Develop Bugs

[gen9] Buy or not?

Hello,
I wanted to buy the archos g9 80 16gb but there are same bad reviews on youtube pointing out that the screen has a blur in the upper left corner when you press it.
So should I buy it or do you have any alternatives for € 200 - 300 ?

anyone?
Has anyone the archos 80 g9 ?
Are you happy with it?
What are the down sides?

timothywer said:
anyone?
Has anyone the archos 80 g9 ?
Are you happy with it?
What are the down sides?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea , any one ? I Second that question.

Well, my 80 G9 250gb arrived today. I didn't know the thing only had 512mb of RAM, that sucks, my Acer A100 has 1gb. As far as the screen blur, I haven't noticed it because the 2 bright green stuck pixels draw my eyes inexorably to them, especially the one in the middle of the black toolbar on the bottom. Sending it back to NewEgg, hope to get one that works. The only other LCD device I have ever had with a stuck pixel was a Droid X I returned 2 days after I got it. Otherwise, I like it, but I do kinda fear trying to run ICS and widgets on that paltry amount of RAM.

I've had my archos 80 G9 Turbo 16GB for about 2 months. overall I'm happy with it.
Cons:
I have had the screen issue. I had archos RMA it twice for that, and the latest one still has it. (my suggestion would be get one that doesn't have it too bad, or go for the 250 GB) In general I don't notice it except for when I'm changing how I'm holding the tablet, which at that point in time it doesn't matter.
The 512 Meg ram kinda sucks. It drags down the multitasking ability of it a little. (although I haven't had any problems running widgets) You mostly need to keep an eye out for apps that like to run in the background for no reason like all of the games by Glu.
Freezes/Random Reboots, I have had it freeze and randomly reboot quite often. usually about once a day.
Volume button placement is odd. I often accidentally change the volume when I'm holding it landscape.
You'll notice the game market is slightly limited for it because of the OMAP processor. Most games cater to Tegra. however since I've had it I've noticed it's gotten better.
Camera feels like it's on an odd spot. kinda hard to hold without covering it. (Thank god for the kickstand)
Pros:
When it's working it does everything you need, and does it quite well.
The screen is quite bright. I usually leave it at the lowest light level and don't have any issues.
8 inch is a wonderful size. I feel like 10 inch is too big and clunky, and 7 inch feels too small.
Kick stand is handy.
Speaker is quite loud. I often listen to podcasts while doing other things and have no problem hearing them.

i have had my 80g9 turbo for a month today and can say it is a good tablet.
as sed above it does have the screen issue but i 2 only notice it when changing position.
ive never had it freeze on me but the browser does occasionally close itself if i multitask too much.

Ditto with what everybody else said, but I would like to add a few pro/con's.
Pro:
I've got to repeat how great the 8" size is. It's perfect. If the frame was a little better...
I really like having the 2 USB ports. Both act as OTG (hosts). The front needs a $5 adapter, but works well. My only complaint is that the back one may require a dongle because of low clearance.
It also supports the wiimote program for games. My HTC Flyer (soon to be seen on e-bay) & Galaxy S do not.
The Archos remote program (for media) is limited, but really nice if you have an android phone.
Video decoding is better than Tegra 2. It actually played a BluRay rip (poorly).
Cons:
It seems like the USB device detection is intermittent. Sometime it will detect devices (including my external HDD), sometimes it requires multiple connections.
Viewing angles are not great.
Mine was bad out of the (open) box. Had to RMA it. Hoping the new one is better.
Usages Notes:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system. The other "killer" app is Mame4Droid with a wiimote. I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.

dburckh said:
I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Shadow gun works , try with the Tegra version and Chainfire 3D .
Mine has also the screen shadow problem when i press it . I have the 8 G9 250 GB version . My main concern is the poor battery life in comparison to an .. Ipad which my wife has always on , the screen its not that bad for the price .
The space for media is guite enormous but the 1.5 gb of internal memory for apps seems to fill quite fast with Tegra games , but its enough for most users i guess.
Super good for media playing , Hdmi out , full usb X 2 , connection to not only wii controller but also ... Usb Xbox 360 controller , Usb pc controller , mouse , keyboard , usb sticks , usb network to cable converter ,usb fan , usb light , usb hub , the list goes on and on ..
Lastly the 8' is quite perfect dimensions and i hope the Ics 4 solves at least the battery problem . Until then i ll wait

I agree with most pros & cons above although I have yet to take full advantage of everything
I have a 80G9 16GB turbo with OMAP4460, 1.5GHz, 512MB RAM (*was not advertised to be in that configuration) only had this for about 2 weeks, also have 80G9 8Gb classic with 4420
-no screen issue
-almost no flash issues
-good live streaming
-good Netflix
-most of the time very fast
-overall size & screen aspect ratio is also perfect for me (little smaller frame/border would be better) I have spent time on a 7 and 10 inch tablet
-loving Perfect Keyboard and getting used to benefits of Opera Browser, using Avast Mobile Security
-because of size, typing with split keyboard in landscape with thumbs is better than any other experience (full size, or laptop included)
would I buy one? No, I bought two (family member has the classic)
----------------------------
-charging time, procedure & dedicated usb cable/ charger are questionable
-freezes or reboots once in a while for no known reason or when I rush to go back or forward
-sometimes issues with keystroke delay & cursor placement
-battery life is ok, but would want more if remote productivity was a priority
-build quality is acceptable for price but inset screen creates a ledge for dust, some of the edges around perimeter could be smoother

dburckh said:
Ditto with what everybody else said, but I would like to add a few pro/con's.
Pro:
I've got to repeat how great the 8" size is. It's perfect. If the frame was a little better...
I really like having the 2 USB ports. Both act as OTG (hosts). The front needs a $5 adapter, but works well. My only complaint is that the back one may require a dongle because of low clearance.
It also supports the wiimote program for games. My HTC Flyer (soon to be seen on e-bay) & Galaxy S do not.
The Archos remote program (for media) is limited, but really nice if you have an android phone.
Video decoding is better than Tegra 2. It actually played a BluRay rip (poorly).
Cons:
It seems like the USB device detection is intermittent. Sometime it will detect devices (including my external HDD), sometimes it requires multiple connections.
Viewing angles are not great.
Mine was bad out of the (open) box. Had to RMA it. Hoping the new one is better.
Usages Notes:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system. The other "killer" app is Mame4Droid with a wiimote. I'm hoping ShadowGun will run on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Would be nice to use that full-size connetor, altho my BT keyboard paired up fairly easily, and works nicely.
R

rokkywoof said:
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use mine as a host all the time. I literally leave my 64GB USB drive plugged in all the time. I have a case on my G9 101, so the 3G port is covered and I don't have to worry about losing the USB drive anywhere. I have a bunch of movies and television shows on the USB drive that I watch. The only time it ever comes out of the tablet is when I need to put other media on it.

