the movies? Because the USB hard drive is not as thought appears as a drive. Whoever brings no Linux experience fails here and gets a single movie, music or holiday photo in XBMC involved. Supplement: I think with XBMC experience on Windows computers and there is no better way to cultivate a multimedia archive. Man must therefore actually go to the root directory of the media box to find a folder / mnt, and look for the disk. Because the name of the disk is set seemingly at random. On Windows, you say "F: / element" in Hi-media it is under / mnt / SBD. This is not viable for technology-foreign users.
Another problem: If I change the skin in XBMC, then I get script errors. These are definitely compatibility problems between hardware Us Software. If the manufacturer so advertises XBMC, even on its home page, then this state is blundering and justifies each return to his money.
Another problem: The player from the XBMC has problems with HD videos play smoothly. Small Microruckler. A normal user may not recognize it. But I have a sensitive eye for it. By searching the internet I found out that XBMC requires too much power, which does not bring the box. But that's not the problem of the box but is due to the fine tuning between hardware and software. Is thus not solved in the short term. It is hoped that the XBMC community finds time according to optimize your driving in the future on Android platforms. The internal video player (or HiPlayer called) on the other hand is doing its job properly. Videos are liquid. Sharpness is good. The saturation of the color and contrast can also be adjusted retrospectively. Tone was far better in the third.
So my last idea was to link the externren Player with XBMC. Did it actually hammer out, unfortunately, only after 4 hours. Tip for hobbyists: To control the external player in XBMC have to create a file in the installation path playercorefactory.xml. This file does not exist. Please google for this file. In some forums, the exact content is described. For storing in advance must be installed via Google Appstore an FTP server with read rights to the root of the operating system. The location is (for me) as root / sdcard / Android / data / org.xbmc.xbmc / files / .xbmc / UserData. Hope this tip you saved to have time. Now it feunktionert and I can maintain with XBMC my archive on and watch videos via the liquid HimediaPlayer.
#####
CONCLUSION:
Who a friendly Plug n Play Media Center with operation and appearance of a modern BlueRay player examines Please stay away !!!
The Chinese have neither here unfortunately the europäschische sense of style. Despite weaknesses I keep the unit because I could optimize something and thus have found a compromise.
With the hope to bring the firmware and XBMC in the near future improvements. But is only for real technology professionals, software unfortunately below average. 3D and 4K video I have not tested. In continuous test the experiment only 2x frozen.
Basically, however, very good approach. A box that you can bend to their needs thanks to Android as a laptop. Linux knowledge required! Hardware is fixed and should be enough for some time. 4Kern processor and real graphics acceleration makes already from what. But power is quite warm under load. Therefore, looking for a good spot. Silent because here the complete housing (aluminum) is used as a heat sink. Fernbediung is OK, I also recommend Wireless Keyboard or even AirMouse.
+ Good hardware, possibly the device is too good as well warm (not hot)
+ Fast speedy operation, USB 2.0 is fast enough
+ Design and manufacturing than average
+ Image and sound (not XBMC) gets a 2+
+ Android operating system, so making all Google Apps install
+ SATA and HDMI cable included. Come on out 20
+ Bluetooth and Samba
+ Shuts down in Standby, even if software freezes. One does not draw power plug, juhuu
- No instructions, not even as a download
- No real support by the manufacturer, in China there is no need probably something
- No computer knowledge is not set formschöm
- User interface is graphical view of still in the Stone Age
- Only for computer specialists
- Light to display the time. Why actually, I have a iPhone with time?
