So, I was at Menards a couple weeks back and saw a generic looking android set top box for around 30$, and so I came here, and find there are a few different kinds of chips that they may use, so... my first question is...
What are the differences between those chips, which is the best, and how can you tell before purchasing, what you are buying, as well as how to buy a good one, as in what to look for, to avoid a bad purchase, and what specs to look for
The next question is, once I buy a generic looking set top box,(the one I saw was labeled abx-12 as a model) how easy is it to find roms for them, and will one rom work on them all
To be fair, I do know about phones, but im out of my depths here, but would like to get into set top boxes, and possibly putting custom roms like resurrection remix (my favorite), on them... i would like this thread to eventually be a guide for every set top newbie, such as myself, and this is the best android modding, and well, anything android, website in my opinion... if these answers can be found elsewhere on this site, condensed into a single thread, please link it, else, if you guys can help me and others like me, I would appreciate it...
I edited it with the right model... i put upx 12, when it was abx 12...
Oh... and id also like to know how much android version matters in set top box discussions as well...
Here's the link to the one I saw at Menards...
https://www.menards.com/main/electr...x-and-wi-fi-router/abx-12/p-1518075021952.htm
i just picked this QFX ABX-12 cheapo ATV box at Menards on Clearance for $20.
Pretty much what i expected, pos china thing.
the rom that is on it is ancient android 7.1 from 2018.
update does not work.
came searching here on XDA to see if maybe someone had easy way to root/re-flash this model box and put a decent ATV rom on it, newer os at least.
but, seems no one cares about these cheap china no name boxes.
Hi, you woukd need to find out what SOC is in your box (amlogic,rockchip ect...) and what model (s905x, s905w ect...) or what bootloade (eg p212, p281 ect...)
The QFX ABX-12 uses the Amlogic S905X, has 1 GB RAM and 8 GB flash. At $25 I might grab one just to mess around with.
I picked up a Transpeed_6k from a Chinese supplier for under €30 to play around with an as a stopgap for my dead Humax box. It runs Android 9.0, has 4GB/64GB memory. CPU-Z tells me that the SOC is Allwinner H6 @ 1.49 GHz, with 4 ARM A53 cores. Bootloader is unknown and no root.
The operation is fast, but the navigation is painful - you have to constantly toggle the mouse mode on and off and you can't scroll the screen. I contacted the supplier because the lack of scrolling prevents Netflix from working. The solution was to install a previous version of the Netflix app. It's still awkward to use. BBC iplayer works with limited scrolling which means you have to use the search function to find TV shows.
I also thought of maybe using it as a Chromecast receiver (like my Mi TV stick does), so I installed Allcast Receiver, but it wouldn't work.
I've also tried using a phone as an external mouse, but that too doesn't let you scroll.
That's it. I haven't managed to find any way of changing the ROM or OS. I suppose not many people are spending time on these boxes.
Related
So after the past week or so i have done some casual research. Looking thru various sites getting some not so reliable feedback i figured i would just ask at the top.... And i dont know why i didnt in the first place..
I am looking to get a Android Tablet when taxes come. Something not to expensive but not a cheap piece of junk either.
I am looking for something reliable, fast good graphics, a decent camera if possible certianly gps, wifi, bluetooth. I would like to dock it in my car for its Gps potential, and for movies and certianly its music capabilities (like power amp) and pandora last fm ect. I figured i would tether it to my Droid 2, and no i wont be watching movies on it thats more for my wife, friends ect.
I would defenatly want it to have the android market on it, wether i have to put it on there myself or if it was stock. I want to be able to play games like angry bird or whatever. Not just simple low end games but the potentintal to play anything i might want to..
And lastley i would like something that defenatly has some community backbone to it. Something that has been rooted, that people know and i can get reliable support on. I dont want to be running 1.6 on it it has to be like 2.0 or 2.2 and i can upgrade it. Something that runs really smoothly and has at least one decent rom.
I see some of these people who bought cheap tablets off ebay from Hong Kong or whatever and there having to scour the net just to find out what excatly it is called.. I dont really wana do that lol.
If i can find it locally great! If i got to order it off the net then so be it. I just want something that is open, reliale, smooth, fast and has some support behind it...
