Topic: 4k media box (Read 3482 times)

maid · « **on:** September 14, 2020, 07:13:57 am »

Hoping for help.
I bought a 4k android box so that I can play media through the TV.
Can i install jriver?
The movies play ok but there is no way of turning off subtitles and i was getting some kind of voice over like directors cut yet there was no such stream on the movie.

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2020, 07:29:42 am »

Which box? JRiver for Android works on the Nvidia Shield TV.

tij · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2020, 07:32:52 am »

Use tool like MediaInfo to check what audio and subtitles your file has.

Depending on setting ... MC can automatically play subtitles ... especially forced ones (stuff like subs for foreign/alien speech on movie)

Subtitles can also be burn into video ... maybe that’s your case?

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2020, 09:09:58 am »

Well, I asked my question above because there's a lot of "Android TV" boxes out there that are anything but, they're usually running older SoCs with stock Android (and not Android TV) with custom launchers. If you want to run JRiver for Android, those boxes should probably be avoided as JRiver for Android has an Android TV interface (as far as I know) which won't show up on stock Android.

There are only a few real Android TV boxes including the Nvidia Shield TV and the Mi Box S. I'd highly recommend the Nvidia Shield TV, it's the best Android TV box (and its new 4K AI-powered upscaling is amazing).

maid · « **Reply #4 on:** September 14, 2020, 06:12:45 pm »

This is what I bought.
This is for when we travel and most tv have hdmi but are not smart tv.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/H96-Max-Pro-TV-BOX-Android-10-0-2-4G-16-32-64G-USB3-0-WiFi-6K-Smart-Media-Player/352991565590?hash=item522fefd716:g:dgkAAOSw6EJfGyL8

JimH · « **Reply #5 on:** September 14, 2020, 06:19:23 pm »

I don't think it's Android TV. It's probably just Android.

RoderickGI · « **Reply #6 on:** September 14, 2020, 08:28:01 pm »

Quote from: JimH on September 14, 2020, 06:19:23 pm

I don't think it's Android TV. It's probably just Android.

Correct: Operating System Android 10.0 Pie

AU$20 with free shipping!

Oh wait, I hadn't select an item from the drop down list. AU$73.89 for the 4/64GB version. The keyboard is AU$20. ~~May as well buy a nVidia Shield.~~ Wait. No. Those things are AU$300 to AU$400 in Australia. Good buy Maid!

The specs write-up is pretty dodgy though. Who knows what they would actually deliver. If it is actually:
Rockchip RK3318 Quad Core 64Bit Cortex-A53 CPU, Penta-Core Mali-450 up to 750Mhz+ GPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM, 4K H.265 Hardware Video Decode and 4K Output, 2.4G / 5G WiFi with expanded Storage via a Supports TF Card, up to 128GB and Android 10.0 Pie, it could be okay.

JRiver for Android should still run on it, just using the Mobile version. If it can connect to the Play Store to install it.

maid · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2020, 09:41:36 pm »

do you think jriver would install on that

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #8 on:** September 15, 2020, 03:38:10 am »

The real question is would it perform well enough? I have my doubts as it's not an actual Android TV box. Anyone considering these cheap boxes like this should probably avoid them.

I own 3 of these cheap "Android TV" boxes and all of them are junk, in my opinion. You mileage will vary, but it probably won't run too well with JRiver for Android and you'll likely have issues.

I'd either invest in a Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019 model) or if it's too expensive save up and get a Nvidia Shield TV Pro (2019 model). There's good reasons why it's the best Android TV box you can get and it's worth it alone for the new 4K AI upscaling it can do, which is beautiful. Plus JRiver for Android is being developed to run on it.

JimH · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2020, 07:36:03 am »

Quote from: Awesome Donkey on September 15, 2020, 03:38:10 am

The real question is would it perform well enough? I have my doubts as it's not an actual Android TV box. Anyone considering these cheap boxes like this should probably avoid them.

I agree.

maid · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2020, 05:45:18 pm »

When movies are put onto a hard drive for using in jriver android, do you advise to put them in a folder the same as on my theater.

