Related
One of the biggest features I'm looking for in either the EVO or Streak (still not sure which I'm going with, gotta wait another month for the Streak to come out) is to have the Android desktop/UI/home screen sent out via HDMI. What I would hope to do is:
- be using the phone
- dock it (with HDMI to display)
- have the display show up on the TV (preferably fitting the aspect ratio and resolution of the display, though not necessarily a requirement)
The thought then would be to use a mouse and keyboard via either Bluetooth or USB (in host mode, obviously), and use the phone on the larger display to function basically as a netbook replacement (web browsing, music/videos, light gaming, light office prod. stuff).
I've seen other people on here asking around if it was possible, which it looks like it ISN'T out of the box...but maybe a developer looking for something to do might pick up on this post. You'd make a lot of people very happy!
I am also very interested in this.
So basically something like this?
http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/
I think a good example would be the functionality that matches the current Touch Pro/Fuze TV-Out functionality... Unlike the HDMI output restrictions that are currently on the Evo device, I am able to use the entire OS (Winmo) to select start, programs, play programs, games (Tony Hawk), etc. The TV acts a full clone to what is on the phone screen itself..
I am looking for similar functionality so I can play a movie, nav, on a HDMI connected slate while the Evo is out of site (examples - vehicle screens, portable screens ). Obviously there would no input commands from the screen attached device, but a bluetooth air mouse could help out with that.
Yeah... would be nice, imagine HID bluetooth devices(wii mote controller) hook the phone to a tv, and play some classic games...
RIGHT ON
techwerkz said:
So basically something like this?
http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, as far as input goes, but it would also need software (or a core OS update?) to push the display out via HDMI, at the same time.
I was really interested in this as a possibility, and certainly took notice of the nexus one with host USB capability. Bear in mind the Nexus One was not pushing the device's display out, it was running an X server, but still a neat idea.
I know that currently only the HTC software can push anything out of the HDMI port, but I expect it is simply a matter of applications knowing to take advantage of it, probably not even drivers.
A quick google of htc evo hdmi API gets you sprints android development site, which says the guide includes info on how your applications can take advantage of the HDMI port. I haven't messed with the android API much yet, but the only issue would be for someone to write an application that can grab the entire display, and then push it out to the port via the API.
http:// developer.sprint.com/site/global/develop/mobile_platforms/android/android.jsp
laydros said:
I was really interested in this as a possibility, and certainly took notice of the nexus one with host USB capability. Bear in mind the Nexus One was not pushing the device's display out, it was running an X server, but still a neat idea.
I know that currently only the HTC software can push anything out of the HDMI port, but I expect it is simply a matter of applications knowing to take advantage of it, probably not even drivers.
A quick google of htc evo hdmi API gets you sprints android development site, which says the guide includes info on how your applications can take advantage of the HDMI port. I haven't messed with the android API much yet, but the only issue would be for someone to write an application that can grab the entire display, and then push it out to the port via the API.
http:// developer.sprint.com/site/global/develop/mobile_platforms/android/android.jsp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only thing I'd worry about there is that it isn't actually "grabbing" the screen (as in screen captures, polling it for changes, etc) because that could absolutely kill performance. That's why I wonder if it wouldn't require driver access or update, in order to actually "push" the display out the HDMI port (note: I'm not a developer, so I can only do my best to keep up with what potential issues might be. )
Any update on this?
I noticed if you read further down on the USB Host Mode page, there's info on a USB TV driver (TV IN sadly), an X11 driver (not sure which way they mean), and also DisplayLink although I think that is some kind of device you need to buy. If I could X11 remote host my Android that would be PIMP but I doubt I'll get that lucky!
I desperately want to do this myself (TV OUT from Android), whether it be HDMI or USB or whatever. I need to output the OS and apps (for demo purposes).
i was thinking the same, somewhere along the lines of PdaReach for palm devices. but the monitor being an actual TV for entertainment purposes. ...trying to get my extra ten dollar fee to use. so if and when netflix decides to make a platform for android devices we could hence watch movies on our televisions via our phones streaming to the TV
hexydes said:
Only thing I'd worry about there is that it isn't actually "grabbing" the screen (as in screen captures, polling it for changes, etc) because that could absolutely kill performance. That's why I wonder if it wouldn't require driver access or update, in order to actually "push" the display out the HDMI port (note: I'm not a developer, so I can only do my best to keep up with what potential issues might be. )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The framebuffer is unprotected on stock Evo's & rooted Evo's alike, so if you just grabbed every frame as it went through the framebuffer and outputted it to the display, it could be done easily on any Evo. That is unless HTC plugged the unprotected framebuffer bug on a new update.