rokkywoof said:
By "back USB" do you mean the "3G stick" socket? I tried plugging a few USB devices into it, but nothing registered, and Archos' literature does not claim it should (just "USB slave: Mobile Transfer Protocol (MTP)" from the website tech specs?).
Would be nice to use that full-size connetor, altho my BT keyboard paired up fairly easily, and works nicely.
R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used the full sized 3g USB for a number of devices. just make sure u have it turned on on the clock menu popular
Sent from my ARCHOS 80G9 using XDA Premium HD app

Giving it up.
mahall1988 said:
...Just make sure u have it turned on on the clock menu popular
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say what? I simply cannot parse "clock menu popular" - typos? missing words? There is a Settings menu item for the 3G stick, but nothing I did on that seemed to matter, although I did not try too much, or with many devices.
Thanks anyway, but with that issue, only 512MB RAM (Staples online ad Sunday stating 1GB got my hopes up that this was an upgraded model, but they have since corrected it), and not getting the MTP app to work on my main Linux PC, I gave up on it, and took it back for a refund tonight. Besides, it was just a bit too big to handle/carry easily like my Dell Streak 5 and defunct Archos 5. And I guess I am stuck on pre-Honeycomb versions of Android - that HC GUI is just too weird...
On the plus side, that bright, clear, just-big-enough 8-inch 1024x768 4:3 screen sure is nice for viewing web pages and epub magazines like Linux Journal.
YMMV,
R

dburckh said:
The main use I found for the back USB is to power some laptop USB powered speakers I picked up. In combination with the remote program, it makes a nice little portable sound system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the Archos G9 ICS still work with the USB speakers?
Thanks

Any advantage and how to hook up Android mini PC to Note 2?

I will be getting Android mini-PC (Android TV) stick, waiting for this one: http://dx.com/p/cozyswan-mk809-ii-a...b-ram-8gb-rom-wi-fi-tf-bluetooth-black-185736 . The purpose was to see how I can convert my older TV into multimedia station for internet and streaming from laptop, etc.. While I'm waiting, I started to think if there are any advantages of connecting it to Note 2? I don't know much about these android-on-a-stick devices to even think how it could be used. I assume it will be a host, so if I connect Note 2 with usb cable (non-OTG) it will be accepted as peripheral device so I can stream pictures, movies, etc. through android-on-a-stick on tv? That does sound kind of redundant since I can probably do the same thing from a stick itself, but I'm also thinking even with Android 4.1 the stick will not have access to Play store and I'm not sure if I will be able to root it.
I just don't know what to expect. I know it should work connecting directly to tv hdmi port (of my cable box hdmi port?), but I want to come up with something cool where I can connect Note 2 to is as well. Probably on the go I can tether this stick to my Note 2 4G connection, and have it as stand-alone mini PC. But if I want to connect it to Note 2 (as a display), would it work if I get HDMI (female) to micro-usb cable?
Anyway, any ideas or thoughts - let me know, even if you think its a stupid idea to begin with. Either way, once I have it and play around with it, I will do some kind of a write up with pictures

quad core
vectron said:
I will be getting Android mini-PC (Android TV) stick, waiting for this one: http://dx.com/p/cozyswan-mk809-ii-a...b-ram-8gb-rom-wi-fi-tf-bluetooth-black-185736 . The purpose was to see how I can convert my older TV into multimedia station for internet and streaming from laptop, etc.. While I'm waiting, I started to think if there are any advantages of connecting it to Note 2? I don't know much about these android-on-a-stick devices to even think how it could be used. I assume it will be a host, so if I connect Note 2 with usb cable (non-OTG) it will be accepted as peripheral device so I can stream pictures, movies, etc. through android-on-a-stick on tv? That does sound kind of redundant since I can probably do the same thing from a stick itself, but I'm also thinking even with Android 4.1 the stick will not have access to Play store and I'm not sure if I will be able to root it.
I just don't know what to expect. I know it should work connecting directly to tv hdmi port (of my cable box hdmi port?), but I want to come up with something cool where I can connect Note 2 to is as well. Probably on the go I can tether this stick to my Note 2 4G connection, and have it as stand-alone mini PC. But if I want to connect it to Note 2 (as a display), would it work if I get HDMI (female) to micro-usb cable?
Anyway, any ideas or thoughts - let me know, even if you think its a stupid idea to begin with. Either way, once I have it and play around with it, I will do some kind of a write up with pictures
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, if you're planning on buying an android stick, why invest in a dual core one when the quad core sticks are out, check the link below
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Tron...188-2G-DDR3-Wifi-Bluetooth-TV-BOX-314524.html
i am not sure about new ways to connect it to the Note 2, but the traditional ways is to puch pictures/videos/music via DLNA
it would be interesting to know whether you can mirror the Note 2 screen to the android stick similar to apple TV

The CozySwan is basically an android device. Think of it like a tablet without a screen. So basically you'll just need to attach it to your tv (via hdmi) and you're ready to go (Well, it might need a mouse or keyboard to operate it). So attaching it to the Note 2 would be redundant. You can use the Note 2 just like the CozySwan. Attach it to your tv (via hdmi) and use either a bluetooth mouse or keyboard. If you get the smart dock then there are more possibilities.
Check out this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nh2NSLgaII&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I like this video of the smart dock as it explains a lot of what it can do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hy3wETf5o0
as well as this video of the OTG, MHL, and other accessories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IiRyigUH0

Thanks guys! I guess no other special trick with that stick other than what I have already expected. In theory this $48 android stick can replace functionality of $99 smart dock and add more stuff to it (wireless kbd/mouse instead of bt), etc. I guess will play around with it once I get it.

I didnt even check to see who was the op.... you dabble in these things so maybe you can show us whats up when you get it...

