Recommend me an Android media box

[Spatial]

With the announcement today that XBMC is coming to Android soon, I've been thinking that it might be time to update my media set up.

The new Android based units look pretty good, but trying to find reliable recommendations is difficult. Ideally I'd like something running ICS that I can also slap a SATA drive inside. Or even add a Blue ray drive to (is that even possible?)

Anyone have any recommendations?

[paulus]

Buy this months Home Cinema Choice, there's a "fight-out" between 5 or 5 media boxes, the 2 Android ones did not fare well. I'd give it a little time before updating?

[Spatial]

Do you know what the alternatives in that fight out were and how they came out?

[smouty]

Not a recommendation but the NexusQ has been hacked to run XBMC.

[paulus]

The results were:

1st - Netgear NeoTV 550 (?120) Bespoke O/S
2nd - Sony SMP-N200 (?70) Bespoke O/S
3rd - Maxell MMB300 (?120) Android O/S
4th -AC Ryan Veolo (?170) Android O/S

This mag also highly rates the WDTV Media Players (with full marks). I have the WDTV Live model and rarely find a file it wont play, lovely O/S too

[Spatial]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those

[smouty]

I'm also using a WDTV Live with the WDLXTV custom firmware - http://wiki.wdlxtv.com/Main_Page

[originalbadboy]

Tbh I wouldn't use any of those, just get yourself an Acer Revo, Foxconn or Zotac nettop, they might be a bit pricier but would be miles better than any Android device. As much as I like Android it is not anywhere near ready to use as a media box, even with XBMC.

[bash]

Agreed, Android still lags behind other OS's when it comes to running mkvs etc.If you want just a media box to play movies, buy a Dune. They cost more but play everything, they just work. However if you want a home theatre pc then go with badboys advice, be warned theres generally a lot more arsing around with those.

I've got a Dune HD Smart H1 purchased from http://www.my-htpc.co.uk. The guy who runs that business, Graham, is a top fella and you'll do a lot worse than calling him up and asking for his (free) advice.

[Spatial]

I didn't realise that Android wasn't that advanced yet - I'd not been keeping up with things and just seen lots of cheap Chinese boxes, so assumed that what was out there would be more refined than it was (the basic capabilities of ICS seem to fit the media player set-up but clearly it's not baked enough for that yet).

That Dune does look quite nifty - seeing as my current BR player currently sounds like it's about to eject the disc machine gun style every time I use it, I might even spring for one with a drive in it and get the best of both worlds.

One thing I couldn't see though - can the drive / unit be made region free for BR discs?

[bash]

Im not 100% sure, I'd be surprised if it couldnt though. Give the fella a ring, also Avforums have a network media section with more than a few experts on the subject.http://www.avforums.com/forums/strea...media-players/

[paulus]

The WDTV looks like a bargain now on Amazon?

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/western-digital-tv-live-streaming-media-player-63-09-amazon-1270394