In any case, it wouldn't be that hard, it'd hurt performance a little, but I don't know for sure. An app wouldn't be that hard to make, think a high speed screenshot app, talk to the devs of ShootMe about how they grab from the framebuffer.
Geniusdog254 said:
The framebuffer is unprotected on stock Evo's & rooted Evo's alike, so if you just grabbed every frame as it went through the framebuffer and outputted it to the display, it could be done easily on any Evo. That is unless HTC plugged the unprotected framebuffer bug on a new update.
In any case, it wouldn't be that hard, it'd hurt performance a little, but I don't know for sure. An app wouldn't be that hard to make, think a high speed screenshot app, talk to the devs of ShootMe about how they grab from the framebuffer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That IS Genius!! Is anyone going to do this, or do I need to? (I have no Android programming skills sadly!)
I finally got a working HDMI cable from Sprint. My Amzer cable is bad apparently!
I'm happy now!
But still, ANYONE want to embark on this project??
jigglywiggly said:
Yeah... would be nice, imagine HID bluetooth devices(wii mote controller) hook the phone to a tv, and play some classic games...
RIGHT ON
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now THAT would be awesome!
i hope someone figures this out because i really need HDMI out on slingplayer to work
I wonder if we can just find the piece of code that the stock Youtube & HTC Gallery uses to take advantage of the HDMI and then implement it as a system service? Or at least have HTC tell or post on their website how to implement the code in their app, especially for the slingplayer!
Ill buy someone an HDMI cable if they're willing to work on this lol
skewbasteve said:
I wonder if we can just find the piece of code that the stock Youtube & HTC Gallery uses to take advantage of the HDMI and then implement it as a system service? Or at least have HTC tell or post on their website how to implement the code in their app, especially for the slingplayer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy, it's all right here!
docs.google.com/ View?id=dhtsnvs6_57d2hpqtgr#4_HDMI_output_support_82321908
(I can't seem to post a link so you'll have to copy/paste this one)
skewbasteve said:
I wonder if we can just find the piece of code that the stock Youtube & HTC Gallery uses to take advantage of the HDMI and then implement it as a system service? Or at least have HTC tell or post on their website how to implement the code in their app, especially for the slingplayer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't work. It's already in the Evo developer docs as posted by the person above me. All it does is take any VideoView object in any app and broadcast it over HDMI unless you specifically tell it not to in the application manifest.
There is no way to run that as a service. As of yet I've tried the following:
Copy frames via CLI from /dev/graphics/fb0 (the main screen framebuffer) to /dev/graphics/fb1 (the HDMI framebuffer) to see if it is possible to work it like that. It isn't.
Symlink the two framebuffers so in theory whatever happens to one, should happen to the other. It doesn't work either. It does do something since it breaks HDMI output, but it doesn't display the screen. This could be because the resolution doesn't match one of the TVs supported resolutions.
I'm still going to try a custom kernel once I get my build environment set up (hopefully tomorrow) with a few changes, but I can't promise anything. Anything more complicated than Java is a little over my head, but I can do a little.
I'll keep you posted.
Regards,
Jesse C.
I'm willing to put $10 towards the bounty.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I hope my inquiry does not sound stupid as I am not familiar with the smartphone modding scene.
I am looking to build or modify an Android device and turn it in to a high capacity media (Keyword: Media) player with around 1 TB of capacity since those morons at Apple won't get off their lazy asses and take the f*ing hard drive out of the iPod classic and slap it into an iPod Touch... I mean "iPhone with the phone"... idiots, anyways that is why I want to do this.
I have a large music collection, at 320kbps my music sits at about 450 GB and I would like to have a device that can hold all my music plus my favorite movies, TV shows, photos, and because I am looking at Android, my favorite Android games.
My first question is, is this possible or will I have to keep dreaming and hoping that some tech giant will clearly do what is technically possible today before I get old and die.
