Minix Neo X8 Plus Android Box

[AmiableChimp]

http://www.retailgadgets.co.uk/Minix-Neo-X8-H-Andr...

Just bought one of these last night to have a play around with.

I have been looking into Kodi (XBMC) recently after talking about it to a guy at work.

I currently have a Western Digital TV Live running on the big TV that gives access to Netflix and shares the content on my NAS.

From playing about with Kodi it looks much better and so much faster (running on a Sony Vaio Z-Series).

I have decided to try out one of these boxes for a new TV in the kitchen for Mrs Chimp to watch whilst cooking.

It needs to be technophobe friendly - I am happy to get down and dirty to install/setup but she is used to things like Sky where it's pretty much point, click, watch.

I'm interested to see the performance of playback over wifi (Fritzbox hub is in the next room) but reviews are pretty favourable.

It comes with a free remote mouse/keyboard to make typing stuff in a bit more user friendly.

I will update once I am up and running but would be interested in hearing from any of you guys who have tried these types of boxes and any recommendations for plug-ins to go for.

[AmiableChimp]

Sorry bud, I haven't seen anything around touch screen support when reading up on these.

[AmiableChimp]

Cool - maybe we can share how we have set them up (I believe there is a standard Minix launcher) and which add-ins we have used?

I have the host TV now up on the wall in the kitchen so waiting on the Minix to arrive (hopefully tomorrow) so I can play around with it.

[AmiableChimp]

dudleybloke said:

For xbmc/kodi I use the 1channel, genesis, Phoenix and YouTube video add-ons. (Plus videodevil for a bit of blue!).

There's plenty of online guides and YouTube videos to get you set up.

Yep i've been playing around with Kodi on my laptop to get up to speed and I use Genesis and Phoenix mostly as well.

I am amazed at the speed, even accessing stuff on my NAS compared to my WD TV Live I have running in the living room. Might need to upgrade that as well!

[AmiableChimp]

Got mine up and running last night.

I would say it is actually reasonably "wife-friendly" in that it comes with a Minix launcher pre-installed.

The first thing I added was Netflix, then TV-Catchup so she can watch stuff like BBC News.

• I know this isn't anything to do with XBMC/KODI so far*

It came with Gotham release of XBMC installed but I downloaded the latest stable Kodi APK and installed that instead.

The help guide I got with the box suggested installed Super-Repo but I found add-ons like Genesis, etc. showing as incompatible so I went to TV Add-Ons and downloaded Fusion and everything works fine.

I did have to change the URL set up against Ice Films, and Project Free Tv to get them running.

Going to look into Sports Devil and P2P Streams so thanks for that.

Still very much finding my way with all things Kodi.

I have saved some favourites so my daughter can watch box sets (thru Genesis) and Mrs Chimp can watch her Ancient Aliens series.

I told her, if things go Pete Tong, just press android home button and the Minix launcher also has a task killer so she can just run that to start again.

I was using the free gyro mouse I got with the box with the built in keyboard on the reverse - very slick.

Overall I am really impressed with the wee thing, very very fast and works a treat for what we were looking for.

Annoyingly, I can't get it to hook up to my Windows shares on my NAS, anyone got any ideas?

I was wondering if it's an Android/Windows thing as Kodi on my windows laptop gets the content fine.

[AmiableChimp]

jbudgie said:

Just ordered one of these.

Also found this handy little book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/XBMC-Kodi-Android-Internet...

I could add that to my collection - The Lawn Expert, Bike Maintenance and the Webber BBQ Recipe book - none of which I have read yet either

I could be so much more knowledgeable if I put the effort in!

[AmiableChimp]

JimbobVFR said:

tedmus said:

AmiableChimp said:

Annoyingly, I can't get it to hook up to my Windows shares on my NAS, anyone got any ideas?

I was wondering if it's an Android/Windows thing as Kodi on my windows laptop gets the content fine.

I think Plex might do this?

Its working fine for me, don't use the scan option but add the source manually I found to be the key.

Can't remember the exact wording, but from memory goto the file manager option, add source and follow from there. Once done go to videos and add this newly added location as a video source.

Thanks guys, I also think enabling NFS on the NAS side may make them visible to Kodi on the android box. Will have a play tonight.

