Can anybody suggest economical smart TV dongle/box for LCD TV?

LEnjj0y on 06/06/2012 - 12:32

Hi friends,
i am planing to upgrade TVs in my house. I have 3 LCD TV & planning to buy 1 new 42-65 LED TV. I want good smart TV, But current smart tv apps are very limited like LG, Smasung, Sony.

I want to use Android or similar ecosystem, where i can install any app like XBMC or similar, to stream from Server to multiple TVs. I recently bought an ATV3 for trial but it can't be jail-broken, so i'm struck with it. Now i want to try Android device & if it works, it would be very cheap to convert my dumb LCD/LED tv to smart TV instead of spending a lot more on available Smart TVs in the market.

I want the device with good support & future updates. I came across Kogan smart tv dongle (http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/smart-tv-hdmi-dongle/), but can't find review or further information/video.
can anybody please suggest the cheap & easy option to convert my $400-$500 LCD TVs into Smart TV?

Thanks in advance.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 06/06/2012 - 14:54

    Apple TV3 will be jailbroken in time.
    Just hook up an old PC in the meantime.

  • Enjj0y on 06/06/2012 - 17:43

    That's the configuration at the moment. but I need to use media for other TVs as well. moving PC & Laptop to each TV is inconvenient & so outdated. Android looks more promising than ATV for media browse & local streaming as it is OPEN. The solution needs to be convenient like Box/Dongle that will serve to each TV individually, so media server can sit in a corner.

    My Options are:
    WD TV, Boxee Box, SULI SL-TV Android Tv Box, Kogan Smart TV HDMI Dongle etc. Out of all these Kogan Dongle is cheaper than any other, with good hardware, but can't find any review.

    As i am counting at least 3 unit for purchase, expensive units are less preferred.

    Any other suggestions!!

    Thanks.

  • kryptoz on 07/06/2012 - 22:43

    my experience with these options are that Boxee is the better of all of them. Boxee is fast, flexible, easy to use (and lets face it, stole the best ideas of everything else on the market including ATV). but if you buy it here you could pay $250-300 unless you find it on sale, or buy from overseas.
    I had an ATV2 with Boxee but it was so slow and the remote is rubbish, you need an iPhone or iPad to control the AppleTV properly, plus you'll have to wait till a jailbreak becomes available. the only selling point for me on ATV is if you are an extensive user of iTunes for your media — if not you face converting everything to AAC/MP4 to be able to enjoy any of it.
    Samsung and LG TVs have a good interface, and play pretty much anything, but you have to pay extra for them on some TV models, Sony comes with everything in the box and works fluidly, with the PS3 menu which is not perfect but very easy to use, the biggest (drawback would be Sony's limit on filetypes / enforced DRM).
    WD TV is fine but the interface is antiquated and remote is clumsy, Kogan I haven't used but there are hundreds of different devices the same as it (such as Geniatech's range) on the net, Kogan's is one of the cheaper models — factor in the added cost of memory — 4GB isn't much at all, you probably want to add a 32GB SD card to the $99 cost.

    also, wifi isn't great for multiple users streaming large video files all at once, so running ethernet cables may be worth investing in, which would limit your choice of devices.

  • batrarobin on 11/06/2012 - 10:05

    I had an GTV220 (NeonIQ Intelligent) Android TV box, it was very easy to use…the mouse pointer and keyboard was very convenient, however Google Market doesn't come pre-installed - you have root the device, but fairly easy. there is a guide on Whirlpool on how to root it….. Costs $80 on ebay.

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