My second question is, I will need a custom ROM with a unique interface designed to be a media player and does not have a web browser, messaging app, etc... A ROM that functions like the iPod classic OS and supports everything iTunes supports including playcounts, ratings, smartplaylist, etc but designed for a touch screen player. Where would I find a ROM like this or who would make it.
how about trying "audio galaxy" ? before we go tearing **** apart and making custom Frankenstein creations . you will have every song on your computer available on your phone playlists all of that. with out a single file being on your device. it uses your phones data network, i guess its the cloud thing they talk about . i use it everyday i highly recommend it
So technically attaching a hard drive to a smart phone is possible. The biggest problem is size, a 1 tb drive is still a large drive, much larger than your phone. The bigger problem is power. Hard drives require tons and tons of power and even SSDs require a good chunk (on the order of one to two watts depending on operation). I know there are roms that focus on basic functionality but I don't know if any are geared specifically for being only music players.
I can offer u a 25%, including only a custom android os with music and video playback apps and wifi-bt-usb connectivity. And any app u need for ur media player. ( if u can buy a hd2 its the best for android-wp7.5 dual boot. And a lot of devs for it now)
Sent from my HTC HD2 using xda premium
At this stage even 250 Gb,s is almost impossible without having an enourmous piece of hardware, and you will need a fast prossesor, and a HUGE battery, the UI is possible
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using XDA
I suppose this would be possible. If your phone supports USB host mode, you could try simply using a 1TB external hard drive.
After some searching around, I came across an article on the topic.
Step 1
You need to prepare your external HDD by formatting it to FAT32. If you have stuff in your hard drive, which is in NTFS state, you should move it temporarily to some other media while you prepare your hard drive.
This is perhaps the only downside to this procedure. But depending on your usage you can make this step worth your effort. This is just a one time only step so don’t be afraid to carry out the arduous task of moving your items from and to your HDD.
Step 2
Connect your portable HDD to your tablet.
Step 3
Make sure your USB switch state is set to ‘Host’. Get this free USB Mode Switcher app if you don’t know how to do it.
Step 4
Switch to your file manager app and wait for it to detect your hard drive. It might take sometime for the app to detect your external drive during which time you should keep refreshing, but once it has detected, the streaming is flawless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source:
http://hackslurp.com/2011/08/21/how...m-external-hard-drive-to-your-android-tablet/
Ok, so I've been trawling the threads for hours and the time has come to make my first post on this..
Here's what I really want to do, and whether or not, as I understand, I can do it:
Nexus 7 in dash, 3G model - fine, been done loads of times
250GB USB HDD, connected via USB OTG, containing my music library - possibly, depends on my hard drive? Will it work if I can provide a secondary source of power to the HDD (my caddy allows this)
Charge the N7 at the same time - again possibly, with CM10 and kernel mod? Also new to Android so shooting in the dark a bit here.
OPTIONAL/BACKUP IDEAS:
Wi-Fi drive of some sort - If it works then maybe, seems like an extreme option though for a car install.
Google Music and stream my entire collection (I have 15GB monthly data sim that I can use in the N7) - will work but not ideal for me. I have a lot of lossless music which I won't be able to take advantage of this way. Which brings me on to...
USB DAC through OTG cable - possible I know, but to do this on top of the other stuff is gonna be difficult and unreliable? Can live with just the headphone jack output for the time being, unless:
Utilise the pogo pins for a line out and charging - would be a nice solution in the car but again, possible?
It would be fantastic if someone could tie this all together simply for me somehow, or if anyone has any far better ideas for what I'm trying to do :good:
Also feel free to ridicule my noob-ness
Cheers
I need to replace my parents 7 year old Windows PC with a new one. I was thinking of getting a Android stick instead since their uses are limited to Skype, Hangouts, Facebook, occassional browsing and YouTube. Besides, at least my mom has become pretty familiar with her Android phone.
What I have in mind is this:
Buy a monitor with HDMI port or DVI. The monitor will have built in speakers as well. Connect the stick to it.
Attach a USB hub to the stick.
Attach webcam, keyboard and mouse to the hub. Alternatively, attach keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in the monitor (if available). I don't want to use bluetooth because they will find recharging the keyboard/mouse difficult.
My questions are:
How effective this setup will be for the above mentioned purposes? The reason I ask this is because most people seem to be using Android stick primarily as a media player.
I tried hooking up two tablets to my TV, neither of them gave full screen. Will I face such problems with the stick? Do I need to look for any specific monitor resolutions or aspect ratios?