Review of MK809-II Android TV with lots of pics!!!
Since I already started this topic and didn't know where it will take me, I wanted to post an update since I actually got that Android TV dongle and found it to be pretty cool. Maybe I will try to figure out how to make it work with Note 2, because for $48 it's cheaper then Samsung multimedia dock and offers way too many other options
So, this is a Review of MR809-II Android TV dongle: http://dx.com/p/cozyswan-mk809-ii-a...b-ram-8gb-rom-wi-fi-tf-bluetooth-black-185736
After reviewing numerous accessories for N2/N7/S4, I'm switching my gears and decided to do a project of converting my tv into "smart tv". If you think about, that's what the whole Google TV is about - taking your regular old TV and bringing it up to a new level with an enhanced option of Android and the same benefits you get from your Smart phone or tablet. I didn't want to buy any old gen stuff with overheating problems and those old AC adapters with round connector, or something that will cripple my use by not allowing access to Google Play, etc.
The unit I received came packaged very nicely with a lot of bonus connections. The main Android dongle measures about 110mm x 40mm x 10mm and weights about 34g. In addition to that, you get HDMI extension cable just in case if you don't have easy access to plug the stick into the back/side of your TV. It also came with OTG adapter with micro-usb to full USB connection which can turn the spare micro-usb port on the stick into another "host" to allow connection of other peripheral devices without a need for a hub. And you also get a quality AC adapter with a full 2A output to use usb to micro-usb cable to power up the device. I noticed older generation device were using round plug wall adapter which always a drag to carry around. This device, you can use ANY of your smart phone ac charging adapters, as long as it 2A (like the one which came with Note 2).
Now, about the spec of the device. This one uses RK3066 CPU, dual core Cortex-A9 with clock speed up to 1.6GHz; 1GB of DDR3 memory, and 8GB of internal memory which can be expanded further with micro-sd card (from a built in slot). The built quality seems to be decent, not flimsy at all; it looks like a big usb stick with a cap over HDMI port. Also, I noticed the back has vents for additional cooling. While using it, I haven't noticed too much overheating. The device supports WiFi and Bluetooth, and I had no issues with it's connections. I have my router on the first floor while I was testing it with a tv in our bedroom on the second floor, pretty far away. For interface, I was using Anker mini keyboard (candy bar type of BT keyboard with a touch pad). At first to initialize it I had wired mouse plugged into USB host port (no need for OTG adapter, goes right into full size USB port labeled "host" on the stick) to pair up with BT device. Once I did it the first time, afterwards mouse was unplugged and I was using mini BT keyboard to control it.
The stick came preloaded with Android 4.1.1 and full access to Google Play!!! I was very pleased with that since I know a lot of cheap tablets don't have access to Google Play and you have to side load your apps. Not with this device. I signed in with my Google account, and was able to get to Play right away. Also, with its file manager, I was able to connect to other devices shared on my wifi, such as network hard drive. I have seen some people complaining about wifi connection with their MK809-II, but let me reassure you the one I got worked perfectly. It also supports every possible audio, video, music, and picture format under the sun.
Overall, setup was very easy where within minutes I was running full tablet interface on my TV. This is my first Android TV experience and I was very pleased with the results.
Here are some pictures to ago along with my review:
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i have the imeto one i have xbmc i it awesome setup

Just out of curiosity.. Do you think the App TabletRemote will work with this? It'll be cool to use your phone as the remote. I haven't tried the app myself so I don't even know how it works.

Double0EK said:
Just out of curiosity.. Do you think the App TabletRemote will work with this? It'll be cool to use your phone as the remote. I haven't tried the app myself so I don't even know how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never heard of it, gotta try it out!

Double0EK said:
Just out of curiosity.. Do you think the App TabletRemote will work with this? It'll be cool to use your phone as the remote. I haven't tried the app myself so I don't even know how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. there are several wifi remotes that work

Tmart mini HDMI 2 AV converter
I decided to take my setup one step further to see how I can convert my dinosaur TV into smart TV. I still have to try out that app to use Note 2 as a tablet remote controller, but in this review I would like to talk about taking my previous setup of Android on a stick and turning an old tube tv into a smart tv with a help of this little gadget: http://www.tmart.com/MINI-HDMI-to-AV-CVBS-to-RCA-Converter_p163569.html
It's hard to believe TVs without HDMI input ever existed lol!!! But if you have one in your house which has lasted your for 10+ years and still working great, you are stuck with AV inputs as the only mean of connecting any peripheral devices. So if you got yourself a shiny new smart phone with HDMI dock or have Android-on-a-stick device to turn your tv into a big screen tablet - there is NOTHING you can do without converting HDMI into Analog audio/video. This kind of converter box becoming extinct, just like all those TVs, so its really hard to find one for a reasonable price. The one I got is the cheapest I found for about $40 shipped in US or internationally from Tmart.com. If you are in US, make sure to select "us warehouse" shipping from location, that one ships from NJ. Otherwise, you gonna end up waiting for awhile if it ships from HK.
I was a little nervous with this one because I saw an output with a typical red/white audio and yellow for video but video said "CVBS". But it worked flawlessly. First of all, it's a tiny little box I weighted to be 40g (1.4 oz) and about 60mm x 55mm x 20mm. You get full size HDMI input, AV RCA connector output, and PAL/NTSC switch for your video signal (so you are covered for both US and EU), and mini-usb input for power. It comes with mini-usb to USB cable in case if you don't have one considering everything switched to micro-usb, and also instruction booklet. As you can see, plugged in my Android stick, hook up wires going to TV, switched to NTSC and thats ALL! You DO NOT even need to power it up with external cable!!!!!!! I can only guess it gets its power from HDMI pins of Android stick since those are powered up. Of course, we are talking about HD widescreen output intended for a tablet going to 4:3 ancient tv so the image is squeezed on the sides. But it has nothing to do with a conversion, but rather with different "display resolution".
I know in this day'n'age of HD TVs it's hard to believe there is TV without HDMI input. But if you still have an old TV without HDMI input and don't want to throw it away, you can breath in a new life for $40 Remember, you can just plugin your Note 2 or any other smart phone with usb to hdmi adapter or from your multimedia cradle.
Here are the pics:

Those boxes are handy, especially connecting an older projector into a ps3. How is the performance of the stick? Give it a few benchmark runs. Thinking about getting one of these myself.

xartic12 said:
Those boxes are handy, especially connecting an older projector into a ps3. How is the performance of the stick? Give it a few benchmark runs. Thinking about getting one of these myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which benchmark app do you want me to run?
Yes, the box definitely comes handy. I seen also another one, I believe on Tmart.com as well where you convert AV back to HDMI. This way you can connect old WII console to a new tv. I was very pleased that no external power was required to this box, and it stayed cool (no overheating).
Still need to get around to try using Note 2 as a remote tablet controller. That would be ultimate!!!

3d mark and antutu would be appreciated.

vectron said:
Still need to get around to try using Note 2 as a remote tablet controller. That would be ultimate!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been using the Minix G4 version of what you bought. Its been the best thing for my smart(less) plasma since hooking it up! Rooted and running a custom jellybean rom and havnt looked back since!
I credit Sony PS3 DRM for forcing me to put an Android box on my plasma. I have never been happier since. Thanks Sony!
As for using the Note as a remote, grab yourelf a copy of Droidmote - both (client and server).

I looked Droidmore app and it seems that Client side app is free while Server side app is paid. Not a problem, but Server side requires a root which I wasn't planning to do. So, I went to TabletRemote and it DID the trick!!!! It took a bit to configure. Need to install the same app on your Note 2 and Android stick connected to tv. Both have to be on wifi. Then, in Connection need to make Android stick to be Discoverable while on Note 2 scan for devices. Once they will auto-discover each other and display a pop-up with a matching code - click on pair up and you are done. The app on the phone is arranged as a remote in portrait or a game-pad controller in landscape. As a remote you have 4-direction arrow control with Enter - this will enable you to step through icons, folders, screens on a system hosted by Android stick. You also get menu, return, and home buttons, as well as search and keyboard (for typing) buttons. Plus you get full multimedia control with play/pause, forward, back, and volume control.
Very impressive and it's free!