N.B. 3 workmates now also looking to get one of these, but the ones in the original link above are currently sold out.

[AmiableChimp]

jbudgie said:

Just looking on the 'TV addons' forum it seems as though this new one might be a fake and the original might still be ok.

Will have to read more about this.

You're a good man taking one for the team mate

Keep us posted!

[AmiableChimp]

Hoover. said:

Plugged mine yesterday afternoon...... I must admit I reasonably IT inept, and have mixed feelings thus far......

Running XBMC... loaded both "super-repo" & "fusion" a lot of the content I flick comes up with error messages "script failed" or "one or more items failed to play. Check log file for details" ... are these just defunct streams, or am I missing some software ?

Some of the quality of the live streaming is terrible, but check out bongdatructuyen this looked decent

Try googling as you might need to update the URL in the add-on config settings - I needed to do that to get ProjectFreeTV and Icefilms working correctly.

[AmiableChimp]

jbudgie said:

Has anyone succeeded in getting the Sky F1 stream working? For the practice today that is.

Have got four streams available, but none will link up.

Have tried Phoenix , P2P and vdubt25 without success.

Edited by jbudgie on Friday 8th May 19:05

Navi-Extreme - search Sky Sports F1
Select UK Turks Sports TV Channels
His SSF1 feed is working right now

[AmiableChimp]

bigweb said:

Whats the best box\stick to buy to have a mess around with all of this for a first timer?

I installed Kodi on my laptop first to play around with, then bought the wee Minix box I linked to in the OP once I was sure it could do a job.

[AmiableChimp]

No worries JBudgie

I have just ordered another one of these wee boxes for the main living room as it has proved quite a hit with Mrs Chimp and Chimp Jr.

It will be replacing my old Western Digital TV Live which is getting a bit clunky.

[AmiableChimp]

I also finally got my Synology NAS speaking to the Minix box last night.

I was able to actually see the NAS and the movies/tv shows on it, but Kodi wouldn't scrape the info into it's library and I was not able to show fanart, bios, etc.

I needed to use NFS and enable SSH on my NS to get this to work - followed a YouTube how to video and it was then reasonably straightforward.

All movies and TV shows now showing as separate menu items with full bios, ratings, etc. Very slick, and much quicker than my old WD TV Live box.

I also installed the VDubT25 add-in as it has some pretty good, reliable sports feeds.

[AmiableChimp]

Daz68 said:

Thought I would post an update having had this box for a couple of months now and sacking Sky. It took me quite a while getting use to the system and finding decent apps. But now after a bit of learning and searching I have a brilliant set up that delivers HD quality entertainment from films through to the latest sport.

Great to hear, I can only concur.

I use it with the family to watch boxsets (currently introducing our 14 year old daughter to Lost), Mrs Chimp uses it to watch Through the Wormhole & Ancient Aliens documentaries, I was watching the first episode of "new" top gear last night (i.e. Clarkson & Hammond, pre James May) and I watched the Manu U game on NBC yesterday, Live stream.

Friday night, Mrs Chimp and I watched The Equalizer and I see Straight Outta Compton is now i a watchable state...

Great wee box, although we DO still run the basic Sky package for ease of recording, etc.

[AmiableChimp]

andymc said:

AmiableChimp said:

Daz68 said:

Thought I would post an update having had this box for a couple of months now and sacking Sky. It took me quite a while getting use to the system and finding decent apps. But now after a bit of learning and searching I have a brilliant set up that delivers HD quality entertainment from films through to the latest sport.

Great to hear, I can only concur.

I use it with the family to watch boxsets (currently introducing our 14 year old daughter to Lost), Mrs Chimp uses it to watch Through the Wormhole & Ancient Aliens documentaries, I was watching the first episode of "new" top gear last night (i.e. Clarkson & Hammond, pre James May) and I watched the Manu U game on NBC yesterday, Live stream.

Friday night, Mrs Chimp and I watched The Equalizer and I see Straight Outta Compton is now i a watchable state...

Great wee box, although we DO still run the basic Sky package for ease of recording, etc.

is the software pre-installed to access the channels?

Some of it is, but some of the better add-ons are not so you will need to add them manually - pretty straightforward and loads of guides on line to show you.