If I attach keyboard and mouse to the monitor's USB port, will it work?
Are there any sticks which will support touch screen monitors out of the box?
Will it play the sound through monitor out of the box?
In case I have to use bluetooth, can I pair both keyboard and mouse at the same time?
Do I need to shutdown the stick just like a PC or will a simple mains switch off be enough? Or can I leave it running all the time without worrying about the power consumption?
Please recommend a good stick for this purpose.
Am I overlooking something? Will I need any extra components?
I will most likely be telling them over the phone on how to set up the whole thing. So any kind of tinkering with software (like rooting or some form of modding) will not be possible.
unni_kmr said:
I need to replace my parents 7 year old Windows PC with a new one. I was thinking of getting a Android stick instead since their uses are limited to Skype, Hangouts, Facebook, occassional browsing and YouTube. Besides, at least my mom has become pretty familiar with her Android phone.
What I have in mind is this:
Buy a monitor with HDMI port or DVI. The monitor will have built in speakers as well. Connect the stick to it.
Attach a USB hub to the stick.
Attach webcam, keyboard and mouse to the hub. Alternatively, attach keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in the monitor (if available). I don't want to use bluetooth because they will find recharging the keyboard/mouse difficult.
My questions are:
How effective this setup will be for the above mentioned purposes? The reason I ask this is because most people seem to be using Android stick primarily as a media player.
I tried hooking up two tablets to my TV, neither of them gave full screen. Will I face such problems with the stick? Do I need to look for any specific monitor resolutions or aspect ratios?
If I attach keyboard and mouse to the monitor's USB port, will it work?
Are there any sticks which will support touch screen monitors out of the box?
Will it play the sound through monitor out of the box?
In case I have to use bluetooth, can I pair both keyboard and mouse at the same time?
Do I need to shutdown the stick just like a PC or will a simple mains switch off be enough? Or can I leave it running all the time without worrying about the power consumption?
Please recommend a good stick for this purpose.
Am I overlooking something? Will I need any extra components?
I will most likely be telling them over the phone on how to set up the whole thing. So any kind of tinkering with software (like rooting or some form of modding) will not be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list:
1. If you connect the mini pc (stick or otherwise) using HDMI cable to the monitor, you will have audio through the monitor.
2. If you buy a mini pc instead of a stick, you wouldn't need an additional usb hub (see X5 or X7)
3. You will need to use a logitech webcam (at least to use stock roms on Minix)
4. For browsing, Facebook, and Skype, the X7 will handle that easily, on a wired/wireless connection
5. Full screen works fine (either 1080p or 720p)
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
7. The X7will pair both a keyboard and mouse via bt at once, though I would recommend using the usb ports if you are setting it up at a desk
8. My X7 almost never gets shut off. Usually just shut off the monitor and let it stay on. The power consumption is minimal, especially when not being used.
Also, as far as a recommendation, I find the X7 to be pretty good. You'd probably be ok with an X5 if they aren't planning on using it as a media center and want to save some $$$. A lot of the cheap sticks are made by manufacturers who do not provide updates or product support, but since the end of July, Minix has come out with 3 firmware updates, and another one is almost ready. (They would have released update 005 except Rockchip released an update to their code and Minix want to integrate it prior to their next release, as it improves video playback).
On the negative side, the firmware does still have occasional glitches. Although my X7 has been up for days on end, every once in a while it just freezes up, and i have to pull the power cable, plug it back in, and turn it on. Also, the X7 had some early issues with SD cards, but if you don't plan on using an SD card, that shouldn't be an issue.
If you believe an android device will do everything your parents need in a PC, I think it's a great idea. Low power consumption (4W vs the 160-220W of my HTPC), low heat, no noise, low price, and decent reliability.
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Mike_77 said:
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list:
1. If you connect the mini pc (stick or otherwise) using HDMI cable to the monitor, you will have audio through the monitor.
2. If you buy a mini pc instead of a stick, you wouldn't need an additional usb hub (see X5 or X7)
3. You will need to use a logitech webcam (at least to use stock roms on Minix)
4. For browsing, Facebook, and Skype, the X7 will handle that easily, on a wired/wireless connection
5. Full screen works fine (either 1080p or 720p)
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
7. The X7will pair both a keyboard and mouse via bt at once, though I would recommend using the usb ports if you are setting it up at a desk
8. My X7 almost never gets shut off. Usually just shut off the monitor and let it stay on. The power consumption is minimal, especially when not being used.
