Best player for Netflix in HD

[michely]

Received my first Android media player last week. It a MK808b plus.

It works fine using XBMC and it's addons, but Netflix quality was very bad.
Read online that Netflix won't allow HD playback on non sanctioned hd devices. When I saw that the finless 1.1 ROM spoof the Nexus 10 to make the device compatible with more app on the play store, I had hope it would make Netflix works in HD afterward. It did not.

What would you consider the best bang for your buck to play Netflix in HD, use XBMC and be able to control the device as well as the TV with the same remote?

[ChrisG8]

Amazon Fire TV is a box available now or the upcoming Razer Forge TV if you can wait.

[etyrnal]

The person to ask which box works the best for it, how could you know that an upcoming box works the best if it's not been tested?

[ChrisG8]

The person to ask which box works the best for it, how could you know that an upcoming box works the best if it's not been tested?

It has been tested, it just isn't available on the market yet. Based on the hardware it should be a good overall $100 approved player which should mean not only Netflix but many other mainstream streaming sources, which are either not handled at all or handled poorly by these unapproved boxes, will be handled properly by the Razer Forge TV. HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Instant Video are a few of the services requiring approval and proper DRM handling.

[michely]

An Intel Windows TV Box.

I really love Windows 7, but don’t know how well a Windows system can do with such low specs systems.
I am confident that a fresh install, the system would run fine, but I am a bitconcerned about how bloated the system can become after some time.
Are Windows media boxes powerfull enough to compete with lean systems like Android and OpenELEC?

Amazon Fire TV is a box available now or the upcomingRazer Forge TV if you can wait.

Fire TV isn't available to Canada and Razer isn't out yet.

What amaze me is that a 9 years old Xbox 360 can play Netflix in HD, but not adevice released in 2014.

I will try to satisfy myself with the subpar quality of the MK808B+ Netflix playback until the the Razer Forge TV or the Fire TV comes out in Canada.

[ChrisG8]

I really love Windows 7, but don’t know how well a Windows system can do with such low specs systems.
I am confident that a fresh install, the system would run fine, but I am a bitconcerned about how bloated the system can become after some time.
Are Windows media boxes powerfull enough to compete with lean systems like Android and OpenELEC?



Fire TV isn't available to Canada and Razer isn't out yet.

What amaze me is that a 9 years old Xbox 360 can play Netflix in HD, but not adevice released in 2014.

I will try to satisfy myself with the subpar quality of the MK808B+ Netflix playback until the the Razer Forge TV or the Fire TV comes out in Canada.

Uh, you are missing a key element here. The hardware is certainly capable of Netflix in HD. The problem is the devices are not approved for HD and the necessary DRM is missing. Netflix prevents HD deliberately. Owners of the content available on Netflix require boxes meet those requirements, it isn't up to Netflix. I think Minix and Geniatech, maybe others will move into the mainstream with Android TV and offer approved devices. I don't have any information in that regard really but this issue will never be solved by the Chinese Android mini PC manufacturers without adhering to the rules.

In 2014 there are certainly hundreds of devices that can handle Netflix in HD, various TiVo models, all models of official Google TV, various Roku models, Apple TV, Chromecast, the list can go on for a long time. It isn't difficult to do, the manufacturer of the box you own was interested in a different market, not the mainstream market. Maybe this can change for these boxes and new agreements with rights owners will allow Netflix HD content for these boxes, I sure wouldn't count on it though.