What is the interest of TV boxes in the future?

[chrichri]

Hi,

Knowing that most modern TVs are sold with operating systems.

Is there still a lot of interest in buying a TV box? For what use? Why can you buy an android tv box when your TV is connected? I would like a variety of opinions.

I have the impression that there are fewer and fewer new models. Among the major manufacturers, only Ugoos and Mecool continue to release models, but there is no new Minix or new Beelink.

Most Android boxes are identical and come from the same factories.

Do you think Nvidia will release a new Shield?

[mitchell4you]

Hmm..
I volunteered to work at kringloop/drift-store and many smart-tv come in...
The smart app are all non supported/old versions...some smart-tv's requires logon or have ads

A tv-box can be..what you desire it to be..
Do wish to browse the web? Receive e-mail ? Play some android games or apps? Listening to music? Then get a generic AndroidOs box
You can also dualboot it and use it for retro emulation..aka emu-elec / botocera or Kodi box Core-elec / libre-elec (boot from sdcard)

Do wish to watch DRM content like Netflix/HBO/Disney+/primevideo ? Then get a Android TV box or stick
Some are quite cheap

Why buy a Android device for your TV.. because if I boot my windows pc..it draws 200watt idling
It bit wasteful..just for listening to music while browsing the web and checking my mail

My TV + tv-box + many usb connect devices draws 45watt ( and I'm browsing and listening to music and when I'm done..IPTV )

I have a Nvidia shield TV..it's great,
a new shield proberly not..at this time...chip shortages and high chip prices ( there are waiting lists for people trying to get a Pi )

As for beelink..the make great small factor x86 PCs,
most of them can run win10/linux/android x86/libre-elec while using low wattage
-having the advantage.. that you can install the operating system that you wish to run
-update the software/ operating systems
-add more ram or storage as needed

Cheers

[clarkss12]

Hmm..
I volunteered to work at kringloop/drift-store and many smart-tv come in...
The smart app are all non supported/old versions...some smart-tv's requires logon or have ads

A tv-box can be..what you desire it to be..
Do wish to browse the web? Receive e-mail ? Play some android games or apps? Listening to music? Then get a generic AndroidOs box
You can also dualboot it and use it for retro emulation..aka emu-elec / botocera or Kodi box Core-elec / libre-elec (boot from sdcard)

Do wish to watch DRM content like Netflix/HBO/Disney+/primevideo ? Then get a Android TV box or stick
Some are quite cheap

Why buy a Android device for your TV.. because if I boot my windows pc..it draws 200watt idling
It bit wasteful..just for listening to music while browsing the web and checking my mail

My TV + tv-box + many usb connect devices draws 45watt ( and I'm browsing and listening to music and when I'm done..IPTV )

I have a Nvidia shield TV..it's great,
a new shield proberly not..at this time...chip shortages and high chip prices ( there are waiting lists for people trying to get a Pi )

As for beelink..the make great small factor x86 PCs,
most of them can run win10/linux/android x86/libre-elec while using low wattage
-having the advantage.. that you can install the operating system that you wish to run
-update the software/ operating systems
-add more ram or storage as needed

Cheers

Very well stated, Mitchell. I have pondered that question myself.

[trebor]

The Mini PC by Beelink would have to be nearly a no Brainer as with others, and with Android starting to be supported on Windows 11 you will have most your apps.

Yes the Mini PC price can be higher but far more value or getting there.
By a TV box its supported for x amount of time then out comes a new one, you rely on the great Devs we to keep it running.

The TV Box/Media Player had it place a few years ago but with these Mini PC becoming more mini and doing more.
Most TV you buy today are basically a TV BOX with a screen with limitations.

Its Fun time we live in all this Tech...

[chrichri]

Hmm..
I volunteered to work at kringloop/drift-store and many smart-tv come in...
The smart app are all non supported/old versions...some smart-tv's requires logon or have ads

A tv-box can be..what you desire it to be..
Do wish to browse the web? Receive e-mail ? Play some android games or apps? Listening to music? Then get a generic AndroidOs box
You can also dualboot it and use it for retro emulation..aka emu-elec / botocera or Kodi box Core-elec / libre-elec (boot from sdcard)

Do wish to watch DRM content like Netflix/HBO/Disney+/primevideo ? Then get a Android TV box or stick
Some are quite cheap

Why buy a Android device for your TV.. because if I boot my windows pc..it draws 200watt idling
It bit wasteful..just for listening to music while browsing the web and checking my mail

My TV + tv-box + many usb connect devices draws 45watt ( and I'm browsing and listening to music and when I'm done..IPTV )

I have a Nvidia shield TV..it's great,
a new shield proberly not..at this time...chip shortages and high chip prices ( there are waiting lists for people trying to get a Pi )

As for beelink..the make great small factor x86 PCs,
most of them can run win10/linux/android x86/libre-elec while using low wattage
-having the advantage.. that you can install the operating system that you wish to run
-update the software/ operating systems
-add more ram or storage as needed

Cheers

I'm glad to hear that android boxes aren't dead.

I really had that feeling.

Most Android TV boxes are practically identical in real life and are manufactured in the same factories and often with the same defects. They all use the same S905X3 and X4 SoCs. Apart from the Shield, there is none powerful. It brings nothing more compared to the integrated TV systems.

Android box manufacturers make almost no effort on their machines. It's been the same launcher for years and it makes you want to use it more. It's still very interesting for CoreElec and Emuelec otherwise. But that's reserved for Amlogic. boxes with other SoCs are not allowed to do so and do not have an Android system that makes you want to. And it competes on many uses (retrogaming, web browsing, etc.) with SBCs which are better supported and can run Android too.


Apart from Ugoos, few manufacturers take care of their system (no navigation bar, no notification pane, etc.). And I find Ugoos more and more hampered by the low power of chips for Android boxes. Their boxes compete in price with more powerful Mini PCs.

Maybe I have a slightly distorted vision by the fact that I find that the s905x4 generation did not bring much compared to the s905x3. I feel like Amlogic is doing little too (no 64-bit system, little graphics power, doesn't help developers, etc.).

It surprises me that the Shield is still by far the most powerful box (GPU level) when it uses a very old chip. On smartphones, Qualcomm has long since overtaken Nvidia's chip.

And I also have this impression that Mini PCs are becoming more interesting (Windows + Linux + Android applications + more power + less hassle because of DRM ...)

Retro gaming can also be done on mini pc, on SBC and
directly on his TV (even if it's more FUN and uses a dedicated distribution like Emuelec)

But I hope I'm wrong and there will be lots of interesting android boxes in the future