That's good to know. Thanks for updating.

I have the latest quad core stick and these things are great. Vectron have you rooted or updated your firmware to 4.2?
Not sure about vectrons model but apparently these sticks supports phone mirroring now if you are running the latest firmware on your phone. All the sticks mk##, QC## are the same.
To anyone who wants the official remote app you can find it here:
http://blog.geekbuying.com/index.ph...-rockchip-base-android-tv-stick/#.UZuVIqIQayg
Firmware upgrades and root can be found here:
http://blog.geekbuying.com/index.php/firmware-download/
And if you are interested in an air mouse/keyboard this one works great. I must say this remote works much better than my lg and Samsung remote which came with my smart TV.
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Mele...Android-smart-TV-HD-Computer-HTPC-306590.html
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

Hey I just bought this naughty little gadget and very excited to use it. Quick question though, will I need to purchase a wireless/wired mouse to set it up or..? I wanted to install droidmote and use my Note 2 as a wireless mouse, but then I realized that I will need something to navigate to playstore and install DM app. I just never had to use Android Tv's so pardon me folks.

Recommendations for android head

I have a 2007 Ford Focus
I am willing to spend 300 €
- The features I need are:
1024x600
16GB ROM / RAM 1GB or 2GB (which I see only Ownice has 2GB variant)
DVD / CD
Cable iPod Connector (not important but would use again my old iPod)
PD: I also read that Joying update to Lollipop and I see XTRONS already have models available with 5.1
(In case you buy from another dealer or another manufacturer)
Could change the rom?

xtrons support suck ....the unit is ok but if you have any question you will get same answer ¨send it back¨

I have Pumpkin HU which meets all your requirements, except the resolution is 800 x 480.
Do an Amazon Search for: Pumpkin 6.95" Quad Core Android 4.4 Universal In Dash Touch Screen Car DVD Player Double Din GPS Navigation Stereo AM FM Radio Support 3G/Wifi/OBD2/1080P/DVR/Mirror-link with Backup Camera
It has:
7" touch screen.
Navigation
Micro SD support
2x USB cable input
DVD player.
Android 4.4.4
Quad-core RK3188 CPU
This is made by Klyde, I think. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong here).
Overall it works well. It's responsive and boots in about 10-15 seconds. I'm still screwing with the wiring, and I've had it in for a few days. Very nice overall.
I haven't tinkered with the ROM's yet, but that will be next, I need root support.

I've been happy with Joying. The sound is not nearly the compromise that I expected it to be. Boots quickly, 5.1 runs well, etc etc.

Any model having fastboot within 5 secons?

I like my Eanon GA2114. Rk3188, 1gb, 800x480. The picture is clear and the audio is decent. 2 rear USB, one front, microsd , 16gb on board. It looks almost like a factory head unit.
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wolfchan said:
Any model having fastboot within 5 secons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not. You'd be hard-pressed to get that even with a modern phone.
If these stereo's had more powerful processors, like a SnapDragon 800 series or so, you'd get a lot closer to what you want; as it stands, you're stuck with a 10-25 second boot up.
I've have had mine in for a week, and I'm getting used to it. Just don't overload your stereo with a boatload of apps and you ought to be fine.
Also, do the root procedure and install AdAway from FDroid. Cutting out ads keeps your phone - and now your stereo - from getting too slow with junk scripting or malvertising. It's simply good common sense these days.
---------- Post added at 12:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 AM ----------
pyraxiate said:
I like my Eanon GA2114. Rk3188, 1gb, 800x480. The picture is clear and the audio is decent. 2 rear USB, one front, microsd , 16gb on board. It looks almost like a factory head unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks nice, and ironically the OS layout is about the same as my Pumpkin.
The only reason why I didn't spring for that style is it has no DVD player. I do like the volume knob, much more convenient, I'd rather have that if I could get it with a larger screen.
But after getting the larger 7" touch screen, ironically I've come to realize that I really don't need the DVD like I thought I would.
Oh well, it's all good. The difference in navigation between a 6.2" screen and a 7" screen isn't all that massive. I'm just glad I have navigation now - through Waze - otherwise an OEM head unit with nav would be north of $800 to install. These devices are a much better value.

My SUV has a DVD player built in for the kids ( Chrysler VES ). I ran the wires to it but haven't hooked it up yet. Is rather the larger screen than another DVD player personally. Also, all my kids movies have been digitized anyway for iPods / etc.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

My JY unit boots up in 8 seconds, not now as i have a custom ROM and a bunch of extra apps that are started at boot.

Boot In 5 Seconds
wolfchan said:
Any model having fastboot within 5 secons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted the same so I have piggy-backed the ACC line onto the permanently live line. This means that the head unit is live with the ignition off so you shut down the unit with the volume/on/off button. I did post a question about this asking if there were any possible detrimental effects by doing this but got no replies so I just went ahead anyway.
I cut the live line then ran a supply cable to an isolating switch via an in line fuse then connected a cable to the head unit side of the ACC line from the other side of the switch so that I can do a full power down and reboot on a regular basis. I can also cut the power to the head unit if I need to leave the car parked for a couple of weeks at an airport for instance.
I've had no problems, the head unit goes into sleep mode, all peripherals shut down, USB ports power down and the current draw with the head unit switched off is 1.4 milliamps (2.4 on mine because I have external amplifiers). Boot is almost instant, just a couple of seconds to initiate DVR and scan SD and USB storage. Last used condition is re-established.
I've not heard of anyone else doing this yet and there could well be a reason for that so no guarantees but it seems to be working okay for me so far.
I hope this helps.

this Pumpkin unit says it has 2GB of RAM:
http://www.autopumpkin.com/car-dvd-...-gps-obd2-wifi-3g-steering-wheel-control.html
that's about the only one I see besides Ownice and the In-Dash.net ones.

Jefft5 said:
I wanted the same so I have piggy-backed the ACC line onto the permanently live line. This means that the head unit is live with the ignition off so you shut down the unit with the volume/on/off button. I did post a question about this asking if there were any possible detrimental effects by doing this but got no replies so I just went ahead anyway.
I cut the live line then ran a supply cable to an isolating switch via an in line fuse then connected a cable to the head unit side of the ACC line from the other side of the switch so that I can do a full power down and reboot on a regular basis. I can also cut the power to the head unit if I need to leave the car parked for a couple of weeks at an airport for instance.
I've had no problems, the head unit goes into sleep mode, all peripherals shut down, USB ports power down and the current draw with the head unit switched off is 1.4 milliamps (2.4 on mine because I have external amplifiers). Boot is almost instant, just a couple of seconds to initiate DVR and scan SD and USB storage. Last used condition is re-established.
I've not heard of anyone else doing this yet and there could well be a reason for that so no guarantees but it seems to be working okay for me so far.
I hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm looking to do that same thing, so I'll follow your lead.
I have in mind using a battery isolator and a separate 18 Amp-Hour battery pulled from an old uninterruptible power supply. That way, any discharge of the stereo won't drain the main battery and the auxiliary battery will only be charged by the alternator once the main battery is full. That's the theory, anyways.
BTW, the Malaysk ROM has a power off / reboot option built into the upper status bar. There is also a power off / reboot app you could install from FDroid, but you'd need root access.
I'll let you know how it goes.