JimH · « **Reply #11 on:** September 15, 2020, 07:24:29 pm »

They can be anywhere on the drive.

maid · « **Reply #12 on:** September 15, 2020, 10:30:59 pm »

thanks heaps

maid · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2020, 03:58:53 am »

JRiver on this box I got does not work. I click play and it does nothing what am I missing please?

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2020, 04:12:48 am »

And it probably won't work either. Like I already said above, those "Android TV" boxes like the one you linked to aren't actually running Android TV OS, they're running just stock Android with a TV-esk launcher. Those cheap boxes are a mess hardware and software-wise, honestly. Especially software-wise, because you really don't know what you're going to get.

JRiver for Android with Android TV support is being developed on a Nvidia Shield TV, which means it'll work best on the Nvidia Shield TV (and likely the only Android TV box they'll support). Unlike those cheap "Android TV" boxes, the Nvidia Shield TV is actually running official Android TV OS. I suspect those cheap "Android TV" boxes will be considered unsupported by JRiver and won't bother trying to support any of them (because there's going to be a lot of problems trying to; different SoCs used, different versions of Android used, potential lack of hardware/support for specific video codecs, etc.). I'm sure Jim will tell us their official stance on those cheap "Android TV" boxes.

Finally you likely won't have a particular good experience with those cheap "Android TV" boxes. I own three of them and ALL of them are terrible. You get what you pay for, I guess.

maid · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2020, 06:23:45 pm »

what do you recommend to take away on holiday to play movies etc through the tv.
At the moment I am using jriver on a laptop connected to tv with HDMI .
I just wanted a neater option

tzr916 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 26, 2020, 09:58:58 am »

I wonder if this would work? Made by google and says "Antroid Tv"....
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/09/24/retail-packaging-for-chromecast-with-google-tv-leaks-on-video/

EDIT: hmm, actually it says "google tv" not "android tv", I guess there's a difference?

EDIT v2: Google rebranding "android tv" to "google tv"!
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-tv-rebrand-google-tv-hint-google-home/

maid · « **Reply #17 on:** September 26, 2020, 06:48:12 pm »

need something that will play 4k movies from usb storage and needs to be small

tij · « **Reply #18 on:** September 27, 2020, 03:28:09 am »

Quote from: maid on September 26, 2020, 06:48:12 pm

need something that will play 4k movies from usb storage and needs to be small

How small? ... as Awesome Donkey suggests Nvidia Shield seems like a good option that supports usb hdd

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #19 on:** September 27, 2020, 06:31:21 am »

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is the most powerful Android TV box there is. I own both the Mi Box S and Nvidia Shield TV (which are both official Android TV boxes) and the Nvidia Shield TV blows the Mi Box S out of the water when it comes to performance. I personally wouldn't get the non-Pro version of the Shield TV, as the cylindrical non-Pro Nvidia Shield TV lacks USB ports, doesn't have as much RAM and storage as the Pro, etc. The Nvidia Shield TV Pro is pretty expensive, but it's honestly worth it. And the AI upscaling from 1080p to 4K looks amazing.

Also Brad is using the Nvidia Shield TV when developing JRiver for Android for the Android TV OS.

maid · « **Reply #20 on:** September 27, 2020, 07:04:57 pm »

what software plays the movies please can you change audio streams?

tij · « **Reply #21 on:** September 27, 2020, 09:10:00 pm »

Quote from: maid on September 27, 2020, 07:04:57 pm

what software plays the movies please can you change audio streams?

NVidia Shield runs on Android TV.

There is JRiver MC for Android TV.

RoderickGI · « **Reply #22 on:** September 27, 2020, 10:33:41 pm »

Quote from: maid on September 27, 2020, 07:04:57 pm

what software plays the movies please can you change audio streams?

