i9 Brief Review (only for stremers)
Been using pps, pptv, xunlei, kuwo personally on laptop with extended screen to LCDTV, using wireless KB+mouse. Am already very happy and comfortable.
Bought this for my 70+ yo mum, to ctch up with HK/TW serials. ut she fidgets with mouse & Kb. Thought that i9 will be user friendly, but am disappointed. Esp, for those streaming.
However for those who torrenting, or playing from USB drive,the multi-format and HD quality is ok. For me, I would be better off playing it remotely off my laptop/TV.
Cons:
1. Streams are too dated to 1980s, and 2000s are cheapstake western shows. Each time listing doesn't produce new hits..using it for 1 week, still same lists, less than 100 useless movies.
2. Upgrade firmware doesn't change or improve. Using stream search, provide me a single lo-res quality ' Avatar' movie..Listed or search movies usually timeout or does not connect (hangs at 0% buffer)
3. Streams are broken into various 20mins rmvbs sub-streams. Every 20 mins, needs to buffer 20-30 secs for next sub-stream. Connection sometimes timeout
4. Streams do not include current TV broadcasts, China & foreign, like TVU or pps, pptv...
5. Search input using pinyin, strokes & on-screen keypad, not friendly. 'abc' search produces usually nothing, everything China is translated in Chinese.
6. Should have wireless adapter built-in. Personal USB WL dongles shd work, manual setup available, not tested)
Pros: has official warranty card. nice exterior design (but empty shell). Had high expectations.
Comments: Interface still look Chi-Na. Net Radio, HDMI, SD input, SPID output : no big deals, not much diff to RCA.
Tips:
For those multi-tasking on TV PIP, eg, watching cable while searching streams/torrents, switch i9's TV mode to 576p, to enable dual screen or PIP on TV.
watching streams on 1080p & 576 SD mode no diff..see diff in menu & text only.
Question:
Pressing 'Info' button, when checking network & license, produce failed registration or failed license..There is no way to register or sign in xunlei..Does that apply to everyone/anyone?
Anyone can help to break code, or feedbakc to Inphic, to freshen new streaming lists, like on Xunlei site itself?
Otherwise, 2 Units For Sale:1 pc - 1 week old, 1 pc BNIB, $70 & $80 respectively each.
$80, better off getting a good WL KB+M, VGA cable and VGA-RCA-TV convertor (if no LCD TV), or having a 'moonhub' or 'mia' box (also available in SZ), or a cheap 2nd-hand Pentium laptop dedicated for streaming to TV.
Stand by for more cons. Sori, Desmond, if u were into 2nd MO, but let's be honest.
(Poor Mum, have to go back to struggling with mouse and small text again.)