For what it's worth, i have the ga2114 from eanon and even with 1gb ram it doesn't lag at all. I'm using boroondocks rom but even stock was fluid. Rk3188, 1gb, 16gb storage.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

CaptShaft said:
I'm looking to do that same thing, so I'll follow your lead.
I have in mind using a battery isolator and a separate 18 Amp-Hour battery pulled from an old uninterruptible power supply. That way, any discharge of the stereo won't drain the main battery and the auxiliary battery will only be charged by the alternator once the main battery is full. That's the theory, anyways.
BTW, the Malaysk ROM has a power off / reboot option built into the upper status bar. There is also a power off / reboot app you could install from FDroid, but you'd need root access.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi CapShaft, thanks for your reply,
It looks like we're working along the same lines, I was looking at fitting a 12v Yuasa motorcycle battery to keep the head unit powered and putting a relay in the permanently live line activated by the ignition switch. So no drain on the main battery with the ignition off and the standby (Yuasa) battery will recharge with the ignition on and the motor running. Nice to know I'm not the only one that finds the boot up time to be a pain! lol.

Jefft5 said:
Hi CapShaft, thanks for your reply,
It looks like we're working along the same lines, I was looking at fitting a 12v Yuasa motorcycle battery to keep the head unit powered and putting a relay in the permanently live line activated by the ignition switch. So no drain on the main battery with the ignition off and the standby (Yuasa) battery will recharge with the ignition on and the motor running. Nice to know I'm not the only one that finds the boot up time to be a pain! lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That will work as well. I have a battery isolator relay here if you want it for $10. I had purchased it first, but then changed my mind and picked up a solid-state isolator. It's unused.
http://www.amazon.com/Stinger-SGP38-80-AMP-Battery-Isolator/dp/B001HC6UJ0/
This is what it is. Let me know.
Anyways, I just got the 4-conductor wire this morning, so I can run the wires to the battery box / isolator unit in the trunk. That way it's out of the way, and not in the passenger cabin at all, for safety reasons.
The boot-up time on these stereos is atrocious, frankly, and it's no different with some older smartphones. When you get the custom RoM and a few xPosed modules and a few needed add-on's like Waze, then it takes almost a minute before you really have everything up and running, even after the boot animation is done.
I found a speedtest comparison between the RK3188 and various other android processors out there, this is what it looks like:
http://www.androidbenchmark.net/phone.php?phone=Rockchip+rk3188
So if you look, it's like the fastest processor is about 1/3rd [31.1%] slower than a Galaxy S4 from a few years ago.
I sure hope the super-fast RK processors come out soon and are comparable with, say, the latest i3 or SnapDragon 820 CPU's. Then we wouldn't have this problem!

CaptShaft said:
That will work as well. I have a battery isolator relay here if you want it for $10. I had purchased it first, but then changed my mind and picked up a solid-state isolator. It's unused.
http://www.amazon.com/Stinger-SGP38-80-AMP-Battery-Isolator/dp/B001HC6UJ0/
This is what it is. Let me know.
Anyways, I just got the 4-conductor wire this morning, so I can run the wires to the battery box / isolator unit in the trunk. That way it's out of the way, and not in the passenger cabin at all, for safety reasons.
The boot-up time on these stereos is atrocious, frankly, and it's no different with some older smartphones. When you get the custom RoM and a few xPosed modules and a few needed add-on's like Waze, then it takes almost a minute before you really have everything up and running, even after the boot animation is done.
I found a speedtest comparison between the RK3188 and various other android processors out there, this is what it looks like:
http://www.androidbenchmark.net/phone.php?phone=Rockchip+rk3188
So if you look, it's like the fastest processor is about 1/3rd [31.1%] slower than a Galaxy S4 from a few years ago.
I sure hope the super-fast RK processors come out soon and are comparable with, say, the latest i3 or SnapDragon 820 CPU's. Then we wouldn't have this problem!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I had an Eonon EN1026 before which I bought in 2007, great unit and never any trouble but unfortunately it was Windows CE quick enough to boot but not easy to upgrade which is why I've gone for the GA2114 with Android.
Anyway, thanks for the offer on the isolator but I'm already on the road with the relay version. I am attaching a couple of circuit diagrams showing the ignition on and ignition off status. The relays are in default with ignition off which effectively isolates the main battery from the auxiliary battery and the auxiliary circuit is fused so it should be pretty well failsafe.
First time I've tried attachments on this forum so don't know if I've got it right! :fingers-crossed: lol

