Reviews :-


Available ROMs:

Installing firmware youtube video :-

HD Audio passthrought testing :-




AstroGo Testing:

Netflix 4k Testing:

Kenapa ada bebenang khas utk box ini? Mintak penjelasan

Sekian

I see this box as a box which can possibly run both AstroGo and netflix 4k together and still keep the price below RM 300.

But it will need tweaking. I am still checking.

Not sure if this will help unless u have the box to try..

Alternatively, if the box is L1, you may try the 2 apks installation in link below

https://www.pluginsxbmc.com/2019/09/mecool-...-androidtv.html

This post has been edited by StevenL: Nov 22 2019, 10:39 PM

Your first method based on the so-called netflix 5.3.1 is a mod based on com.netflix.mediaclient, which is the mobile version of netflix. It also does not have genuine netflix signature.

Your second method is based on using Kodi plugin.

I haven't tried on the box, from what I read, this box does not need all that. Just install the poison TV ROM will do, you would then use genuine netflix meant for TV ( com.netflix.ninja ).

For test

1. Uninstall the Netflix application

2. Download and install these 2 applications without opening them
(? APK1 + APK2? )

3. We now go to the application drawer and we will see that 2 Netflix applications have been installed. One with the black background and the other with the white background.

4. We start the Netflix application with the black background and when we see the screen to log in we exit. Now if we start the other application with the white background and in this one we can enter our login to enter our Netflix account.

5. Once this is done we can access all the content of NETFLIX in HD and Ultra HD 4K as long as our account is Premium. From now on we will always use the one with the white background, therefore it is recommended that we put this application as a favorite to access it more quickly from the main panel.

I got feed back that the box WiFi is bad, this is reflected also by the review made by voncrane. The cable LAN performance is good though.

So this box is by design weak in WiFi.

CoreElec is the answer to the Netflix issue .....

I'm just trying to learn to understand this android box/IPTV stuff so forgive me for my silly question.

CoreElec as I understand is a linux-based distro. There's a Netflix app/client for Linux?

CoreElec is a Linux distro which includes a Linux version of Kodi. And Kodi has a Netflix plugin.

The difference is that this plugin on CoreElec has a way to get around the DRM issue of playing Netflix in HD/4k.

Read this thread :-

https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...1-mini-2-s905x3

The people there have at least already played Netflix in FHD (1920x1024) using this box. It is reported to be playing smoothly.

And because the CoreElec is small and fast, it resides in a SD card, plugged into the micro SD slot of the box, nicely coexist with the Android which resides on the flash.

Any moment you can switch between the two different OSes just between a couple of seconds.

Any boxes which has DRM L1 and support CoreElec can use the same technique to run Netflix in HD/4K, but additional CPU juices determine whether it will be smooth or not smooth. This S905x3 is fast enough for at least FHD. You can of course use a higher end box such as Beelink GT King, but it will cost more.

Ah~ via Kodi plugin. Of course.
I didn't know coreelec runs on arm/arm64. Always thought x86/x64.
That explains.

According to the Freaktab thread I quoted earlier, it seems actually the CoreElec and netflix plugin, does not need a DRM L1 for the job. It only needs good CPU.

Recent official support for certain Beelink devices..

Yeap.. appears so..

On another note... Updated custom ATV OS ROM now available.. See post #26 for update... Latest stock fw is now V203P0.
Changelogs;
1. Solve the problem that some software cannot recognize the model ? of GT1mini-?, which causes an error or an abnormality. Change the model in the software to GT1mini-2.
2. Solve the problem of automatically turning on after turning off the Bluetooth speaker.

ATV only brings advantage on launcher and play store interface navigation. Apart from that, everything else is disadvantage.

There are apps become missing user interface when rendered on ATV.

Also people claim Netflix 4k requires ATV certication. That's fake info too.

If I am not mistaken, netflix HD@4K does not depend on Google Widevine L1 or Google cert.. like minix neo t5 it got proper google cert, widevine L1 but when I ask Minix on their official FB page, it is only capable of Netflix SD..

What I know of that Netflix 4K@HD requires Netflix ESN.. That is own Netflix certification.. that is why some devices like Gt Mini-A tried to spoof Xiaomi Mi Box ESN but later kantoi and will get error NW640-4..

Google certification ? We have to be specific. Google has various certifications. There is play store certification, there is ATV/chromecast certification, there is Google widevide certification.

Play store certification and ATV certification are all irrelevant as far as Netflix is concerned. But for Android platform, Google widevide L1 is relevant, because that's what Netflix depends on for end-to-end secure delivery of video content, to make sure nobody can make a copy of the content in between.

But Google widevide L1 itself is not enough. Netflix also require their own certification ( ESN cert ). So yeah, Minix gotten all the certification from Google ( some of them are irrelevant with respect to Netflix ) but they still short of ESN cert. Netflix refuse to certify their amlogic boxes.

On Android all these are relevent for Netflix :-

1. Google Widevine L1.
2. HDCP 2.2
3. Netflix certified ESN.

Short of one also won't work.