Also, as far as a recommendation, I find the X7 to be pretty good. You'd probably be ok with an X5 if they aren't planning on using it as a media center and want to save some $$$. A lot of the cheap sticks are made by manufacturers who do not provide updates or product support, but since the end of July, Minix has come out with 3 firmware updates, and another one is almost ready. (They would have released update 005 except Rockchip released an update to their code and Minix want to integrate it prior to their next release, as it improves video playback).
On the negative side, the firmware does still have occasional glitches. Although my X7 has been up for days on end, every once in a while it just freezes up, and i have to pull the power cable, plug it back in, and turn it on. Also, the X7 had some early issues with SD cards, but if you don't plan on using an SD card, that shouldn't be an issue.
If you believe an android device will do everything your parents need in a PC, I think it's a great idea. Low power consumption (4W vs the 160-220W of my HTPC), low heat, no noise, low price, and decent reliability.
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a great wright up of x7 I love mine and agree 100 % with what you have said here. I've tried the uab sticks they don't work as well plus no heat on the x7 that thing is built well to last. I have set p.o.s. (point of sales) systems up in the past using the x5 cheap and fast browsing experience.
Good luck hope your parents are happy with what ever you end up doing.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
I have MK808b (dual core with 1GB RAM), and using it as a media center, but also as a PC for browsing INTERNET. It is connected to pc monitor with HDMI, and works perfectly in full HD resolution.
I can't find any reason not to use it as a replacement for PC, especially if you use cloud storage services.
Mike_77 said:
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list...
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for this detailed reply. Really appreciate you taking time to write all these.
I have dropped the idea of using touch screen, since they seem to be 3 times the cost of a regular monitor (in India).
Regarding the shipping, I am in US now and parents are in India. I am not exactly sure if customs will cause any problems. That's why I am thinking of ordering from eBay India itself. Only problem is eBay India seller is charging around $204, probably because this is a new device.
dincdoes.me said:
Good luck hope your parents are happy with what ever you end up doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this works as expected for the above purposes, I am the one who will be more happy. In the last 2 years, I have spent a lot of hours through LogMeIn remote desktop updating and maintaining the PC. Where my parents stay, there are scheduled powercuts for 1 hour per day for atleast half of the year, and power comes and goes every now and then even otherwise. This inconsistency in power was another reason that made me lean towards the mini PCs. Besides, my mom, who is the primary user of the PC, has become more familiar with Android (through her phone), and she likes playing the games a lot as well.
draskome said:
I have MK808b (dual core with 1GB RAM), and using it as a media center, but also as a PC for browsing INTERNET. It is connected to pc monitor with HDMI, and works perfectly in full HD resolution.
I can't find any reason not to use it as a replacement for PC, especially if you use cloud storage services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
I am thinking of getting the X7 or X5 mainly because of the software updates, since I won't need to purchase any hub and since I can use my existing Logitech C310 webcam.
I have few more questions regarding the X7:
1. How responsive is the keyboard and mouse? Can I expect a response similar to a normal Windows PC?
2. If I use a monitor that has a resolution between 720p and 1080p (something like 1360x768 for example), will the device handle it properly or will it look odd (like stretched)?
3. Will it get updated automatically? I saw one video in YouTube in which he was manually flashing it using some Windows utility. Is that the only way to update?
I have two devices.
First device is a 70 dollar single core tablet with a broken touch screen. It was to expensive to fix it so I turned it into a server.
1. it runs Servers ultimate pro running a WebDav server, PHP/MySQL server for RSS feeds and a home site for the family, ddns updater and an FTP server.
2. it is running a surveillance app that sends an email to me the moment anything moves in the camera shot.
3. runs a PocketMine-MP server
4. runs an app to auto stop and start apps dring certain times of the day.
All this is remotely accessible VIA webkey.
Second device is an iMito MX1
1. it has a 7 port hub attached.
2. a HD webcam for Skype.
3. two harddrives (a 1 TB driver for media storage and a 720GB for internal memory replacement)(more on that in a min)
4. plays netflix, red box, youtube, Vevo, crackle and XBMC... to name a few
5. has 32 games loaded up with a Logitech F710 wireless controller VIA an app for onscreen touch.
