Technology Android

[masta247]

Tegra 4 is freaking cool.
Exynos 5 Octa core is freaking cool.
Sony Xperia Z is freaking cool.

The fact that HTC and Samsung will release phones cooler than the Xperia Z this year is freaking cool.

New Snapdragons are pretty cool too, even though it's still Krait, only upgraded - they're good as well.

 

[ARon]

ARM's big.LITTLE architecture is going to rule the world

 

[masta247]

Yeah I'm surprised Nvidia didn't go that way - they are doing a similar but less efficient thing since Tegra 3. Apparently the fifth Tegra 4 core is still A15, just undervolted and downclocked.

 

[dilla]

So whatever ended up happening with Google TV? I thought I would wait for cheaper equipment to come out, but that was two years ago. Haven't heard anyone talk about it, nor have I seen ads for new hardware.

I wanted to buy a box, not a TV, and I'm still seeing the Logitech Revue for $100+. What gives?

 

[THEV1LL4N]

Second Generation

Brand/Name Model Status Announcement date US release date Discontinued​

Sony Internet Player with Google TV [18] NSZ-GS7 [19] Available Jan. 9, 2012 [20] July 22, 2012 [21]​

​

LG SmartTV with GoogleTV (47" and 55") [22] 47G2[23] and 55G2 [24]Available May 2012 May 30, 2012​

​

Vizio Co-Star [25] VAP430 [26]Available June 26, 2012 [27] August 22, 2012 [28]​

​

Hisense[29] Pulse[30] Available September 2012 December 20, 2012 ​

 

[dilla]

Hmm, interesting. And these offer the same functionality as the Revue I played with in Best Buy years ago? I liked using the keyboard, which was included. I took a look at the Vizio Co-Star from the list. Didn't seem to have one.

 

[dilla]

Basically, they are all shit and need to be updated. Hopefully this "third generation" of updates brings them up to speed with, at least, the latest firmware. Can't be running Honeycomb at this stage.

 

[Casey]

Seen some previews of third generation Google TV - looks promising. The Asus Qube is the first third generation GTV.

 

[Pittsey]

Ugly...!

I want something small and USB powered. USB power isn't essential though.

I will then use the android port of XBMC. Which won't be too far from what I have now. Except I have a windows 8 powered Acer Revo running XBMC.

 

[dilla]

I may end up just settling for a used Revue then. I've seen some for $60 on eBay.

I just want something to stream Netflix and Hulu Plus on my TV, but also have the versatility of a computer by browsing the web. You can even compose documents with Drive/Docs, right? It would be awesome. Would save the wear and tear on my laptop and Xbox for using Netflix daily. And I could watch sports on FirstRow on a big screen, instead of on my dinky laptop.

Oh, the possibilities.

 

[ARon]

Why don't you just hook your laptop up to your TV?

 

[dilla]

Why don't you just hook your laptop up to your TV?

Because I would use the apps as well, like Netflix and such. And it would be easier to stream music from either my library or elsewhere throughout the house because of the location of our TV. Also, I don't want to have to lug my laptop around my house, set it up, and then have to go up to it to change stations or whatever. $100 is a small price to pay to expand my TV options. Plus my parents would use it too, maybe. My sister definitely would.

 

[ARon]

I was in a similar situation and made an xbmc box out of an old comp. I suppose your idea works best for you

 

[Pittsey]

I'll say it again. XBMC on a net top. The only decent solution, currently.

 

[dilla]

The old computers in our house do not have HDMI. What's the fun if I can't watch whatever movie in HD on a big screen? People use Mac Minis for that kind of stuff, but I'm not gonna pay $600+ when the Revue is $100 or less.

What sets XBMC apart from Android on the Revue?

 

[Pittsey]

The old computers in our house do not have HDMI. What's the fun if I can't watch whatever movie in HD on a big screen? People use Mac Minis for that kind of stuff, but I'm not gonna pay $600+ when the Revue is $100 or less.

What sets XBMC apart from Android on the Revue?

Don't use a Mac Mini then. Apple is overpriced shit. You could use an Apple TV 2 that's been jailbroken. But that is overpriced too and only supports 720p. A cheap Acer Revo Nettop would be ideal. XBMC is much better than Google TV. Check it out on their official site.

 

[dilla]

Yeah, but that's still $349, 3.5x as much as a Revue. I'm looking at their site and it just calls itself a media center. That's not what I'm really looking for. I'm looking to play media, sure, but the apps for other things are what makes it worth it for me. Streaming radio or getting news on my TV when I'm feeling lazy and just want to chill on the couch.

I downloaded it for my Mac and when I open the program, I still have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing. It's always been a mess for me to wade through.

 

[THEV1LL4N]

I downloaded XBMC for Ubuntu on my Acer Revo. Thanks Pittsey, it's much better than browsing through the file explorer just to open videos in VLC or Banshee.

Pittsey, what OS does your Revo have and does it feel like there's any lag? Mine feels sluggish at times.

 

[Pittsey]

Yeah, but that's still $349, 3.5x as much as a Revue. I'm looking at their site and it just calls itself a media center. That's not what I'm really looking for. I'm looking to play media, sure, but the apps for other things are what makes it worth it for me. Streaming radio or getting news on my TV when I'm feeling lazy and just want to chill on the couch.

I downloaded it for my Mac and when I open the program, I still have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing. It's always been a mess for me to wade through.

You should be able to pick up a second hand Revo 3600 for under $100. And I have found nothing that compares to XBMC. It takes a little reading at first. But it looks awesome and does everything. There is a plug-in for everything. I don't use them. But IceFilms or whatever replaced it, sports streaming. In the UK all the catch up sites like iplayer. It does everything. I want to pick up google tv, especially as there is an android port of XBMC in the works, but it isn't there yet.

I downloaded XBMC for Ubuntu on my Acer Revo. Thanks Pittsey, it's much better than browsing through the file explorer just to open videos in VLC or Banshee.

Pittsey, what OS does your Revo have and does it feel like there's any lag? Mine feels sluggish at times.

Was on windows 7. Now on 8, because it boots in about 5 seconds. But with the XBMC shell, so no windows tiles.

No lag at all. It's smooth. Have you read up on the XBMC site? Lots of tweaks to get it working. Although I think mine worked without much fiddling.

 

[dilla]

I'll have to look into it further, then. I just like the idea of apps, and not programs to go through. When I demo'd it, I liked that you could split the screen while browsing and watching TV, so it integrated into our Dish.