Tronsmart Ara X5 Plus - Windows 10 Mini PC | Intel x5-z8300

Introduction​
Tronsmart is a well known brand specialized in TV Boxes/Sticks, and this time they decided to release an Intel Cherry Trail (x5-z8300) based Mini PC (or TV Box/HTPC, choose the word that you prefer). Precisely this is an upgrade of their previous, and now discontinued, device named Tronsmart Ara X5, which shares almost the same hardware except WiFi Adapter & Antenna, Sound Card, and some minor components.
This is the Tronsmart Ara X5 Plus Mini PC
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Unboxing
Packaging comes with an HDMI Cable, a Power Supply (5V/3A), a Wi-Fi Antenna (pretty nice design), an English Quick Start Guide and the Mini PC (of course).
No Air Mouse/Keyboard is included, neither the device has an IR Receiver so it can be only powered on using the physical power button, located on the front side.
Device
Tronsmart has focused its attention on the design. Its chassis is plastic made (good quality) but if you are worried about heat dissipation, just take a look at my tests in the next paragraph.
It is just 11.5x11.0x2.5cm, pretty compact and it is also lightweight enough (probably because it is made of plastic).
There is a Matte Surface on the upper side where the Brand Logo and the White Power LED are located while all the rest is black-grey. This makes the device look Premium, and I find it pretty nice.
There are 2x Plastic Films already applied.
As you can see, there is a second Plastic Film. It is a fingerprint magnet so I recommend to remove it.
This is the Matte Surface without any Plastic Film applied.
It attracts dust pretty easily but it seems to have some kind of Oleophobic coating so, if you prefer dust (or if you live in a dust-free room) then remove both films, if you prefer fingerprints then remove only the first plastic film.
On the front side there are 2x Standard USB 2.0 ports, 1x Headphone/Microphone Jack (just like smartphones) and a physical Power Button.
USB Ports doesn’t have too much space between each other, so you might experience issues (like me) with the usage of not-so-small USB Stick or Accessories. Compact USB Sticks fit just fine.
On the left, there is just 1x Wi-Fi Antenna Connector because the Wi-Fi card is only 1x1 (TX/RX). The right side is completely clean.
The rear features 1x 5.5mm DC in, 1x LAN 10/100 port, 1x HDMI port, 1x Standard USB 3.0 port and 1x micro SD card slot.
Unfortunately also the rear USB Port doesn’t have too much available space, so I recommend you to use an HDMI Cable that has compact plugs or use an USB Extension.
On the lower side there is just a Reset Button that has been added to this upgraded version.
Testing
First of all, it boots pretty fast (ready in ~ 20 sec) considering that it doesn’t have a SSD but just an eMMC, usually just a bit faster than conventional HDDs. This is something that I have really appreciated because it means that the BIOS has been properly optimized.
On first boot, you’ll be asked to configure the OS with your own language, keyboard layout, Microsoft Account settings...similar to a clean installation of Windows 10.
After the whole configuration process, the desktop will be completely empty, without any third-party software installed except one (THD Controller) probably made to be used with Tronsmart’s Air Mouse/Keyboard (not included).
It comes with Windows 10 Home, properly Activated (no KMS or any other hack used). If yours isn’t activated, just reboot and be sure that it is connected to the internet otherwise it won’t be able to verify activation.
Unlike previous version, this one comes with a decent Wi-Fi card (Intel Dual Band AC-3160) that supports 2.4/5GHz Networks at a maximum speed of 433 Mbps.
Also, instead of the standard Realtek Sound Card that isn’t compatible yet with Linux, there is a C-Media HS-100B Sound Card that doesn’t create any kind of compatibility issue.
Intel VM-x has been enabled by default, useful if you plan to use any kind of Virtual Machine.
Benchmarks
Comparing some other Intel x5-z8300 devices, it seems that this is one of the fastest ones.​
I have used Passmark PerformanceTest, FutureMark 3DMark (Sky Diver) & PCMark 8 (Home, Creative & Work), GeekBench 3 Pro (64-bit) and CrystalDiskMark x64 to stress the device in the most complete way. I won’t test Games or Video Playback because there are already some related tests included in these Benchmark suites.
CrystalDiskMark - Internal eMMC is fast enough for daily tasks, better than HDDs, but worse than SSDs.
PassMark’s average score is pretty low, in every single test except Storage so this benchmark is probably poorly optimized to work on Atom CPUs.
GeekBench - CPU performance seems to be mediocre, but in line with other x5-z8300 CPUs. Focusing on temperatures, you can see that it doesn’t overheat at all under heavy usage. This means that Tronsmart did a good job regarding heat dissipation.
https://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench3/6011299
I managed to get the highest MultiCore score with this CPU. Well done Tronsmart!
Nothing to say about 3DMark Sky Diver test.
PCMark 8
Home: http://www.3dmark.com/pcm8/11585069
Creative: http://www.3dmark.com/pcm8/11592443
Work: http://www.3dmark.com/pcm8/11593416
PCMark tests are the most complete ones, and their score is pretty high. Especially the “Work” test score left me impressed. This means that this device can be used for daily tasks without any issue at all.
Summarazing all Benchmark Results, I can say that this is one of the fastest Intel Atom x5-z8300 Mini PC available on the market.
About Wi-Fi/LAN Networks tests, it highly depends on your router and internet connection so I can just say that i’m able to obtain the same performance that I get using my Workstation. No lags at all neither I have noticed any kind of performance drop.
Compatibility​
Linux doesn’t like a lot Cherry Trail CPUs, especially because their additional hardware is usually poorly designed or unsupported by the Linux Kernel. Tronsmart, on this upgraded version, decided to avoid all issues by introducing a different Wi-Fi card, that is now connected to the PCI-Ex bus (instead of the slow SDIO bus) and a different Sound Card, that is connected to the USB bus and is well supported by the Linux Kernel.
This is the Result
Everything is working on Linux. I have tested BBQLinux with Linux Kernel 4.1.6. I find it much faster than Windows, even if used from a USB Stick, so I really recommend it if you are familiar with the Linux Environment.
About Android, (Android-x86 6.0 Testing) it is a whole different story. It doesn’t support Intel Wi-Fi cards, neither it supports this Sound Card, so you’ll need to wait a new update if you plan to use Android on this device.
Conclusions​
Thanks to its well choosen hardware, this Mini PC makes every single task possible. This is a great upgrade to the previous Ara X5, I just don’t like that it can’t be turned on with a Remote Control. In my opinion, almost eveything else is perfect. LAN is limited to 100MBps, all USB Ports aren’t well designed and CPU isn’t extremely powerful, but it can be used without any issue as a Media Center or even as an Office Mini PC.
So, if you need a complete Mini PC that is able to handle basic daily tasks and that can be used without any issue for Multimedia stuff, then this is the right choice.
Official Specs
Rating: 8.8
Packaging and Accessories: 7.5
Design and Materials: 9
Performance and Heat Dissipation: 8.5
Software: 10
Price: 9 (based on Amazon.com price)
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/SPuNq
Official Website: http://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-ara-x5-plus
You can buy it on many online shops.​

Reserved

Thanks for you detailed review, very cool!
I got a Tronsmart X5 plus too, perform well. And I also had Tronsmart Android TV box MXIII plus and S95 telos, all good quality.

Added Official Website & Store links.
Updated Driver Packs coming soon.
Full-Working Android-x86 WIP.

v UPDATES about Android-x86 v
It seems that there is a conflict with the USB Audio Card. The Kernel recognizes it, but also recognizes (of course this is a bug) the standard Intel SST Sound Card with Realtek Chip, i don't know why. This is probably something standard that has been enabled on Atom CPUs. Also, the WiFi Driver gets loaded correctly (support is here), but it doesn't work. This is another bug that needs to be fixed. Everything else is working.
I'll keep you updated.
Android-x86 - Issues:
- Sound Card recognized but in conflict with the Intel SST Driver
- WiFi (unknown issue for now)
- Power Button doesn't work at all

Android x86 (Lollipop): http://www.fosshub.com/Android-x86.html/android-x86_64-5.1-rc1.img
All is working except Sound Card and Power Button.
Do not try Marshmallow build yet because it is more buggy than this one.