6. Logitech full sized KB and Mouse.
I use this thing for web browsing, shooting vids and pics over to it from my phone for family sharing(DLNA)
The 750gig harddrive is currently the SDCARD but the internal one(NAND). The internal NAND is no longer used and the harddrive is where the OS stores the app's file to SD and the apps extra downloads. This has allowed me to download 15 games that contain 1+gig of extra data each.
All this has replaced two PC's in my house running 24/7. My electric bill has dropped 100+ dollars a month and the house has become quieter.
Let me tell you that two PC's(one was a server and the other a media center) running at full speed just to watch a movie took 280 watts of power. My new setup only consumes 24 at peak! Plus less heat and fan noise! I changed over around a year ago and never looked back or miss my old setup.
If you plan on running one fore a PC replacement I recommend a quad core. Sometimes the browsers can get a bit poky and that is due to the slower CPU. Also Webkey a must for remote management. This one FREE app has saved me more times then I can could. It has tons of functions and features but it's best feature is the remote control. It is just like setting in front of the device but just a tad slower. It is not a perfect app but it is the only remote app that I have found to work time and time again.
unni_kmr said:
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My monitor is 24" 1080p, and it's perfectly suitable for the purpose
For the office documents, 512kbps is quite enough, but not for pics, videos....
unni_kmr said:
Thanks very much for this detailed reply. Really appreciate you taking time to write all these.
I have dropped the idea of using touch screen, since they seem to be 3 times the cost of a regular monitor (in India).
Regarding the shipping, I am in US now and parents are in India. I am not exactly sure if customs will cause any problems. That's why I am thinking of ordering from eBay India itself. Only problem is eBay India seller is charging around $204, probably because this is a new device.
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
I am thinking of getting the X7 or X5 mainly because of the software updates, since I won't need to purchase any hub and since I can use my existing Logitech C310 webcam.
I have few more questions regarding the X7:
1. How responsive is the keyboard and mouse? Can I expect a response similar to a normal Windows PC?
2. If I use a monitor that has a resolution between 720p and 1080p (something like 1360x768 for example), will the device handle it properly or will it look odd (like stretched)?
3. Will it get updated automatically? I saw one video in YouTube in which he was manually flashing it using some Windows utility. Is that the only way to update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad to share my experience. I was a bit hesitant to buy one originally, but have been more than happy with my purchase.
I bought mine from http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MINIX-NEO-X7-Android-TV-Box-RK3188-Quad-Core-Mini-PC-1-6GHz-2G-16G-WiFi/1086507000.html# shipped DHL for only $3 more, and had it delivered in 3 days to Hawaii from China.
Updates are kind of a pain until they implement OTA updates, which they say they're going to do. That's why I recommend shipping to you first, and then you can send to your parents. I understand the customs issue though.. tough decision on that one.
I use mine on a 55" 1080p tv, and the picture quality is outstanding. The picture does not looked stretched or odd any any way. I believe it will detect the correct display settings and you can set the resolution you desire in /settings/display/resolution (trying to remember exact menu it's under)
The keyboard and mouse is just as responsive as a windows pc. There are a couple of times there is a bit of lag, but that is just a function of how much stuff is running. Even when you experience lag, it isn't anything significant.
There is a working version of CWM that will allow you to flash updates like an Android phone, but you will have to use the pc utility to install CWM (available on freaktab.com) Once CWM is installed, you can package the update files into a zip that is premade other than your update files, and it'll update for you.
There is a lot more information on freaktab.com. I alternated between that and minixforums.com for a while when trying to decide which android mini pc to buy. After weeks of research, I decided the wait for the X7 was worth it, and haven't regretted my decision since.
Thanks very much for all the replies. Sorry that I didn't reply for a long time. I tried ordering Minix Neo X7 from the AliExpress link. But they rejected my payment due to security concerns (I used an US credit card and gave India adress which probably raised some red flags). Then I ordered from eBay India. Waiting for it to be shipped.
I also came across another interesting product that could have satisfied all my requirements. Its the ViewSonic VSD220. Its a touch screen monitor with speakers, web cam, USB ports and is a Android mini PC. The only down side was that a YouTube review said its processor is not upto the mark.
unni_kmr said:
Thanks very much for all the replies. Sorry that I didn't reply for a long time. I tried ordering Minix Neo X7 from the AliExpress link. But they rejected my payment due to security concerns (I used an US credit card and gave India adress which probably raised some red flags). Then I ordered from eBay India. Waiting for it to be shipped.