Netflix is not mendated to use Google Widevine L1 only. They can use other secure mechanism.

Kodi runs on various platforms, but they could only support Netflix upto FHD. But they can get upto 4k on Google platform provided that point 4 conditions are fulfilled, ie Netflix certification, Widevine Security Level L1 and HDCP 2.2 hardware.

Wrong.. if it was only a launcher, Nvidia Shield won't be as great as it is today.. Means any regular Android OS manufacturer can just slap on a launcher and call it a day... but they don't do that and magically it's the same right? ATV OS was built for the big screen from the ground up and unlike most other boxes.. which are just glorified for phones/tablet OSes but forced to output for the big screen and audio passthrough tossed in. Don't get me started on the advantages of certain custom ROMs over stock. Stability, increased features such as better voice remote functions (Global & in-app voice support) & better performance being just a few. Those "missing" apps you speak of are all clearly listed in the app drawer and as you can see from screenshots, it's an easy access from there. Lastly, apps specifically built for ATV OS can be controlled using directional buttons on remote, with no fuss.. No need to simulate touching the screen. The ATV OS UI is better & more intuitive for the big screen. Example, Crunchyroll, YouTube, iFlix app, etc..So yes, there are plenty advantages running a custom ATV OS ROM from a chef that knows his stuff than sticking with manufacturer's stock non-ATV OS ROM. Anyways, this is the beauty of Android...OPTIONS.. If one likes, they could just dual-boot CoreELEC & ride the current 1080p Netflix wave. As for 4K, HDR, etc? c'mon.. If one is going to buy such TVs & prioritize Netflix 4K and HDR? be smart enough to buy one that's Netflix certified and stays that way. Netflix has made it easier too, look for smart TVs with the Netflix Recommended TV logo...as these offer a significantly better Netflix experience. No hoops jumping required.

I'm one of those & it's not fake info.. Feel free to contact Netflix & several big name non-Netflix certified manufacturers (as I've done) about why they don't have/offer official support. For such TV boxes, legit properly licensed from Google and built ATV OS is a prerequisite for Netflix to even begin consideration for their "certification". Besides this, there are other requirements, which I can't get into right now. However, I can share the following 7 criteria stipulated by Netflix for TVs. 5 out of the 7 must be met before a manufacturer can slap the Netflix Recommended TV logo on it.
1. TV Instant On: Your TV wakes up instantly and remembers where you were. Apps are ready to use right away.
2. Fast App Launch: Whether you’ve just turned on the TV, or switched from a different app, Netflix always opens quickly.
3. Netflix Button: Turn the TV on and open Netflix with a single press of a button; it’s that simple.
4. Easy Netflix Icon Access: The Netflix app is easy to find and start from the TV menu.
5. Always Fresh: The TV updates in the background, so the latest Netflix TV shows and movies are always displayed.
6. High-res Netflix Interface: Get the best experience when browsing in Netflix - with sharper text, clearer images, and the latest functionality.
7. Latest Netflix Version: The TV comes with the latest version of Netflix with the newest features.

TLDR:... No legit Netflix certification.. No real candy, just workarounds that will work until they don't... Azwandy said the exact same thing with fewer words...I think we all know this already. Netflix runs a tight ship and tbh, I prefer they keep it that way.

I admit that I never read the whole post but no, what make Nvidia Shield great has little to do to ATV per se.

It is due to :-

1. Nvidia Shield has a better processor in GPU/CPU.
2. Nvidia Shield also changed their kernel, tuning it for video and audio and game. They have probably worked with Plex author to allow the app to make full use of the hardware.

Again, nothing to do with Android TV per se.

We have so many crap amlogic ATV devices on around. They are real testimony that ATV is actually nothing.

On Amlogic, Minix and Ugoos are those two vendors who also modify the standard kernel, others they are probably just taking the kernel from Amlogic, changing almost nothing.

I don't think Beelink and the poison TV author changed much on the kernel.

If Beelink and Poison TV author ever do much enhancement, their would have probably changed the Android to 64 bit. But no, both the Beelink and Poison TV ROMs are still 32 bit.

The codecs on the standard Amlogic devices are quite crappy .

Again.. The OS at its very core is designed from the ground up for the big screen. Perhaps you should read my post in its entirety, understand before commenting. The ATV OS Play Store also operates by different rules than the regular Android OS Play Store. Apps that don't follow strict ATV OS guidelines in relation to UI and remote friendly usage will NOT be accepted in the PlayStore. Try this..Use iFlix and YouTube as an example. Launch both their ATV and mobile app on the big screen.. Then tell me which looks and performs better.. The WHY should immediately reveal itself to you. With the ATV OS version, you can navigate easier with the directional buttons AND thanks to a better integrated Google voice assistant, you can do "nonsense" like speaking directly into the remote, commanding the app to search and play videos. Zero screen touching or keyboard typing involved..Its quite smart. These would not have been possible without the prior groundwork.