+5,super job.i must doe sothing with tablet arxhos 97 b titanium,sugestens?danks for rewiuv

Hi Alberto,
First of all thanks for these informations. I have also one Transmart Ara X5 Plus device. And I would like to install android firmware on it. And I downloded Android-x86 64-bit ISO file 8.1-R2 version from your link. I think i could load this firmware from a different PC via USB cable. Am I right? Do I find an installation manual from somewhere? And I think I should use a USB flashing tool software for PC. Could I use MXIII Android TV Box USB flashing Tool software and installation instruction? Is it same prosedure?
Thanks for your support by now.

digiman22003 said:
Hi Alberto,
First of all thanks for these informations. I have also one Transmart Ara X5 Plus device. And I would like to install android firmware on it. And I downloded Android-x86 64-bit ISO file 8.1-R2 version from your link. I think i could load this firmware from a different PC via USB cable. Am I right? Do I find an installation manual from somewhere? And I think I should use a USB flashing tool software for PC. Could I use MXIII Android TV Box USB flashing Tool software and installation instruction? Is it same prosedure?
Thanks for your support by now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, Android-x86 is treated like Windows Installation Disks, you can use "Rufus" on Windows, or an image writer like "dd" on Linux, to create a bootable USB stick to install the OS.

Alberto96 said:
No, Android-x86 is treated like Windows Installation Disks, you can use "Rufus" on Windows, or an image writer like "dd" on Linux, to create a bootable USB stick to install the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything works? Is there a guide on how to do it?

Beelink GS1 TV Box Review: a Beauty and a Beast

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The GS1 is the latest release of Beelink, a brand well-known for making quality TV Boxes and mini PCs. Equipped with an Allwinner H6 SoC., it is also Beelink’s first product that supports 6K video decoding. But how does it really perform in our daily life and how does it fare against the more hyped Beelink A1 and Jide Remix IO? We will try to answer these two questions in this review.
Main Specs of the Beelink GS1
Operating System: Android 7.1
Processor: Allwinner Quad-Core Processor (4*[email protected], Mali-720MP2 GPU)
RAM: 4GB DDR3
Storage: 16GB eMMc Internal Storage, TF Card support (up to 128GB)
HDMI: HDMI 2.0a output up to [email protected] + HDMI 3D video formats
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.1
Internet Access: dual-band WiFi 2.4G / 5.8G, 1000M Gigabit Ethernet
Ports: Ethernet port*1, SPDIF Port*1, DC port*1, Micro SD card slot*1, USB 3.0 Port*1, USB 2.0 Port*1, HDMI*1.
Dimension: 96mm*96mm*16mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 190g
Chassis: Black, ABS Plastic
Retail Package: TV box*1, Remote control*1, HDMI cable*1, Power adapter*1, User manual*1
Retail Package
The GS1 arrives with very beautiful and compact packaging which also feels very high-tech.
Inside the packaging you will find a GS1 TV box, a remote, an HDMI cable, a power adapter and an English user manual.
Design
Measured at 96mm*96mm*16mm, the GS1 isn’t the smallest TV Box we have ever reviewed, that crown still belongs to the Beelink A1 (77mm*77mm*17mm).
However it still has a much smaller footprint than the likes of Jide Remix IO and the Zidoo X9s (187mm*127mm*27mm).
While lacking in size, this device still offers a slew of ports and slots. On the back side of the box you will find a SPDIF audio port, an RJ45 Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB 2.0 Port and a DC port.
On the left side of the device, you will find a USB 3.0 port, and a Micro SD card slot which supports cards up to 128GB.
An IR receiver and an LED indicator are hosted on the front side, but they are almost invisible, only when you boot the device you will see the LED light up in blue. The tiny casing is made of white ABS plastic, which gives the device an elegant and premium look. A huge “6” (which indicates 6K video decoding) and a “Beelink logo” sit comfortably on the top side of the device.
There are some vents on the bottom side to keep the box from overheating. The 4 rubber feet are short, but still do a very good job at protecting the box from scratches.
The build quality of the GS1 is extremely good, even though the device is thin and with a plastic shell, it still feels quite sturdy.
The supplied remote is the same as the one that comes with the A1. Although with a predictably lightweight, plastic finish and limited mouse pointer functionality, it feels very well-built, and the box responds quickly to its commands and the infra-red range are acceptably long and broad.
Setting it up
Setting up the Beelink GS1 is extremely easy. Connecting it to a TV set (or projector) via HDMI, plugging in the charger and you are good to go.
System & Apps
The Beelink GS1 ships with Android 7.1 Nougat, with a tailor-made Beelink skin on top. The launcher has everything laid out beautifully and is very easy to navigate. The date and time is located at the top left with the temperature widget below. In the center of the screen you have a link to the media center, internet browser and Google Play Store, There are also shortcuts to “clear memory”, app drawer, and settings laying below. To the right is an area where users can pin their most commonly used apps. Finally at the bottom left you have shortcuts to power, volume, at the bottom right you have shortcuts to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth.
The navigation bar at the very bottom is defaulted to be hidden, but you can bring it up with a mouse. It has many virtual keys, including a back key, a home key, a recent apps key, a screenshot key, a volume- key, a volume+ key, a hide-bar key and a power key.
The GS1 doesn’t come loaded with bloatware, but there are some preinstalled apps. Besides the stock Google Play Store, Android Web Browser, Calculator and Gallery, you can also find Beelink’s very own App Store, Bee Files Explorer, Media Center and Bee Music in the app drawer.
As a TV box, the GS1 is designed mainly for media consumption, and you can find a great number of media playback apps in Google Play, including YouTube, Netflix, Kodi and Hulu. The GS1 has no problem streaming 4K videos smoothly on YouTube, and I rarely notice any hiccups playing local videos with the stock video player.
I complained about Beelink’s stock video player while reviewing the A1, but the one preinstalled on the GS1 works really fine, not only is it loaded with useful features, it is also very responsive to the remote control.
The PiP (Picture in Picture) function allows you to watch a video and do other things at the same time, but it did take me a while to figure out how to return to full-screen mode.
Running on Android 7.1 Nougat means the GS1 can also handle tasks such as E-Mails, Web-browsing, social networking and even gaming.
Like the A1 and other high-end Android-based TV boxes, the GS1 supports OTA (Over-the-Air) firmware upgrades. Beelink is known for its excellent support for its products, the A1 I had reviewed received 5 updates within just 1 month, and I am expecting nothing less from my GS1.
Performance
The Beelink GS1 is powered by an Allwinner H6 processor, which contains 4 cores of Cortex-A53 CPU and two cores of Mali-720MP GPU. There’s also 2GB RAM under the hood to handle multi-tasking. You’d probably think that the GS1 is no match for the A1 in terms of performance as the latter comes with 4GB RAM, but the benchmarks tell a different story.
In Antutu V6 benchmark test, the GS1 scored 44,207, putting it in front of the A1 (33,992) and other competitions such as the Jide Remix IO (32,981), the Zidoo X9s (33,990) and Jide Remix Mini (23,919).
In Geekbench 4 CPU test, the GS1 notched 681 in single-core, 1,703 in multi-core, and 1,247 in computing.
In the PCMark 8 Work 2.0 test, the GS1 snatched 3,393, which is on par with the scores of many entry-level smartphones. The GS1 may not be able to compete with flagship Android smartphones and tablets, but it is quite powerful by the TV box standard.
As for the real-world performance, like many other Android-based TV boxes, the GS1 is pretty smooth when we set the HDMI output at 1080P resolution. In fact it handled most tasks faster than the A1. At 4K, the GS1 was still generally smooth and responsive, but there could be stutters every now and then. The slowdown in speed became the most noticeable while opening image-heavy webpages in the stock browser, as my unit failed to finish loading a few webpages in 4K.
The GS1 is also better at decoding videos than RK33X8 powered TV boxes such as the A1 and Jide Remix IO. In the Antutu Video Tester Benchmark, the GS1 scored 952 , compatible with almost all of the video formats included in the test. The GS1 also naturally supports 6K H.265 video decoding. Although it doesn’t make much sense to play 6K videos on a device which only supports 4K output, 6K playback is a useful feature whenever you are faced with 6K clips and no other options.
Limited by the 2GB RAM, multi-tasking was challenging for the GS1. There was normally slightly more than 1GB available RAM after startup. Not many apps could stay in the background simultaneously (the OS will kill apps automatically to free memories for apps running on the screen). Also, the box became slow and less responsive when playing videos in PiP mode. For example, it took a lot longer to launch new applications. I found myself clicking the memory cleanup shortcut on the homescreen quite often, which I never felt that much compelled to do when using the Beelink A1.
Generally speaking, the Beelink GS1 performs quite well as a media playback device. In fact it is faster than the A1 when handling most tasks. The RAM is somewhat a letdown, and prevents the box from reaching its full potential as an HTPC, but it is not really a deal-breaker, as most people wouldn’t need their TV boxes to run too many applications in the background.
Connectivity
The GS1 offers a slew of connectivity options. It supports 2.4GHz/5GHz dual band Wi-Fi. Although without an exposed antenna, the GS1 still has very solid reception, it could pick up more Wi-Fi hotspots than the Remix Mini and Remix IO when the three boxes were placed right next to one another. The RJ-45 Ethernet jack can also come in handy when you want more stable connection via a network cable. There’s also Bluetooth 4.1 on board to take care of local data transfer and connecting with audio and input devices. I connected the GS1 with a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay S3 speakers and they worked fine together. If Bluetooth audio transfer doesn’t offer satisfying sound, the SPDIF port supports direct wired connection with most soundbars and speakers designed for TV.
The HDMI 2.0 port on the GS1 can output videos up to [email protected], and should support most TV sets, monitors and projectors. The 2 USB ports support external USB storages of up to 4TB. The Micro SD card slot had no problem reading my 128GB Transcend card.
Verdict
I loved my experience with the Beelink GS1, although slightly let down by Beelink’s choice of putting only 2GB RAM inside of the box. Still, it has found itself as a permanent resident of my living room. It’s also great to be able to carry around a cheap and small device that can be plugged into any HDMI monitor and play all of my favorite movies and TV shows. I am certainly looking forward to what Beelink has to offer in its future products.

