Android TV box or Raspberry Pi?

[vic6888]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this. But since the members visiting this sub-forum might have better idea of android tv box/stick i am putting forward my query here.
My requirements are 24/7 torrenting and playing movies in Sony FHD TV.. I don't care much about playing games or browsing in TV..
is there any android stick/box (preferably around $80) which can play high bitrate full hd movies without any hiccups while simultaneously downloading torrents? or am i better off with a raspberry pi??

 

[BlobLobba]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to ask this. But since the members visiting this sub-forum might have better idea of android tv box/stick i am putting forward my query here.
My requirements are 24/7 torrenting and playing movies in Sony FHD TV.. I don't care much about playing games or browsing in TV..
is there any android stick/box (preferably around $80) which can play high bitrate full hd movies without any hiccups while simultaneously downloading torrents? or am i better off with a raspberry pi??

I have a Ugoos UT1 and I'm happy with that, I also picked up the stick version that is the UM2. I spent quite a bit of time checking out the Pi's and I found their raw power to be way too little for things like 3D gaming or 1080p playback. Good little devices, but I prefer the Quad Core units such as the ones I mentioned above. A new box is coming out called the Ugoos UT2 which is also looking good.

For installing custom firmwares, tweeking and maybe configuring the device via scripts and so on, then maybe the Pi will have more of a larger community with more projects. But for the items you've highlighted the Pi wouldn't be very suitable. Please correct me if I'm wrong Pi owners,

 

[vic6888]

I have a Ugoos UT1 and I'm happy with that, I also picked up the stick version that is the UM2. I spent quite a bit of time checking out the Pi's and I found their raw power to be way too little for things like 3D gaming or 1080p playback. Good little devices, but I prefer the Quad Core units such as the ones I mentioned above. A new box is coming out called the Ugoos UT2 which is also looking good.

For installing custom firmwares, tweeking and maybe configuring the device via scripts and so on, then maybe the Pi will have more of a larger community with more projects. But for the items you've highlighted the Pi wouldn't be very suitable. Please correct me if I'm wrong Pi owners,

from what i have read Pi is pretty good as a media playback device but i'm not sure whether it can handle torrenting and media playback simultaneously.. one of my room mate has got a Pi.. will have to test it this weekend and see if it holds up well for my requirement..

 

[BlobLobba]

from what i have read Pi is pretty good as a media playback device but i'm not sure whether it can handle torrenting and media playback simultaneously.. one of my room mate has got a Pi.. will have to test it this weekend and see if it holds up well for my requirement..

One option could be to get two low price sticks, use one for torrent and one for media playback. Using media sharing to access the files between them. In that configuration I would suggest a UM2 and a Pi

 

[vic6888]

One option could be to get two low price sticks, use one for torrent and one for media playback. Using media sharing to access the files between them. In that configuration I would suggest a UM2 and a Pi

that is also an option.. hearing rumors that Android 4.4 will bring a new UI for TV. Are these sticks upgradeable??

 

[BlobLobba]

that is also an option.. hearing rumors that Android 4.4 will bring a new UI for TV. Are these sticks upgradeable??

Well I think regarding 4.4 upgradability, I imagine the first possibility of that maybe via custom ROM. I checked out the stock firmware updates for the Ugoos regularly, as I have the UT1 and UM2. Let's wait and see what they release.

 

[madcow_mda]

Well I think regarding 4.4 upgradability, I imagine the first possibility of that maybe via custom ROM. I checked out the stock firmware updates for the Ugoos regularly, as I have the UT1 and UM2. Let's wait and see what they release.

I have an android stick (MK908, quad-core 2GB RAM) and a Raspberry Pi. In terms of movie playback, the RPi is far superior due to better software support. The XBMC software is much more mature on the RPi.

I have no experience on the RPi with torrents, but I leave that to my NAS. An android stick's hardware is more powerful, so I guess it'll be better for torrenting. That being said, I use Openelec for my RPi and it comes with a transmission add-on for torrenting, so I assume it'll work ok.

Anyway, if movies are the main focus, definately go for an RPi and find another solution for torrenting if the RPi is not sufficient.

my setup:
A NAS for media storage and downloading
RPi with Openelec for media

 

[mad_sunday]

I had a Pi, to be honest it was bloody hard work. My MK808 is MUCH better at everthing. It plays 720p perfectly (I don't bother with 1080p) it downloads torrents running Ttorrent and I can plug my 1Tb hard drive (passport) directly into it without a hub!
The Pi was a pain compared to the MK808, the 908 should be even better.