Sure, there are crappy ATV OS devices which is why custom ROMs are a thing. A capable chef can take a shitty ATV OS fw, strip out most of the crap, fix most of the bugs and intro more features than the manufacturer bothered to include in their stock ROM? Primarily because the community cares more about their device(s) than an already stretched thin manufacturer does. Talking about the Nvidia Shield... The secret to their success is simple. They wanted to prove to the world how great their CPU/GPU is. SO they sat down, designed and came up with a singular device. Now they have at most 5 devices? AND with an army of credible developers behind them. These guys are way more passionate about their work and making the Shield devices number one. Guess what, they could have gone with the "superior & disadvantaged" regular Android OS.. But they didn't, and not for lack of trying.. Instead they chose ATV OS. Surely, that too has contributed immensely to their success today.

You are just repeating my point that ATV at its core is about user-interface, navigation and so on.

It is not ATV which makes Shield successful !

It is those additional effort put in by the ROM creator which make it successful. And most importantly, it must do well in the main job of a TVbox, the video and voice playback covering wide enough variety of formats and sources.

This post has been edited by puchongite: Dec 29 2019, 07:39 AM

Great thinking buddy... You might as well say that the only difference between a Myvi and a Porsche 918/BMW M series are the looks and HU OS/Navigation.. Chasis from the get go has no say in how they drive.. .. Like I said, if it were only due to UI & navigation.. ANY Tom, Dick & Harry manufacturer can simply slap those changes you speak off onto any regular Android OS and tada!! ATV OS is born..

Nvm... Gone off topic d..Use that which you prefer... After testing various Stock & Custom ROMs on this GT1 Mini 2.. I can categorically say that the current ATV ROM is the best among all.

You are the one who claimed that what makes Shield successful is the ATV, not me. You are the one who neglected the factor of Tegra CPU/, the factor of good custom kernel, the factor of good codecs, good video players ....All these are important factors outside the definition of ATV.

Not me.

When so many crap ATVs are floating around and never made themselves into anything great.

By the way, I can already predict that the poison TV ROM is just "yet another ATV". "Best ATV" among all other ATVs is not going to make much difference to the overall product. The Afrd is creating more nuisance than anything great. It's codecs are still limited by the crap inherit from whatever. It is still many steps away from shield, despite it having the "best ATV".

This post has been edited by puchongite: Dec 30 2019, 07:14 AM

What's important in a TV box is the support for the latest codecs and certification. The main aim is to watch live and stream contents.

If I wanted to play games and perform heavy CPU tasks for simulations as such I won't be buying a TV box.

The thing is this. Why China OEMs and cheap generic brands couldn't catch up with the competition despite boasting so many powerful hardware specs as such. They totally failed in their software departments and firmware/ROM updates. Just sell the boxes and forget about any updates thereafter. What's the use? That's why they can go so much cheaper. Their software department is almost non existent.They throw all their money into the box design and marketing.

Why China brands of phones and tv boxes never gain much market share. They are still far left out from the software support compared to the Western markets. You can boasts of the best hardware but if your software development for that particular device is half cook, it also means a failed product.

I agree with your post in bold there. But many people think as long as they get ATV, they will get latest codecs and then everything is certified, which is totally not related.

Also you can't really blame the China manufacturers. It fault is not entirely theirs. They are by definition, only trying to be a hardware manufacturers. They only put in minimal effort in the software areas. Just take Minix for example, even if they want to work with Netflix, netflix also does not want to work with them. I have a feeling that Netflix thinks Amlogic is not secure.

Haha agreed but end of the day the money is always involved in acquiring the certification standards. We could buy the China boxes cheap because they cut such funding for applying such certifications from Netflix, and Google(acquired Widevine) as well as proper software development for their products.

The Amlogic chipsets do support the required standards natively but unfortunately the box manufacturers refuse to pay royalties and thus blocked by them.

Honestly speaking, we hear only the second hand information. From what I heard for example, Minix wants to work with Netflix, meaning they are at least prepared to talk about royalties, but they are denied by Netflix for any further discussion.

For all you know the "offer" is less enticing to Netflix compared to the big ones who plans to keep their monopolies.

Since the last two ROMs,

1. the Beelink stock ROM

https://beelink-my.sharepoint.com/personal/...WRjYi1EUktVMTBn

and

2. the Poison ROM

https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...inixfreak_os-v3 ,

Now there are three more ROMs available on this device, thanks to Beelink's generosity in giving free hardware sample to the ROM developers :-

3. https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...-9-0-pie-s905x3

4. https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...androidtv-build

5. https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-...x3-normal-build

This post has been edited by puchongite: Jan 8 2020, 04:09 PM

So have you got yourself this box yet?

I don't mind getting a free box, if Beelink gives me a free box, I will also create one ROM for it. LOL.

So this android box do not support netflix 4k out of the box?do i have to install hack rom or apk to do that?

Yes the box does not support Netflix 4k out of the box.

But you can dual boot CoreElec, that will allow you to run Netflix plugin for CoreElec ( which works the same way as Kodi ), that will give you full HD 1080p Netflix.

4k will require other hacking which nobody has published that they have successfully done it.