Adds easy access to multimedia apps via the Android OS to play Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services (that you are subscribed to) on TVs and Projectors that don't have built-in apps. Or stream local content via Kodi, VLC or Nova. Plus browse the web, run slideshow apps and more!
Backorder for 2nd Week of May Dispatch 
Look, we know most displays already provide access to popular streaming services via their own apps. Heck, most new TVs also boast USB ports that allow you to play video and music files directly from hard drives or even a media server. So why buy a dedicated media player to do the same stuff?
One good reason is making non-smart displays smarter. You can add almost any internet streaming service to any display with a HDMI input, including computer monitors and projectors. This is doubly great for those awful TVs which have unavoidable advertising built into their operating systems, making their apps a nightmare to use - this box has no ads of its own*.
Being an Android-based device, you get access to the Google Play store to add or replace any apps you need to. For example, the built-in video file player isn't so great, but installing VLC for Android off the Play Store (or via APK) takes less than a minute. After that, you can play any file type you like, from old AVI downloads to 1080p MOV and 4K MP4 or MKV to name a few. Wide file format support is another great feature some top-end TV's can't even match.
With a bit of effort, other services are configurable like free to air television (via app) and casting from other media sources such as a NAS or media server. Really, any app you can run on an Android smartphone (excluding games) will probably run just fine here. The ability to customise the apps is a big part of what makes this media player worthwhile. We took a not-so-smart LG TV and had the Nova app scrape media data for a 3TB HDD full of movies and TV shows. Easy once you know how, and not an ad or AI algorithm in sight!
Specifications are modest but functional, with 4GB of RAM and 32Gb of built-in app space running on a Quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 with a Mali 450 MP2 GPU alongside. You get Wi-Fi, Ethernet, SPDIF Optical out, HDMI 2.0, SD Card slot and both a USB 3.0 for Mass Storage and a USB 2.0 for a keyboard/mouse dongle, plus a tidy remote control that can handle all basic tasks (and some complex ones in mouse mode) without a problem.
This device benefits greatly when paired with a media keyboard like the Rii Compact Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad, or your preferred alternative, otherwise typing words into in search boxes can be laborious. However, general use after setup can be managed just with the remote, so it's an optional extra.
We tested this unit with a variety of file formats reading from USB, along with Youtube/Smarttube streaming. With some tweaking, we had everything working nicely, as well as some ABC and 9Now via Kodi for fun. 4K playback was great via USB, but extremely high bitrate files (like 4K Blu-ray remux) might not be totally smooth. 1080p is no problem at all for this system.
Note: This does not provide free access to paid streaming services. Streaming service subscriptions must be purchased from their respective providers. You can log into your existing services via apps available on this device. And add or remove any apps you need or don't need. *Non-premium apps with built-in advertising will still display their own ads.
Included in the box:
Specifications and Features:
Note: This 'Set Top Box' does not include a free to air / DVB-T2 tuner. Free to air television must be streamed via app over the internet. Built-in apps may not be suitable for all tasks, and no warranty is provided for software, even if it comes pre-installed. Designed for AV/multimedia use. Not recommended for gaming.