real life experience
Hi,
Because of your review, which I liked, I bought this GS1.
And though the looks of it are good, performance and user experience are weak.
Installing Netflix through Google Playstore is not possible. And when you succeed to install it through Beelinks own Appmarket or sideloading it, you could not scroll through the movie list, at least, not up or down. After latest firmware update of 2018-01-12, the scrolling problem is solved. Its still not possible to install or update through Google Playstore though.
Also installing other apps in Goole Playstore fails. When searching for a app it just keeps searching.... I only managed to install apps by using my app library or scrolling through suggested apps. Apptoide just works fine by the way but is not the appstore I prefer, I just want to us Playstore.
The interface is a bit laggy and it is hard to see where you are - which is the active part on your screen. You have to use both cursor keys on your remote as well as the mouse function on it to be able to fully navigate.
I think the GS1 has a lot of potential but at the moment the firmware is just not good enough.

get playstore working after updating the firmware
redbrickbernie said:
Hi,
Because of your review, which I liked, I bought this GS1.
And though the looks of it are good, performance and user experience are weak.
Installing Netflix through Google Playstore is not possible. And when you succeed to install it through Beelinks own Appmarket or sideloading it, you could not scroll through the movie list, at least, not up or down. After latest firmware update of 2018-01-12, the scrolling problem is solved. Its still not possible to install or update through Google Playstore though.
Also installing other apps in Goole Playstore fails. When searching for a app it just keeps searching.... I only managed to install apps by using my app library or scrolling through suggested apps. Apptoide just works fine by the way but is not the appstore I prefer, I just want to us Playstore.
The interface is a bit laggy and it is hard to see where you are - which is the active part on your screen. You have to use both cursor keys on your remote as well as the mouse function on it to be able to fully navigate.
I think the GS1 has a lot of potential but at the moment the firmware is just not good enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just to report that to solve the google playstore issue after incremental update it is necessary to reset the box. once you do that, google playstore will work again. That was my experience.

GS1 very low quality netflix - DRM L1
I'm very disappointed! I bought and will not use because of this TVBOX (of 6k) not to run Netflix in FullHD. The quality is poor, especially on big TV. My intention was to use with Netflix on my old
52".
Only SD...480p max!!!
It would need to have DRM level 1 to Rum FullHD, but it only has level 3, ie, Netflix / Amazon only in SD
I'm already with the latest FW 106N0...
I hope Beelink solves this fast or I'll buy from another brand with DRM L1.

I was hoping to be able to use this device for powering a smart infoboard, however there's a huge flaw in the device and that is that screen rotation is completely disabled making it impractical for the use with portrait orientationed infoboards.
Found the explaination in the build.prop, "ro.sf.disablerotation=1". Too bad there's no root method available for this box as I can't change it without root or twrp/cwm recovery.

pitrus- said:
I was hoping to be able to use this device for powering a smart infoboard, however there's a huge flaw in the device and that is that screen rotation is completely disabled making it impractical for the use with portrait orientationed infoboards.
Found the explaination in the build.prop, "ro.sf.disablerotation=1". Too bad there's no root method available for this box as I can't change it without root or twrp/cwm recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This box should be pre rooted if I'm not mistaken.

Mine wasn't pre-rooted. However I contacted Bee-link about the problem, and they were kind enough to offer me a special version of the latest rom with support for portrait mode and it worked flawless using Kiosk Browser Lockdown-app from play-store. Must say I'm quite impressed by their respons. [emoji4]
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Hi,can you puth the link,I haw to, gs1 issue? Thanks

Can anyone post link to ACTUAL support for this box?
Beelink might as well be a criminal enterprise. My box now can't connect to google to sign in to play store.
Someone here should have warned wat a POS this box was.

Ratteler said:
Can anyone post link to ACTUAL support for this box?
Beelink might as well be a criminal enterprise. My box now can't connect to google to sign in to play store.
Someone here should have warned wat a POS this box was.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try contacting them directly, they do have a working website.

And from my experience excellent support. I actually got them to send me a special rom with vertical screen support for this box, this was however about one year ago so thins might have changed.
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