I also came across another interesting product that could have satisfied all my requirements. Its the ViewSonic VSD220. Its a touch screen monitor with speakers, web cam, USB ports and is a Android mini PC. The only down side was that a YouTube review said its processor is not upto the mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you'll get better performance out of the X7. Have you read all the info, etc on minixforums.com? Also, starting with FW006, they are supporting SDCard firmware updates (theoretically, though I haven't tried it)
reddragon72 said:
I have two devices.
First device is a 70 dollar single core tablet with a broken touch screen. It was to expensive to fix it so I turned it into a server.
1. it runs Servers ultimate pro running a WebDav server, PHP/MySQL server for RSS feeds and a home site for the family, ddns updater and an FTP server.
2. it is running a surveillance app that sends an email to me the moment anything moves in the camera shot.
3. runs a PocketMine-MP server
4. runs an app to auto stop and start apps dring certain times of the day.
All this is remotely accessible VIA webkey.
Second device is an iMito MX1
1. it has a 7 port hub attached.
2. a HD webcam for Skype.
3. two harddrives (a 1 TB driver for media storage and a 720GB for internal memory replacement)(more on that in a min)
4. plays netflix, red box, youtube, Vevo, crackle and XBMC... to name a few
5. has 32 games loaded up with a Logitech F710 wireless controller VIA an app for onscreen touch.
6. Logitech full sized KB and Mouse.
I use this thing for web browsing, shooting vids and pics over to it from my phone for family sharing(DLNA)
The 750gig harddrive is currently the SDCARD but the internal one(NAND). The internal NAND is no longer used and the harddrive is where the OS stores the app's file to SD and the apps extra downloads. This has allowed me to download 15 games that contain 1+gig of extra data each.
All this has replaced two PC's in my house running 24/7. My electric bill has dropped 100+ dollars a month and the house has become quieter.
Let me tell you that two PC's(one was a server and the other a media center) running at full speed just to watch a movie took 280 watts of power. My new setup only consumes 24 at peak! Plus less heat and fan noise! I changed over around a year ago and never looked back or miss my old setup.
If you plan on running one fore a PC replacement I recommend a quad core. Sometimes the browsers can get a bit poky and that is due to the slower CPU. Also Webkey a must for remote management. This one FREE app has saved me more times then I can could. It has tons of functions and features but it's best feature is the remote control. It is just like setting in front of the device but just a tad slower. It is not a perfect app but it is the only remote app that I have found to work time and time again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your guidance would be greatly appreciated. What would you reccomend for luanchers or either installing a new system on the Tronsmart T428. I just can't stand using the android with my wifi keyboard w built-in mouse. The android pop-up keyboard takes up half of my projector screen when it pops up even with null keyboard installed. When selecting a link if a similar page ops up there is no scroll bars on the right letting you know to scroll down or if ytou are still on the smae page waiting for stuff to upload. i guess I'm looking for more of an Ubuntu 10x or windows experience. Traditional keyboard and mouse vs touch screen. NOw that I think about it I bet I have to get hulu plus to watch anything on this bc it acts like a tablet.
Hi. This is one of those things that must be so simple, but a Google search just comes up with pages and pages of totally unrelated nonsense. Hoping you guys can help me.
All I want to do is be able to mirror my Nvidia Shield TV to my smartphone screen. Not the phone to the NVidia Shield. Like a PS Remote Play but for the NvS TV. My room is within remote and gamepad range so an on screen pad is not necessary. Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks
(P.S if anyone knows of any Kodi addons with 4k content...that would be awesome! - there were 2 but they have been discontinued)
Any luck or good leads?
"Allcast reciever"?
What app or apps are you suppose trying to get to your phone?
I've been looking into doing the same thing but to a note 4. I think I found a few ways that seems like they would work for media streaming if your Shield had root access or unrestricted app installation options. Things like allcast reciever and other casting options. They all seemed to have too much latency for gaming if that is what you were wanting to do.
I'm not sure if a chromecast can output audio and video using the HDMI port but that might work if it can do that?