Sorry if this is the wrong section i looked for a overall tablet form but couldnt find one on XDA and i didnt want to post in every forum. If you have anylinks or even one u are thinking about buying like a link let me know id love to check it out!
Thanks Everyone!
Dude, get a NookColor! $249, supported in ROM Manager, and I'm sure soon to have full ROMs released..
It doesn't have a camera (but your Droid 2 does...) so that might be a deal breaker. It's not a tablet, it's an e-reader, but it's a neat little thing. I can't wait to see the development take off.
Other than that, the Motorola Xoom looks promising, but it's currently unreleased.
-pd
I would recommend the nook Color as well except for the fact that it is lacking a GPS. Therefore it does not fit into the car model. I have one for my son and it is a nice device.
The gps is kind of a nessisity for me, i could give up the camera but im stuck with the gps. But the nook or nook color is out for me. I see it as lacking later on because of its processor and it wasent built to be a tablet. I want something that will ride out for a few years if possible. It needs a 1 ghz prosessor and sufficent ram. And i got to have 2.2+ on it. And 7 inch minumum. Thank you for the suggestion thus far though
Consider the Archos 101 or 70.
Pretty sure it has everything.
There is a forum for it here too.
as far as I know no tablet meets your demands ( 1ghz/2.2/lotso ram/etc) probably best shot at the moment is a flytouch II from lightinthebox ...
10", decent rom support coming together, inbuilt gps, 2 cardslots for storage, android 2.1 with kernel 2.6.32.9 once you upgrade/update it to v1568 firmware.
another OEM provider promised 2.2 was going to be out last weekend but havent seen anything filtering out as of yet
chachi said:
as far as I know no tablet meets your demands ( 1ghz/2.2/lotso ram/etc) probably best shot at the moment is a flytouch II from lightinthebox ...
10", decent rom support coming together, inbuilt gps, 2 cardslots for storage, android 2.1 with kernel 2.6.32.9 once you upgrade/update it to v1568 firmware.
another OEM provider promised 2.2 was going to be out last weekend but havent seen anything filtering out as of yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, Archos already has 2.2 with 1ghz
http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_101it/specs.html?country=ca&lang=en
The RAM is not listed on that page but it would be easy to find out.
I'm just stepping out.
And there seems to be a GPS solution here http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=63&t=37910
Sry... what I meant was I want to run the most uptodate firmware I can so im kosher with 2.1 what im hoping to avoid is where I have seen a lot of them running 1.6. I've been thinking about archos but I just haven't heardb from anyone who ones a archos or a flytouch.. I would defenatly like to hear experiences... thanks again everyone
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Also and i forgot to mention it.. It has to have a Capacitive and Multitouch screen like my Droid X or Droid 2.... Does that FlyTouch have that? cause i cant seem to find any information pertaining to that.
no flytouch2 is not multitouch but otherwise i am more than happy with mine, best €130 ish i've ever spent
This is a nice little tablet and I was wondering if anyone had successfully ported a rom to it yet. From a bit of research, mainly here and here, rooting is defiantly possible with a little finesse.
Besides getting android market and google app bundle to work, it would be great to have a custom rom for this tablet. If anyone is willing to take this on, I'd be more than happy to donate and post a system dump.
Well I have also done some research. The leader i7 tablet goes by another name. IT is apparently some re boxed tablet... lost the name. But stay tuned as i will post it here when i find it. But the reason you wont find roms or tricks for this is because theres another name. Find its root hardware before rebranding and you will find roms
Its other name is the impression 7.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium
It is an "Infotmic" based MID. Particularly the x210 model.
Listed in the hardware information program i used.
Theoretically its internals are the same and it can be flashed to anything the infotmic x210 tablets have listed on various sites, as the only difference would be the external ports, case and etc for the rebranding.
This is good and makes sense because if you were to mass produce a cheap tablet, you would want the insides to be universal (it saves money) but modular enough to fit into different rebranding schemes. (easily resolder/connect additional or less IO ports on main board)
Spread the word on any forum you find, see if we cant and find some people smart enough to crack open these F***ers
Ok, so I'm pretty new to this whole Android thing, but I'm not daft and know a think or two about computers and software, so I'm not a complete 'noob'...
