ME: XIOS DS Media Player $76.25 (Android ICS - Linux-XBMC) LOWEST PRICE EVER

[yuprules]

ok here's the deal breaker for me.. hows the stock controller for surfing functions specifically for using xbmc? does it function normally? i hear its a pain in the butt as im buying this for an old person and i don't want them to be fiddling around with a keyboard and mouse =/

Stock controller SUCKS for surfing the internet, I have not tested it with XBMC yet.

[Torque]

I can attest that it's not ready for the average consumer yet.
I'm mildly techy and was able to load XBMC.
The latest firmware wouldn't let video play (again, mildly techy...maybe just a setting, etc). Had to reset.
Then, I couldn't add any "good" content. The repository installer seemed to add on, but then would crash the whole program.
I'll go back to my AIOS and play 1080P rips until the development is ready for me.

[angy]

so im going to bite the bullet in a day or 2 before the sale ends..

^
anyone else got stories? is anyone else able to load xbmc fine or is it a problem and surf with the default controller? thanks

bottom line, am i going to be happy with this just for xbmc?

[aasoror]

anyone else got stories? is anyone else able to load xbmc fine or is it a problem and surf with the default controller? thanks

bottom line, am i going to be happy with this just for xbmc?

You will be happy, if you are unfamiliar with android prepare for some learning to be productive outside XBMC.
loading XBMC is just a couple of minutes process and works with no configuration whatsoever (load app, browse shares, select file and start playback), if you are familiar with XBMC you shouldn't have a problem using the other features (scrapping, add-ons, database .. etc).

For usage outside XBMC, you need a mouse to be able to use the box fully.

[aasoror]

In case you didn't know

DTS/DD/DTS-MA Core passthrough is supported by the latest GB firmware.
Just go to Settings -> Display -> Audio -> RAW.

[ykhehra1]

but I think latest xbmc apk is supporting GB as good as ICS.

[angy]

thanks, aasoror and everyone else. Im going for it tmrw

[aasoror]

but I think latest xbmc apk is supporting GB as good as ICS.

The apk will run but HW acceleration wont work under GB (as of release 0730)

[Eckz]

Picked up one of these from a guy on Kijiji. 100$, BNIB loaded up XBMC and ICS on it.

Good unit, blowing all my bandwidth tonight on a couple 1080 movies

[gromitlad]

In case you didn't know

DTS/DD/DTS-MA Core passthrough is supported by the latest GB firmware.
Just go to Settings -> Display -> Audio -> RAW.

Uh oh, wallet in danger. Feel a little stupid asking, but as someone who has never owned an android device: GB in this context stands for Gingerbread? So you're saying that if I run Gingerbread on the XIOS, I can have multichannel audio in xbmc? Drawbacks to running GB instead of ICS? I see you already mentioned that hardware acceleration isn't supported for GB yet - does this device generally need hardware acceleration to play 1080p mkvs?

[aasoror]

Uh oh, wallet in danger. Feel a little stupid asking, but as someone who has never owned an android device: GB in this context stands for Gingerbread? So you're saying that if I run Gingerbread on the XIOS, I can have multichannel audio in xbmc? Drawbacks to running GB instead of ICS? I see you already mentioned that hardware acceleration isn't supported for GB yet - does this device generally need hardware acceleration to play 1080p mkvs?

Hardware acceleration is fully supported in GB (Gingerbread), its just that XBMC doesn't run in HW acceleration in GB.
HW is needed for ALL HD content, so for GB you can run with hardware encoding outside XBMC (there is a half dozen of video playback apps that comes out of the box) and software encoding inside XBMC (works fine for DVD ISO and any SD contents).

ICS runs with full HW acceleration (inside/outside XBMC) but no multichannel audio (yet).

[gromitlad]

Hardware acceleration is fully supported in GB (Gingerbread), its just that XBMC doesn't run in HW acceleration in GB.
HW is needed for ALL HD content, so for GB you can run with hardware encoding outside XBMC (there is a half dozen of video playback apps that comes out of the box) and software encoding inside XBMC (works fine for DVD ISO and any SD contents).

ICS runs with full HW acceleration (inside/outside XBMC) but no multichannel audio (yet).

As ever, you make the complex seem simple - thanks for clearing up my confusion yet again. Guess I'll keep watching and waiting then. Sure seems like we're close though, if multichannel audio is here for GB, can ICS be far behind? Hopefully not!

[Avenger]

How many bluetooth devices does this support simultaneously? Ie if I used a PS3 controller for emulators etc and mapped it as a device like I do on my tablet using the SixAxis app?

On that note I suppose a better question may be whether there is a limitation in Android regarding the devices used, as I know I had to select it as an input on my tablet, and havent tried multiple controllers.

[Mingo]

In case you didn't know

DTS/DD/DTS-MA Core passthrough is supported by the latest GB firmware.
Just go to Settings -> Display -> Audio -> RAW.

That's flipping awesome! Can't wait for it to hit ICS! Just picked this up yesterday. Didn't have time to set it up thought as I was busy in the attic setting up my DB4e (pretty impressive stuff too as I got 35 channels, although 5-10 channels seem to not have a strong signal as they drop now and then).

Hopefully will get it all set up tonight!!!

[yuprules]

How many bluetooth devices does this support simultaneously? Ie if I used a PS3 controller for emulators etc and mapped it as a device like I do on my tablet using the SixAxis app?

On that note I suppose a better question may be whether there is a limitation in Android regarding the devices used, as I know I had to select it as an input on my tablet, and havent tried multiple controllers.

This device does not support bluetooth (everyone keeps saying yet, but until I see it...I say "no support").