The other issue with pulling this off os that I think the solution needs to be some sort of universal screen and audio mirroring, like googlecast, that doesn't care about what app it is mirroring. Otherwise you'll have to rely on the app that is on the shield being capable of casting, and the Nvidia Hub isn't as far as I know.
I search for terms like: Android to android screen mirroring, android remote display, android remote access, etc....nothing so far.
My most promising hope for doing something like this now are:
1. Making my phone somehow act as or emulate a display, TV, Monitor in a way that can utilize the output from the HDMI port of a SHIELD device. This would bypass all the various issues and complications with specific application capabilities and restrictions, though it is just a idea about how to work around the app issues, I have no idea if this would even be possible. I also don't know if anything that is coming out the HDMI port has any sort of HDCP protection. I would assume that some things would but I would also assume that most of those specific things are the kinds of things. I would just be casting via media players anyway.
2. I have a really REALLY fast LAN network, and I know I am able to remotely access my PC in various ways that are low latency and high performance as far as display and audio are concerned. So, assuming the latency could be kept low enough I have thought about working on getting what I want to access on an Nvidia shield device to my PC running Windows 10, then I can just access that from my phone.
I don't know if you're familiar with that saying about engineering which basically says: "It's not a question of what you want to do but how much you can pay to do it." I say that because there seem to be a couple of fairly good high end Headset based displays out there. One is called the "gylph" or something like that and I have looked fairly thoroughly into one or two others that seemed to be high quality and have reliable reviews and testing available to find online. Some didn't seem available for another year or two, and even then you are going to be dropping $500 to $1,000 for them.
3. Using something like Tridef 3d and a head mounted VR headset based display. I was able to get that working pretty well without too much effort from my PC. The Tri-def software creates a side by side view of the application that you tell it to from your PC. So I can basically get a display output from just about anything on my PC and use it with just about anything they can recieve display output from my PC or remotely view my computers display with low latency. I haven't looked too much to see if something similar to this software is available that can run on a shield device. I would assume they are powerful enough even if you had to scale things down just a little bit.
The kind of set up that could send from your SHIELD, to your PC, to your Head Mounted Display or VR headset could be have some interesting advantages if the overall network latency was low enough. Having the rendering of the initial source on one device and the side by side display conversion on another could have a lot advantages. I own a Samsung gear VR innovator edition headset that I can use with my note 4, but if I want to use it for more than 20 minutes I need to pre-cool my phone in the freezer and to get any significant amount of time I think I would need to develop fairly high performance cooling system. That obviously isn't very easy to do when you need it to interface with a phone you use daily and also be small and light enough to attach to something you're wearing on your face. The point is that doing anything more than receiving and audio and video stream on your phone is going to be very resource intensive for it to handle. Even maxing out the gigabit Wi-Fi on my land for my phone makes it really warm and consumes the battery at a very high rate.
Whatever you do if it is helpful I have connected a pluggable USB 2.0 to Gigabit LAN adapter to the shield portable and it more than doubled the network performance. I'm not sure what the actual LAN performance is on the SHIELD
TV but even if you didn't need to increase it you might be able to reduce latency by by separating the total network load between the internal Gigabit Ethernet port and a separate USB 2.0 or 3.0 lan adapter. I don't know enough about androids capabilities to use more than one network adapter simultaneously four separate purposes to know if that is possible.
Well, congratulations if you've made it this far into my post. I have obviously been exploring this kind of thing for a while but there is a lot potential out there and a lot things that I don't know about or understand thoroughly enough. It's nice to know I'm not completely alone in this specific ambition. Hopefully we can gather a few more people and make some progress with this thread!
...wow
Wow that is an indepth reply. Thanks!
I can tell you've put a lot of thought into this. You obviously have a better chance of pulling it off than I do! (I did read it all lol)
I'm basically wanting to be able to mirror the screen like the PS4 remote play. Not just specific apps.
The only reason I know it's possible is that the Playstation 4 handles it remarkably well. No noticable lag as long as you have a good wifi router. Those guys at Sony must be using some kind of black magic. Unfortunately, I'm not gonna be the one who figures this out. I'm in no way a software or network engineer....I am an electrical engineering student though.
Anyway it's also good for me to hear that I'm not alone here. I wouldn't be surprised if Nvidia were working on this right now or at some point in the near future. And I sold the 6P and bought a Note 5 by the way. Wasn't a fan of the 6P at all.
Anyone get this to work or find another solution?
Thanks