However, to spare me the drama of trawling through thousands of pages, I have a few quick concise questions, and would appreciate concise answers.
So I bought a generic handset, branded as an Onyx Dragon though AnTuTu benchmark app tells me its a Yusu... details and specs from Chinavision.com (search Onyx Dragon).
I initially bought it because I needed a new phone (been on a Moto V3 Razr for about 6 years!) so got this cos it was cheap and looked good. Runs Froyo on what I have found to be pretty **** hardware (MT6516, advertised as 416MHz but shown to be around 207MHz, but not sure if this is main CPU or radio core...) with not a lot of RAM. I installed an 8Gb SD card to save the apps and keep as much free internal space as possible, in case the OS supports disc memory (?). The wireless is good and screen works well, but the GPS, navigation and camera are rubbish, but they are not why I bought it; I have a decent camera and I can read a map. Its definitely 'entry level' so I'm not too bothered if I brick it.
Since I got it, and seeing the many cheap 'clones' out there, I'm keen to get into them a bit more and start developing. I already rooted it with z4root, BusyBox and Superuser all installed fine. ROM Manager is running but because I don't know the actual brand I'm not yet running ClockWorkMod (doesn't show up in the list). I'm keen to install Gingerbread or maybe even CyanogenMod 7, but cannot flash the ROM without CWM. Can anyone tell me what phone 'model' I should use for this particular handset?
I can't overclock the chipset, but have been looking at other clones to play with, such as htc Incredible G11i Pro clone from etotalk.com and 'CyberStar' 3G handset with MT6573 650MHz chipset (also from Chinavision).
Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with these clones? They look great and if they work as well as the budget model I have now then there is certainly potential. Sure, they may not be as good as a genuine Galaxy or Nexus, but then the price reflects that. However, as a cheap development platform you can't really go wrong! I'd like to see faster processors and more hardware mod ability such as clocking, just to see what is possible. Anyone tried ICS on one of these? I read elsewhere that if Froyo runs ok on a cheap device then GB should be better. My friend has GB 2.3.3 on a genuine $500 Galaxy S2 and I'd love to show him up with a rooted and clocked clone running ICS for a fraction of the price!!
Well, thats not as concise as I would like, but it covers pretty much everything. One last thing though, I cannot install ES File Explorer 1.6.1, it will download from Market and attempt to install but then fail. The latest version I have is the pre-installed 1.4.2.2. I've tried everything I can think of; downloading on my Mac and copying via USB to install from Astro making sure ES is not running, failed. Tried uninstalling ES with ROM Toolbox having root access and disabled AVG, failed. Tried to launch new version from package options, failed. I have installed ES Task Manager v1.2 but cannot use all the features as it says File Explorer needs to be updated, and needless to say updating it from the prompts failed as well... Any ideas? I'm thinking a flash to GB should include the latest version (or better alternative).
Thanks all in advance!
I don't think it's possible to run ICS on such a low spec'd device. This onyx dragon runs on a 416Mhz ARM9 processor with a 200 Mhz ARM7 GPU. Even the G1 that uses a 528Mhz ARM11 CPU can't run ICS well. I would suggest that you give up on theses crappy chineses devices. If you don't have money you can find a LG Optimus One for 100 bucks on ebay and it is A LOT better than any of these chinese crap phones
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
For CWM, take a look at this site http://www.koushikdutta.com/2010/02/clockwork-recovery-image.html and the quote below
Don't see your phone? Email me if you want to help me get it working!
And of course, all the source can be found on Github.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
droidscope said:
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are right about honeycomb. As for the device. Without kernel source which will never be released due to copyright issues you may have a bit of trouble Modding it. CM only supports authentic devices and not clones as the hardware specs as you learned are faked and never true.
droidscope said:
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi droidscope,
Not all the Chinese phones are crap there are a few very capable phones now entering the market and they are catching up the bigboys rapidly.
For more info & reviews on the latest Chinese phones check over here http://www.gizchina.com/category/phones/ Try to stick with the branded chinese phones such as Zopo, ZTE, Newman etc because there is at least some support where as the direct copy/clones have no support at all. If buying try to get the phone pre rooted because some of the Chinese phone are getting more difficult to root. I would look here http://www.etotalk.com/ if buying and select the MOD ROM $4.99 for most phones then the phone will come pre rooted with working playstore language etc. They do not 1 to 1 copys although some of the phones have more than a passing look of some of the more famous brands. I have used them a few times and they have not let me down be sure to email them first to ask about stock levels though.