Pete


Sent from my GT-I9205 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[madcow_mda]

I believe the 808 received much better support than the 908 does.

I think (custom) developer support is essential for setting up a working system.

 

[mad_sunday]

I'm running it stock, works fine. I was blown away by how well it plays my film collection. Avi, mkv, mp4 or whatever, it just works!

Pete

Sent from my GT-I9205 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[el_easy]

I checked out the stock firmware updates for the Ugoos regularly, as I have the UT1 and UM2. Let's wait and see what they release.

What websites do u check for firmware updates UT1 and UM2 and what Air mouse Keyboard work best for UT1 and UM2 you know any?

 

[pablo11]

What websites do u check for firmware updates UT1 and UM2 and what Air mouse Keyboard work best for UT1 and UM2 you know any?

Yeah, I'd be interested in this too. I have a Kaiboer F4 (same box different name).


All I could find was this chinese site with update 1.1.0 - which I already have. It's dated August 20th 2013.

http://www.evolvetechsolutions.com/collections/kaiboer/products/kaiboer-f4.htm

 

[Kevi754]

I had a Pi, to be honest it was bloody hard work. My MK808 is MUCH better at everthing. It plays 720p perfectly (I don't bother with 1080p) it downloads torrents running Ttorrent and I can plug my 1Tb hard drive (passport) directly into it without a hub!
The Pi was a pain compared to the MK808, the 908 should be even better.

Pete


Sent from my GT-I9205 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Erm...what? Just flash OpenELEC on a SD and be done with it basically. H.264 videos play perfect out of the box for me even 1080p isn't any problem at all. The Pi is much better at playing videos (exception of DivX but who uses that anymore) than any Stick could be in my opinion.

 

[vic6888]

Erm...what? Just flash OpenELEC on a SD and be done with it basically. H.264 videos play perfect out of the box for me even 1080p isn't any problem at all. The Pi is much better at playing videos (exception of DivX but who uses that anymore) than any Stick could be in my opinion.

Have you tried playing movies which are more than 8GB? how does Pi performs for those movies? And can i run transmission or any other torrenting software if i use OpenELEC ??

 

[mad_sunday]

Erm...what? Just flash OpenELEC on a SD and be done with it basically. H.264 videos play perfect out of the box for me even 1080p isn't any problem at all. The Pi is much better at playing videos (exception of DivX but who uses that anymore) than any Stick could be in my opinion.

It was just so unreliable due I suspect to the ****ty USB implementation. I tried OpenElec (and several others) but I could never get it to work as I wanted it (and I've been running Linux on my PC's for 10 years). I threw it in the bin once I'd got the Android stick plugged in. The MK808 is faster, more reliable, easier to setsetup, and works perfectly with my USB 1TB hard drive without a hub (try that with a Pi). I find the video playback far superior too using MX player without having to cough money for codecs that you need for the Pi.

Pete


Sent from my GT-I9205 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[Cluesade]

You should probably use the pi as a 244/7 torrent box and the android mini pc as a game/ video player. Its way easier to use the pi as a cheap, power efficient torrent while not wasting processing power from the android on something like that. Thats what I do and it works great!

 

[BlobLobba]

What websites do u check for firmware updates UT1 and UM2 and what Air mouse Keyboard work best for UT1 and UM2 you know any?

I check this Ugoos Firmware download archive they maintain on this page here.

 

[k2thec]

minix x5 with new 1080 rom works great for me, have not had a ras pi

 

[britoso]

I used to use my CX919 for what you mention, until it died.
Played everything fine, Did not try 1080P content.

Great features, horrible build quality.

 

[CRizziR]

These quadcore tv sticks seam to die because of poor thermal design. I have bought a T-R42 (like CS918/K-R42 but with bluetooth) and I'm going to run an Ubuntu on this box.

I don't mind the RPi and actually I have one and I like it but keep in mind that you get only 512MB of memory and a 700MHz single core while you get 2GB of memory and a 1.6GHz quad core on these rk3188 tv boxes/sticks.

Also keep in mind that you might need a case, a power adapter and a wifi-stick for the pi which might cost you at least additional 25$ while this was all included in the T-R42 box I got and which sells now at 80$ including shipping from some chinese sellers (I payed 90€ and got it from a local seller).

One big advantage of the RPi is that there have been millions of them sold and there exists a vast community.


cheers

CRizziR