[Android Stick & Console AMLogic based Computers] :
Well I ended up getting my MINIX NEO X8-H today! DHL stopped back through! I was awesomely surprised when I got home after work!

MINIX NEO X8-H

Sorry for the rushed review I will expand and elaberate as I play and test it more.

So after waiting a little over a week my Android TV Box finally showed up and I am STOKED!

To start off with some introductory background of myself. I have owned a Roku and several other Smart TV and Blu-ray Players, even a few HTPC designed to do similar things; However, after getting my hands dirty, I truly believe that this android box is the way to go!

I also own several android smartphones and tablets, so I am pretty well rounded in the android scene. For someone coming from apple products this might not be as simple to pick up and fly with since some of the menus seem hidden. Such as the settings menu. The settings menu is under the advanced menu tab under the factory menu, and is the exact menu you would find on any stock android 4.0+ device, that being said it is still very easy to learn and use.

First Impressions:

Boxed nicely inside its slick square packaging, I really like the logo designate actual device is a tad larger then I had thought as compared to the Roku, not that that is a bad thing (it also has so much more power). It definitely looks and feels solid. I was surprised the supplied mouse did not come with batteries: / or maybe I was too excited to notice and threw them out on accident (very possible)

Opening the Box:

Well that took a whole 15 seconds and I had it out and hooked up in another 20 seconds. Pretty simple process. However finding batteries for the remote took another 5 min. haha! Started up and started navigating my way through the menus. I first launched into the Minix launcher which didn’t suit my needs reminded me of the tiles on Xbox or windows8 which not to be a hater I’m just not into it. So after playing around in that launched decided to go to the stock android launcher which is perfect and what im use to. Just like any phone or tablet it has all the same functions and capabilities.

Using the M1 Air Mouse:

Wow, better than I thought, but still getting used to it as it has a learning curve, for someone who has never used anything similar such as Wii remote etc…At first I wasn’t too thrilled, didn’t seem like it was working right. I learned quickly it was user error, as I was using my whole arm/body to control the mouse. All you need to do is flick your wrist to control the mouse J I looked like I was doing aerobics when I was first trying to using it. After a while I began to appreciate it and now find it hard to operate without using the air mouse.

Benchmarking:

Used Antutu Benchmark and got a score in the 24K range! Very good for a device of this type!

Video Playback:

So many other reviews about this so I will keep it short. I installed Plex, My preferred media app to stream all of my media from my NAS4Free Server. And it worked perfect on Wi-Fi connected to my 5Ghz router. Was able to stream full quality 1080p perfectly! Next I installed Dish Anywhere to see if it would be possible to use as a receiver on a TV I do not have a Joey installed. And it also worked perfectly to my surprise. Last navigated to the built in XBMC app and it is butter smooth. I wasn’t sure if it was possible to install Fusion XBMCHUB so that was the first thing I did. In no time I had it playing movies off icefilms! I have not tested 3D playback and most likely will not since I do not own a 3D TV or any 3D content.

Gaming:

Installed retro Arch and hooked up my PS4 Remote via USB and was able to map my controller. I only tested SNES however it performed great just like on a high-end android phone would. Was STOKED my ps4 controller worked with it. I do not think it had Bluetooth but I will check and see if not I will try an adapter to see if it will work, if that doesn’t then I'm still content with using a usb cord J

Rooting:

STILL TO COME!

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