Hi,
i would like some help to see if the device i have has any other custom firmware,
i have attached a few pics of the device.
the discription that was provided by the vendor is as following
7" TFT screen, A9 core 1.5ghz, 512 ram ddr3, 8gb internal memory, andoroid 4.0, has GPS, TF card support upto 16gb, VGA front camera.
NO bluethooth,
the model no. assigned by the manufacturer / vendor is ET-6018 , being sold on egmemory.com...
to be honest i knew that the tablet will be slow... but its so slow that even opening a single menu takes ages...
i cant return it as the vendor is being very A**holic...
i was wondering since i cant use it or return it... mite as well flash it with a custom rom.
please help me to identify this tablet's common name and if any custom roms are availabel for such device.
many thanks
Try this link for more information possibly....I've been searching a while on your subject and it's extremely difficult to find an exact "common" name for your device
http://www.slatedroid.com/forum/222-unlisted-cortex-a9-tablets/
If this helps hit thanks!
Sent from an Amazon Gindle Fireoid
Some Info found
I managed to get a little further, and i hope the info helps? Im English but based in Aisa, and often have to source hard to find manufacturers. I couldnt read the model number in your last photo, but as it says on the back of the Tablet, it is made by a company called Easy Groups, who specifically manufacture Memory modules. The main website is egmemory.net
In the support section, they have manuals and firmware downloads, but i stopped there because i couldnt read the model number. The link to the support page is...... egmemory.net/download.php?lang=eng (add the 3 ww's in front)
The only ROMs i could see listed however, where Chinese ROMs but i would have thought there would be an English language option somewhere!
I hope this helps?
John
johnmcavoy said:
I managed to get a little further, and i hope the info helps? Im English but based in Aisa, and often have to source hard to find manufacturers. I couldnt read the model number in your last photo, but as it says on the back of the Tablet, it is made by a company called Easy Groups, who specifically manufacture Memory modules. The main website is egmemory.net
In the support section, they have manuals and firmware downloads, but i stopped there because i couldnt read the model number. The link to the support page is...... egmemory.net/download.php?lang=eng (add the 3 ww's in front)
The only ROMs i could see listed however, where Chinese ROMs but i would have thought there would be an English language option somewhere!
I hope this helps?
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also saw those firmware updates on that website and I clicked the one for the et-6018 and it took me to a dead page. The other links for the other models did the same
A little secret...;o)
If you do the non obvious and do a right click, then select open in new tab, it downloads the 'firmware' for the manual it opens a PDF in a new window.
Unfortunately the 'firmware' on offer is just a utility tool for upgrading and is 1MB in size called Phoenix Card and has a handful of DLL's with it. I did a little more digging and picked up hints to follow 2 models, CWM MK802 and CM10
I did find this though, i wonder if this would work, the author states its a slim custom ROM for the A9 but doesnt state its for any particular model...
//androidforums.com/a9-all-things-root/647394-karbonn-a9-custom-rom-mysticmod-v1.html (add http at the start)
John
Strange..ive been a member for over 6 years with dozens of posts, but somehow my post counter has been reset to 5???
johnmcavoy said:
If you do the non obvious and do a right click, then select open in new tab, it downloads the 'firmware' for the manual it opens a PDF in a new window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using a tablet with a crappy browser......no right click or option to save lol
Sent from an Amazon Gindle Fireoid
No Right Click?
Now who in their right mind buys these Chinese tablets???......
johnmcavoy said:
Now who in their right mind buys these Chinese tablets???......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol....what tablet isn't made in China?
Sent from my rooted SCH-R880 POS
Made in China?
Those made in Taiwan perhaps??....
Seriously though, these little tablets are quite addictive to play with! When im not at home in the UK, im in Indonesia for most of the year, there is a local market that sells second hand stuff, like a flea market. I often find broken or used tablets for as little as $10 I have about 15 of them now. One i have hacked to the extreme hardware wise, inside i fitted a 4 port hub, a second camera facing forward, a wifi mouse and keyboard dongle, a broadband dongle and a second USB port on the side, maybe i should post this as an instructable? Another i have used the insides as a controller for an amateur radio transmitter.