I'm sure there are manuals and online forums that discuss in detail what the Shield Pro can do with the software that comes with it.

maid · « **Reply #23 on:** September 27, 2020, 10:48:17 pm »

the other boxes i have plays voice over on all movies.

tij · « **Reply #24 on:** September 27, 2020, 10:56:08 pm »

Quote from: maid on September 27, 2020, 10:48:17 pm

the other boxes i have plays voice over on all movies.

if you use MC, there are options that can choose prefered language for audio and subtitles ... provided those tracks are properly marked inside the file

maid · « **Reply #25 on:** September 27, 2020, 10:59:41 pm »

I tried MC on one of the boxes I had and it did not work would not load the movies

tij · « **Reply #26 on:** September 27, 2020, 11:07:50 pm »

I am confused ... you said movie plays with voice over ... now you say movie does not load ... which problem.do you have?

and which box you are using?

maid · « **Reply #27 on:** September 27, 2020, 11:14:38 pm »

Ok I can play the files if I open them from the folder on the hard Drive.

I cant get JRiver to open them.

one box is a X96 mini smart TV Box

tij · « **Reply #28 on:** September 28, 2020, 01:14:14 am »

You have to forgive me ... i am not expert on Androids ... just going by specs

googling gives me "X96 Mini tv box is based on Android 7.1 OS"

MC runs on Android TV operating system as Awesome Monkey has mention.

This might be the reason MC is not running on your box.

tij · « **Reply #29 on:** September 28, 2020, 01:18:01 am »

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.androidheadlines.com/official-android-tv-vs-android-tv-boxes/amp

see this for difference between Androud TV and TV boxes running Android.

maid · « **Reply #30 on:** September 28, 2020, 01:42:24 am »

thinking about trying this one https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HK1-R1-Android-10-0-Dual-WIFI-BT-TV-BOX-QuadCore-64Bit-CPU-5G-Media-player/353077747107

has to play 4k movies they reckon it will play 8k

I have lots of 10bit atmos movies

tij · « **Reply #31 on:** September 28, 2020, 03:20:48 am »

Quote from: maid on September 28, 2020, 01:42:24 am

thinking about trying this one https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HK1-R1-Android-10-0-Dual-WIFI-BT-TV-BOX-QuadCore-64Bit-CPU-5G-Media-player/353077747107

has to play 4k movies they reckon it will play 8k

I have lots of 10bit atmos movies

Again ... thats not Android TV ... its a box running Android.

imho ... just get NVidia Shield PRO 2019 ... its a bit pricy ... but that price is well justify considering hardware it has

You will just end up buying lots of cheap boxes running androids that you will not be happy with ... might as well go with proven stuff

There are no such thing as good cheap stuff ... well, JRiver MC might be exception lol

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #32 on:** September 28, 2020, 03:34:36 am »

Yep, that's just another cheap "Android TV" box that runs stock Android. Don't bother with boxes like that (especially ones off eBay), you'll have nothing but issues. Don't believe those descriptions of those boxes as well, they're full of issues.

If you have a lot of 10-bit ATMOS movies, tij's right, get the Nvidia Shield TV Pro. It'll be the best (actual) Android TV box that can get the job done.

maid · « **Reply #33 on:** September 28, 2020, 03:36:18 am »

no probs, at least they refund when they dont work..

tzr916 · « **Reply #34 on:** September 30, 2020, 10:08:09 am »

Quote from: tzr916 on September 26, 2020, 09:58:58 am

I wonder if this would work? Made by google and says "Antroid Tv"....
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/09/24/retail-packaging-for-chromecast-with-google-tv-leaks-on-video/

EDIT: hmm, actually it says "google tv" not "android tv", I guess there's a difference?

EDIT v2: Google rebranding "android tv" to "google tv"!
https://www.xda-developers.com/android-tv-rebrand-google-tv-hint-google-home/

Aside from the OP requests, will MC install/run on this new Chromecast running "GoogleTv"? Is Google Tv the same as Android Tv, seems google are simply rebranding... If you watch the video of the UI, at about 20 seconds in, you can see icons for SiliconDust HDHR App and KODI...
https://www.reddit.com/r/googlehome/comments/iz50fb/scrolling_through_the_chromecast_ui_for_those/
And some Specs:
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/06/12/probable-specs-for-googles-upcoming-android-tv-dongle-leak/

And, here is yet another box that claims to be "Android Tv", called Verizon Stream Tv:
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/02/26/verizon-launches-its-own-android-tv-set-top-box-called-stream-tv/

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Author Topic: 4k media box (Read 3482 times)