DonsDeals Blog

Don's Deals Blog

The lines are Blurring. Between HDTV Sticks for Watching Online Content or Over The Air Broadcast. And What they are now calling, HDMI Operating System PC Sticks (and Boxes). I read about Tech, every day. But, some how I missed these HDMI Operating System PC Sticks and Boxes. I built a TV Set Top Box, in 2013. Using a Raspberry Pi, single board computer. And used XBMC Media Player for the OS. For my Mom, to use on her TV. But, when I watch my Web Videos on my TV. I use a Laptop, that I have connected to my TV. My TV is ancient. It's a 1980 Montgomery Wards (Monkey Wards, to the locals) CRT TV. This is before S-Video was implemented into TV's. So, I use a DVD Player - Recorder, with a Built in HDTV Tuner and S-Video Inputs. To, get the S-Video Signal into my TV, form the Laptop. I tried out, using a Desktop PC, first. But, the Text is too small and or blurry, for me to read on the TV Screen. Either with XBMC or a Linux or Windows OS. But, with the Laptop. Setup, just of to my left. And a USB Keyboard and mouse connected. I can read, what I need to, on the Laptop. And control the Laptop, with ease, with a full keyboard and mouse. I just start a Video and then look straight ahead, at my TV, after that. And for some reason. The Laptop, is does not distract, my eyes, when the video is playing, either. I have watched almost all of my TV - Web Video. This way, for the past three years or so. I prefer, using a Web Browser, to using XBMC. Because I can find and play Web Videos, much faster, this way. Also, I tried setting up the Raspberry Pi, with Debian, Puppy and Fedora Linux. The full Desktop OS versions, for the Pi. But, the Pi wont support Flash Video. And you have to buy a license to play MP4 Videos. It's something about the laws in England. Where the Pi is made. Not so, in the USA. I've never been asked to pay to play an MP4, on any Web Site or in any Software, before I bought the Pi. And my Pi, is the version, with just 512MB of Ram too. So, it just locks up, every time you try, playing any type of Video, in a Web Browser. And on a side note. After a couple of years, of OS updates. In RaspBMC (XBMC for the Pi). The System, slowed down, to the point. That most Videos, would Not Play on the Pi. In RaspBMC either. I finally settled in on OpenELEC for the Pi (a light weight remix of XBMC). I used BerryBoot, to easily install OpenELEC on my Pi, BerryBoot v2.0 - bootloader / universal operating system installer. And it plays Videos Pretty well, again, now. I very seldom use the Mom's Pi TV Box, though. I just, stick to my Laptop TV Setup. When I find an interesting Video, during the Day. I just e-mail, the link, to my self. And then watch it later on, in the evening. On my Laptop - TV Setup. So, after all of that background. I have been wanting to Setup a PC, with Fedora Linux. A full Desktop OS, with Firefox and Chrome Web Browsers. For her, to use on her 46 inch HDTV. This way, she could watch any type of Web Video or Over the Air TV, that shew wants, on her TV. I have tested this out, for a few minutes. By running a long HDMI Cable. From her PC, in her room. All the way down, the Hall and into the Living Rom, to the TV. This was just Video. Since, her Video Card, does not support HDMI Audio. She has a wireless keyboard and mouse. And as long as you had a clear line of sight to the bedroom. The Keyboard and Mouse, worked. So, I've been wanting to setup one of the older Desktops, that I have. To work with the TV. They are Single Core machines. With 2 or more GHZ Processors. But, they need more memory to work, with HD Video. I just bought 2GB of DDR memory (for $15, a good deal). And maxed out one of the machines, memory wise. It's a NetProMax PC, with a Celeron 2.8GHZ Processor. It was a Custom Made, Security System PC. And it does have an HD Video Card. But, that Requires a DVI to HDMI Adapter, to work with the TV. I already have one (I got for about $3 online). That works with DVI-D Cards. That, reminds me. I need to double check the Video Card and make sure it is DVI-D and not DVI-I. If it's DVI-I. Then I would have to buy another Adapter. I bought the one I have. So, that I could connect the Raspberry Pi to my 23 inch PC Monitor. So, that I could read the Text, when setting up the OS. Also, this Video Card. In the NetProMax. Only sends out Video. So, I will have to use Analog Audio Outputs, from the PC. To get the Audio into the TV. That's fine. But, I would like to be able to just hook up an HDMI Cable. That supports Audio and Video. Which I already have, to the TV. I