John
johnmcavoy said:
Those made in Taiwan perhaps??....
Seriously though, these little tablets are quite addictive to play with! When im not at home in the UK, im in Indonesia for most of the year, there is a local market that sells second hand stuff, like a flea market. I often find broken or used tablets for as little as $10 I have about 15 of them now. One i have hacked to the extreme hardware wise, inside i fitted a 4 port hub, a second camera facing forward, a wifi mouse and keyboard dongle, a broadband dongle and a second USB port on the side, maybe i should post this as an instructable? Another i have used the insides as a controller for an amateur radio transmitter.
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice
Sent from an Amazon Gindle Fireoid
Hi,
I'm looking 2buy a straemer for kodi.
I made a big research upon that question read a lot.
Found some reccommandtions such as:
* NEXBOX A95X
* BEELINK GT1
* ZIDOO X9S
* Xiaomi Mi Box (maybe wont be relevant due to lack of RJ45 Ethernet? *important
What is for your opintion is the best for around 60$? Not only from the follwing...
Thansks!
Bro! Thanks for putting that initial list together. I was also considering some of those.... following this thread to see if any further input on affordable boxes similar to above.
Lets cross our finguers to responces
The new NVidia Shield TV dropped also. But that beast is $199 for standard and $299 for a pro. Heck for that much money might as well get an Intel mini-pc.
Cannot find a single reasson of buying a media pc (streamer is so 2010)
I personally am buying a T95Z box, specifically the easytone package off amazon.
The T95Z and the S96 boxes are loaded with newer chips and decent memory/storage and most are around $60. Check em out.
Sent from my OnePlus One using XDA Labs
Unless you need the video features the s905X supports, stay away from it..
It's billed as "the new SoC" by the sellers but it's over-all slower than the S905 - all it has is those few video feature extras... but generally slower all around.
OK
So it better choosing a S905 device.
But which one/s??
All around XDA, with around 7 MILLION membes - not any single recommandation?
Tnx!
So looking at the new zoomtak Uplus I might hold off and get that when more vendors start selling it. Check it out
h t t p ://www .zoomtak.net/product-item/4k-hd-tv-box-zoomtak-amlogic-s912-uplus/
As for right now, at that price point, best bet would be a sunvell t95z. It has the newer Amlogic S912 and better mali gpu than most. It'll handle 4k no problem.
Thanks
Also heard about the sunvell t95z.
Guess it supposed to be good...?
How is it compare to Beeling GT1?
Hardware wise they are identical. The launcher/ui's will be different, but is always customizable. If choosing between those two I'd say it would come down to price, accessories, and visual appeal. Since both will offer similar performance.
Sent from my OnePlus One using XDA Labs
mibox is the only answer, other ones are running ****ty android tablet version
A bit late shabydog, but give this video a watch. Might answer most of your questions.
h t t p s://youtu.be/VAMHe6eQQO8
This may be obvious, but did you consider a Fire TV stick? They're only 40 for the basic model and they're more than powerful enough to run Kodi. if that's all you're looking to do. they can also be rooted without problem and have custom ROM's in case you want a more traditional Android feel. I've got two running Kodi without any issues. You don't even need to go for the upgraded version with the voice search remote as you can download the fire tv remote app free from the Play store on any Android device and it has voice search built in. Unless you are looking to set up a PVR with Kodi, in which case the six gig storage would be an issue.
Guys have a look at this.
It might help you, especially if your main goal is to use KODI / SPMC / etc:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=252916
The Xiomi Mi Box 4K seems like a no brainier at ~$70. I've had it for maybe 6 months and it's very good. Runs Kodi v17 awesome, runs RetroArch awesome for gaming emulators, plus all the usual Android TV stuff like Chromecast, Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, etc. It still runs Android 6.0.1 but hopefully it'll get Android N soon. Some of the 4K/HDR stuff isn't perfect I've heard, but have mine set to 1080p, don't have a 4K TV anyway. I'd definitely buy it again though at this price point: http://www.mi.com/en/mibox/