no ban.

these tv's with android functions have been around for some time now.

in fact, all new smart tv's come with android functions.

they come with the basic free and licensed stuff - youtube, browser, music streams, even news.

some offer movie previews; you subscribe and pay yrself, nothing to do with the tv.

some people will be able to make the android inside work harder with additional apps, etc.

however, android in tv is usually not the best available and it will be limited - by chipset type and memory.

most advanced android users will prefer buying their own much more powerful and versatile androidbox for many other apps, have a lot more stuff.

well... for netflix 4k, u must have a 4k tv regardless of having a box or not!


i was wrong 4 months ago when i thought the androids in smart tv's are crappy.

not anymore. the latest androids in premium tv's now are as good as any in a box, if not better.

i had tried my own 4k tv's android enough - it is good, can take any app a box can; good memory size.

so, u save the cost, power, wear and tear on a separate box.

the big advantage of a separate box is probably the audio function. tv's arc (hdmi or optical) don't go very far with audio, tops dd/dts.

for playback dtshdma, ddtrue dolby, dd atmos, dts:x, need the right box.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Apr 10 2016, 10:12 AM

Google android tv is offered in relevant sony, sharrp and philips models.

Not just apps from playstore, u can load other apps via usb too.

Lg, samsung, panasonic, toshiba have own smart tv systems.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Aug 7 2016, 04:56 PM

risky...
u will need to check the amp/power of the box.
if >500mA, 2.5w, u may overload the tv usb.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-pow...off-a-USB-port/

androidtv is only found in tv size 50" and above - may be too large/costly for yr rooms.
but they are more convenient when it comes to direct use of netflix, youtube, bloomberg and al jazeera.
also, less maint, can take popular apps like hyppewhere, astrogo, iflix.

use of box makes sense if they can reliably handle the apps u are looking at and do not cost too much.

but frankly... i am using both, neither will be great for your purpose - i would think most "passers-by" will get annoyed with use of androidtv/android box, unless they already know how they work.
might be more viable if u find some package for hypptv or astro with decoders for smaller, lower end tv's.

This post has been edited by AVFAN: Sep 14 2017, 11:25 AM