looked up Video Cards, that support HDMI Audio and Video. The most reasonable Priced Card. That I found, is about $40, plus shipping. So, the money, adds up fast. When you start buying parts, to upgrade, these older PC's. And then there's the Size and Noise, that the needed Cooling Fans Make, too. That beings me back to Today... When I ran across these HDMI Operating System PC Sticks and Boxes Today. I was very interested. I found that many of them, have 1.8GHz Duel Core Processors. And 2GB of DDR3 Ram. And the Desktop machine, that I am using every day, as my main PC. Is a 1.8GHz, Core 2 Intel. With 3GB of DDR2 Ram. It's ok. But, with all of the Flash and Java, that's on Web Pages, these days. It is constantly slowing down and sometimes Firefox locks up and I have to kill it and restart it, to keep Surfing the Web. And that's running Fedora 14 Linux, which only requires 513MB of Ram to run. And I use Addblock, along with several other good Browser Addons in Firefox, as well. To stop those Resource Hungry Flash and Java Adds and Vulnerabilities. Forget about Chrome, it uses too many resources and it wont even update anymore in Fedora 14. And I wouldn't eve try to Run Windows 7 on this System. Even if it did support it. I have another System with Win7 on it. I sometimes get older systems, in return for doing PC and OS work for People. It is a 2GHz AMD System. With 2GB of DDR2 Ram. I just built it from various Parts I have acquired. And added a new ASRock Motherboard. The old one had Back Caps Syndrome (bad Capacitors). It runs ok, but not fast, by any means. But, I don't use Windows OS to Surf the Internet, anyway. Windows, has too many Security Holes in it, for me to trust. I only keep a Windows OS, around. For those few Apps, that I like. Which are not available in Linux. Anyway... These new Mini PC's. With HDMI Video Outputs. Running, up to 1.8GHz, with 2GB of DDR3 Ram. Should run, well ugh for watching Web Videos and doing some Web Surfing. And running a few Apps here and there too. I would not be interested in the Windows 8 Versions. But, there are plenty, that Run Android. Which is a version of Linux. I haven't messed with Android, much. Only in a Virtual Machine. Android, does seem to have some interesting Apps, available. I read about all OS's and Hardware, allot. But, I haven't had a Mobile Phone, since 2001. So, the first thing. I would want to do, with my new Mini PC. Is, root or Reformat that new Mini PC. And Put a real Full Blown Linux OS on it. I searched around, for a Couple of hours today on the Internet. And found the Prices to be, from about $45 to $130. Depending on the Specs and OS you get. Windows 8 is the most expensive and Android OS, is the least expensive. If you want to get one. Pay attention to the Specs. I would get a Stick, with the 1.8GHz with 3GB of Ram. Since, the Prices are fairly close. Check out this deal, below. I found one, with a Mini Wireless USB keyboard, too. Some, have WiFi and some only have Wired Ethernet. And there is a wide range of Supported Audio - Video File Formats that is Supported. That's something to watch. I was very disappointing to find out that my Raspberry Pi. Won't support Flash Video in the Full Linux OS's that will run on it. It will play Flash, in XBMC - OpenELEC, though. But, many times, when you are trying to watch Videos on any of the Apps on the Pi. The Audio or Video, just wont Play. You get no Error Warnings. Just a Blank Screen. And some Videos take a while to load. Depending on if they are HD and your Ethernet - Wifi Speed. So, unsupported File Formats, in a Media Player, are a Real Pain! That's another reason, that I want a full Linux OS. So that you can install Audio Video Codecs in your OS. And get the best Media Player Experience, that you can, out of your System. And like I said, in the Title. The lines are Blurring. Between HDTV Sticks for Watching Online Content or Over The Air Broadcast on your TV. And What they are now calling, HDMI Operating System PC Sticks (and Boxes). I had a hard time, telling the difference, after a while of Reading Specs on many Different Offerings. So, really watch the Specs and make sure, you get what you need or want. Watch out for the type of AC Adapter and Plug, that you need for your Country. I'm in the USA. And I noticed, that many of the lower prices units. Have the Euro Style Plugs. You could buy an Adapter for that. But, that just more money, to spend. Check out the info and links below. For more info, on these interesting new "PC's" and the Software that I mentioned in this Article...

