2y ago

Where to start with Android TV?

My uncle recently gave me an old Minix Neo X8-H Plus. It has been upgraded from the stock Android KitKat up to Lollipop, and it has been rooted. I have connected a USB DVD drive, but I haven't tested it yet.

I had Kodi on a RPi for a while, but I am otherwise completely new to this sort of thing.

I couldn't install F-Droid, so I decided to use Aptoide TV instead of Play Store.

So, what should I do with the device? Any app suggestions? Settings I should change?

7 comments

SmartTubeNext for a YT client
- Would NewPipe not work?
  
  It does, but the UI isn't optimised for TV usage.
  
  It works but the main issue is that full screen crashes the app. It never used to, but now it does so I use Clipious for my Android TV.
Hmm, the Minix Neo X8-H Plus size only has 2GB RAM, which isn't really sufficient for Android (yes, even if it's running Lollipop), so it's performance, especially when trying to run a newer app, won't be so good.
Also, a bigger issue is that you're connecting this device to the Internet - Lollipop is full of several high-risk vulnerabilities, such as Stagefright - which can be exploited very easily), so there's a good chance your device could get hacked just by staying online, by compromised servers or botnets. Once your device gets hacked, it could turn into another node in a botnet to perform proxy attacks (such as DDoS attacks, or as a proxy for hacking, or for other illegal activities), which could put you at risk with the authorities (as it would look like the illegal activities are originating from your IP).
A much better option would be to just use your Raspberry Pi, if you intend to connect it to the internet. A Raspberry Pi running Linux would perform better than Android on a system with low resources. Also, a Raspberry Pi - even old ones - would still get OS updates, making it a much more secure option compared to an outdated Android device, especially if you run an up-to-date media center OS such as LibreELEC.
get jellyfin(i think it called)

7 comments