They made 4.0 to merge the tablet and phone Android releases. They have done nothing to prevent OS fragmentation. Manufacturers can release hardware running older versions of Android.
I'm not sure Android is the right choice for a TV OS anyway. I don't see the attraction of putting a touch based OS on a TV... which you would never want to touch! I think there are better options, like XBMC. For example, Boxee uses their own variant of XBMC. However, I have to add that I think XBMC is crippled do to their mostly retarded cross-platform design constraints. Specifically, I can't stand menu navigation in XBMC on my HTPC, it is just so awkward because clearly they have designed it to work with an xbox controller. That said... I still use XBMC because there really aren't any better alternatives. I don't know why it is so hard to make a decent media center for the PC.
I think you've missed the point of Android on this device. It's like iOS on the AppleTV, it's the underlying OS that is key. The UI is obviously going to be 10-foot.
A touch OS would work well with a TV given a good touch remote. While button based remotes are cheap and standard, they're not necessarily the best way to interact with a device. I can imagine touch based remotes, either with or without a display, allowing much nicer interaction with a media player or TV. In particular touch remotes with a display could streamline selection and playback by getting rid of the need for an OSD. For example you could always see where you are in the movie.
These companies need to have more consumer friendly names, which means hire some marketing people for your geek-run shop. There is no chance this name will ever catch on.
Since all existing DVDs use mpg this device is a non-starter if they haven't created a special media player which includes the licensing and capability to play it. It had also better be capable of playing MKVs.
Given the specs are at least on par with a WD Live, from what I understand, it will playback just fine. I have thrown a BD25 RiP at my WD Live and it played back with out a hick up. The more important question is will it support MKVs with Header Compression/Stripping?
I'm a huge fan of android based operating devices. I think great game would be a race car game such as asphalt or angry birds. Something nice and simple to kill some time. I have had the Boxee Box for a number of years now and I love it. You can learn more about media streamers at http://bestmediastreamers.com. Great site with reviews and insight into the most popular media streamers.
And very expensive to boot. I built a mini box based on Brazos, with W7 on it. It runs anything and everything, and with K-Lite or CCCP there's a wealth of codecs available. It does email, any browser you like, you- and other tubes, you name it, it does it.
I tried 3 or 4 of these media boxes in the past, and every single one has got something really screwed up : no DVD menus, not able to play DVD's with episodes on it, no MKV, it's always something. Rubbish.
Now they're throwing them at us again with a new OS. I'm willing to bet you'll get the same old bugs on a new OS.
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dado023 - Saturday, October 22, 2011 - link
What about android 4.0...Google made it to prevent OS fragmentation, right?3DoubleD - Sunday, October 23, 2011 - link
They made 4.0 to merge the tablet and phone Android releases. They have done nothing to prevent OS fragmentation. Manufacturers can release hardware running older versions of Android.I'm not sure Android is the right choice for a TV OS anyway. I don't see the attraction of putting a touch based OS on a TV... which you would never want to touch! I think there are better options, like XBMC. For example, Boxee uses their own variant of XBMC. However, I have to add that I think XBMC is crippled do to their mostly retarded cross-platform design constraints. Specifically, I can't stand menu navigation in XBMC on my HTPC, it is just so awkward because clearly they have designed it to work with an xbox controller. That said... I still use XBMC because there really aren't any better alternatives. I don't know why it is so hard to make a decent media center for the PC.
solipsism - Sunday, October 23, 2011 - link
I think you've missed the point of Android on this device. It's like iOS on the AppleTV, it's the underlying OS that is key. The UI is obviously going to be 10-foot.ET - Sunday, October 23, 2011 - link
A touch OS would work well with a TV given a good touch remote. While button based remotes are cheap and standard, they're not necessarily the best way to interact with a device. I can imagine touch based remotes, either with or without a display, allowing much nicer interaction with a media player or TV. In particular touch remotes with a display could streamline selection and playback by getting rid of the need for an OSD. For example you could always see where you are in the movie.cnxsoft - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Except that Android is not really ready for STB / Media players and it takes a massive amount of work and time to port it to such devices.solipsism - Sunday, October 23, 2011 - link
These companies need to have more consumer friendly names, which means hire some marketing people for your geek-run shop. There is no chance this name will ever catch on.Metaluna - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
+1000This is a terrible name. It sounds like a mashup of TiVO and hemorrhoid. Too bad, because it looks like nice hardware.
mcnabney - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Since all existing DVDs use mpg this device is a non-starter if they haven't created a special media player which includes the licensing and capability to play it. It had also better be capable of playing MKVs.ganeshts - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
Yes, of course it can.. That is the whole point of the device :) How well it does it.. well, we don't know yet :DXplorer4x4 - Friday, October 28, 2011 - link
Given the specs are at least on par with a WD Live, from what I understand, it will playback just fine. I have thrown a BD25 RiP at my WD Live and it played back with out a hick up. The more important question is will it support MKVs with Header Compression/Stripping?captinamerica - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
I'm a huge fan of android based operating devices. I think great game would be a race car game such as asphalt or angry birds. Something nice and simple to kill some time. I have had the Boxee Box for a number of years now and I love it. You can learn more about media streamers at http://bestmediastreamers.com. Great site with reviews and insight into the most popular media streamers.vision33r - Monday, October 24, 2011 - link
I doubt this thing would sell. The name is so absurd and geeky it isn't as cool and chic like Boxie, Google TV, or Apple TV... Simplicity sells.Landiepete - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - link
And very expensive to boot. I built a mini box based on Brazos, with W7 on it. It runs anything and everything, and with K-Lite or CCCP there's a wealth of codecs available. It does email, any browser you like, you- and other tubes, you name it, it does it.I tried 3 or 4 of these media boxes in the past, and every single one has got something really screwed up : no DVD menus, not able to play DVD's with episodes on it, no MKV, it's always something. Rubbish.
Now they're throwing them at us again with a new OS. I'm willing to bet you'll get the same old bugs on a new OS.