Don

(I have not Bought this one or a Mini PC Stick at all yet. So, I have no idea, if this is a good one or not. But, the Specs look good... Don)

MK809iii Android 4.4.2 Quad Core RK3188 TV stick 2G/8GB+ Air mouse wireless keyboard i8

(Price $66.99 on 05-07-15)

(Rii i8 fly keyboard) MK809 III Quad core RK3188 android tv stick 2GB RAM 8GB ROM
wifi Bluetooth Mini PC dongle Android 4.4.2
MK809 III Quad Core TV Box;
Android 4.4.2;
HDMI WiFi Bluetooth (AP6210) ;
1.6GHz 2G/8G;
Cheapest Quad Core TV Box;
Built in Beyond XBMC;
Support 1080p Hardware Decoding

tv box dongle Specifications:

CPU:28nm RK3188 Quad core, ARM Cortex-A9, 1.8GHz Max
GPU:Quad core Mali-400
OS:Android 4.2.2
Memory:DDR3 2GB
Storage: Built-in 8GB NAND Flash, Support Micro SD(TF) up to32GB
WIFI + Bluetooth: Wifi 802.11b/g/n, BT4.0
I/O port:
1*USB: USB 2.0 HOST port for USB device
1*Micro USB: 1*Micro USB for power connector, 1 * OTG
1*External card: Micro SD card slot, support up to 32GB
1*HDMI: HDMI 1.4 OUTPUT (Video and Audio)
Language: Multi-language
Video: Watch online video by connect to internet. local video playing: Video Decoding:Mpeg1/2/4.H.264,VC-1,Divx,Xvid,RM8/9/10,VP6,
Video Formats: MKV,TS,TP,M2TS,RM/RMVB,BD-ISO,AVI,MPG,VOB,DAT,ASF,TRP,FLV etc full formats
Audio Decoding:DTS,AC3,LPCM,FLAC,HE-AAC
Audio Formats: MP3,OGG,WMA,WMAPRO
Subtitles: SRT,SSA,ASS,SUB
Pictue: JPEG,GIF,BMP,PNG
Antertainment: Online or offline TV, Music,File or game
Ebook: IE,IM,Mailbox,Video/Audio Multimedia player
Picture: Picture viewer, Text reader & Games
E-chatting: On-line Video: YouTube, YouTube Movies, ZMovies, Viaway, LETV, Hindi Movies, Netflix, YuppTV,
E-Communication: Online Social: Skype, MSN, Yahoo, QQ, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.
Charger: DC5V/2A, Mini USB charger
Accessories:
1X HDMI cable,
1X USB Charger
1X USB 2.0 to Mini USB
1X User Manual

================================
Fly air mouse I8 Feature:

92 keys, 2.4GHz wireless Keyboard with Touchpad.
Touchpad DPI adjustable functions.
Built-in high sensitive smart touchpad with 360-degree flip design.
Mini QWERTY keyboard with multimedia control keys and PC gaming control keys.
Auto sleep and auto wake mode.
Innovative shape, protable, elegant.
The Ergonomically handheld design is easy to carry and operate.
Build-in removable rechargable Li-ion battery that has longer standby time.
Perfect for PC, Pad, Andriod TV Box, Google TV Box, for Xbox360, for PS3, HTPC/IPTV, etc.

(I have not Bought this one or a Mini PC Stick at all yet. So, I have no idea, if this is a good one or not. But, the Specs look good... Don)

Go there...
http://www.ecrater.com/p/22066084/mk809iii-android-442-quad-core-rk3188?gps=1&id=80959773019