can remove.

can reinstall later if good news come.

i previously used nova. not bad.

now i use apex, quite similar but simpler.

i just like a clean no frills desktop like my pc.

about the ui/desktop, not to worry. what u saw, those "ugly" china ui's - are default ones from manufacturer for chinese made android boxes. it is easy to change to another ui of yr own choice by just downloading from playstore. some are free, "pro" versions cost a bit. i use free ones, happy enough.


if u are not planning to spend time on the tv or the box, i do not think u should buy any of these boxes. becos these boxes require time and effort to maintain - update firmwares, install/reinstall apps, etc. they are software driven unlike astro box or dvd player which are hardware driven. if you use it once a month, high chance that 3 out of 5 apps will need update and u can't put on anything nice when you want it!

this question pops up every few weeks or so in this or other thread.

don't know where you bought your device but i am sure there is a patch file for q5ii.

check with yr seller.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 3 2015, 11:24 PM

guys, for MOVIES...

for androids, the best way is the app MOVIEHD, free.

it was taken off for a couple of months citing "a need to restrict new users".

it is back now. get version 1.1.0, works great - simple, reliable, up to date... easy to navigate, fast, mostly 480p-720p actual quality, can get subs.

no, this one not in kodi.

actually, many good apps are standalone, developed for androids, e.g. moviehd, megamovie, popcorntime.

yes, it is that one.

i never got it from there, malware, not sure if good version.


added:


sorry... it went dead again, duno why!

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 8 2015, 10:09 PM

u must define better in what?

hey, myvi can be better than a bmw, you know!

streamyx works with these boxes but not as well as unifi (higher and more stable speed).

there is no commitment fee to the box, not like astro.

you buy the box, then you can have free stuff or subscribe to other stuff.

good free stuff, you need to learn how to get and maintain them, takes some work.

i think there is now legit paid service. there are also other non-legit stuff (you pay upfront, no guarantee after that).

some box sellers will sell you these paid services.

check this thread too.
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2855171/+580



p/s... why every week we have someone wanting to dump astro?

recession or what?

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 9 2015, 10:29 PM

kodi is a large app, so it is also about how much kodi u are going to use.

if light use, almost any box can handle kodi, even cheap mobile phones can handle.

if u are into lots of stuff, better to have bigger memory as kodi can take up a lot of space.

viewing photos from phones... i am not a big user of that but i would think with the usb cable, the box can read anything on the phone, with either native player or some other player u install yrself.

yes, dozens of brands each with a few models.

my stand has always been about how much you help you will need to keep the box working to the level you want. advanced level users can pick up any box and make it work well but a new user not prepared to learn may junk the box after a while. so, i advice you to choose:

.. popular brands/models that are common, many users can help you if in trouble.
.. buy from sellers who can help you or guide you where to get help.
(keep in mind these boxes need care and attention on firmware and apps updates; not pushing buttons like on dvd players or astro box.)

as mentioned, the most popular brands that get a lot of discussion hee are himedia, minix, xiaomi and a couple others.

1, 4 - much is available with just one app - KODI. movies can be found on KODI as well as other standalone apps.

2 - anime also found in KODI but a separate app called kissanime is even better.

5 - there some available on KODI too but not in HD; i think the ones available in HD on hypptv are quite good and you already have it.

which box to buy - i always say the same thing - buy one that is popular (info sharing) and helpful seller (for maintenance and updates). just avoid cheap but unpopular models where u get no help after buying.

which exact box to buy, best u search the sellers threads, ask questions....

that is a pity...

hypptv actually offers a some very good HD channels.

won't find them with same quality and reliability with the androidbox!

the ad for this one makes a very big and loud claim: "permanent and free 1000 channels incl xxtro".

unless it comes with black magic, i don't see how that means anything.

if new to this kind of box, i suggest:

.. read this thread in full, from page 1.
.. visit a fren or neighbor who has one of them, ask them.

for anyone not IT fluent as a user, it won't be easy.

for those who have used android phones, it will be much easier.

very misleading to think this box can be = axtro box.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 15 2015, 03:32 PM

android devices progress by leaps and bounds every year, even 6 months.

simplifed, the progression has been:

android: version 4.1 jellybean->4.4 kitkat->5 lollipop->6 marsh mallow
chip: dual core->quad core->octa core
memory: 1gb/4gb->2gb/8gb->2gb/16gb


"powerful" generally = most expensive and newest.

the "most powerful" box at this time is probably an octa core 2gb/16gb lollipop 5.x.

the trouble with this "most powerful" is there are a no. of apps that do not support the chipset or the android version. in fact, most local iptv like astro-on-the-go, hypptv everywhere, iflix, etc. won't work with newer sets. can say they can't catch up so quickly.

so, why u want it to be "most powerful"?!

it all depends on how u will use it. for light users, a simple basic one will serve the purpose.

some will look for large memory to dump in all sorts of apps and never have to clean up.

some look for 3D, 4k and hd audio handling.

some look for proprietory apps, pre-installed apps, even iptv subscriptions.

do read this thread from page 1. don't get the idea that by buying the most expensive box, all will work well. not at all. becos these boxes are software driven, u need to know how or get help to make it work well.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 15 2015, 11:15 PM

an update on this movie hd app...

version 1.1.0 worked then died.

a few days later, it came back, working good now on one of my devices.

it works on my quad kitkat but does not work on a dual jellybean.

it seems the app has a way to detect the device for previous registration or chipset type or mac no. to work or not, possibly as a way to control no. of users...? don't really know the truth.

anyway, try it. it is very good - if it works on yr device.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 15 2015, 11:34 PM

Q8 is from the long selling Q series, uses quadcore hisilicon chipset, 1gb/8gb, android 4.4 kitkat.
this spec is a little low on the memory but should the job well for most apps.
however, 8gb memory... after the os and other requirements, there is only 4-5gb left, can't take too many or very large apps.

H8 Octa is the first one in a new series, uses rockchip, octa core, android 5.1 lollipop.
comes in two submodels - 1gb/8gb and 2gb/16gb.
former as entry level; latter has more memory for more apps.
i believe this model is the current flagship model.

there has been many models in the last 2-3 years of which the most popular were q5ii and q16 - both no longer sold in the market.

for details on specs, differences, best to ask the sellers.

http://www.himediatech.com/productList.htm

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Dec 16 2015, 01:54 AM

frankly, it is hard to recommend as it all depends on what stuff u will want, yr level of knowledge on such devices and how interested u will be to make it work well.

assuming u r new to it, i can only suggest u NOT to buy the most expensive as it may be underutilized, waste of money.

minix or himedia are good brands to start with, but choose the model that fit yr expected needs. talk to sellers, ask questions, understand the main advantages and disadvantages of each model.

good luck!

i think iflix does NOT work on the H8 Octa.

no idea about the others.

This Movie HD is strange... after 3 days, it stopped working again!

Cartoon HD is much like MegaHD.

Together with Showbox and Movie HD, they are all quite similar.

Differences only in content focus, 1080p material and the option to choose player and possibility of getting subs.

Popcorn Time is a little different, I like it better - many 1080p files.

No need so many, 1 or 2 will do!

kodi has many such movie addons.

used so many before...

i actually like the standalone apps better for movies - more stable, more reliable, easier to navigate, faster.

after 2 yrs of kodi, i have to say i am not using it much anymore.

now using only phoenix mainly for live tv and live sports.

becos standalone apps are now much better - for movies and tv shows.