Android TV Box

sieghart2heart

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Not so sure what do you mean by stock OS here since the stock OS from Tanix is the Alice UX. You can try other launchers if you want. Do not try to remove Alice UX. Some people in YouTube review mentioned ADW Launcher 2. But I think that is also different from Minix.

As for alternative ROM, yes there are alternative S905X2 Android ROM but I tend to stay from them.

https://forum.freaktab.com/forum/tv...x5-max-amlogic-905x2-4-32gb-dual-wifi-lan-bt4

Thanks! I'll try ADW Launcher 2
 

xiaofan

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For Tanix TX6 user only, formal OTA FW update has been released. You can try it to see if the overheating issue has got a bit better. I will still recommend using a fan with this box.

The cost of TX6 is pretty low (2G/16GB at S$42 and 4GB/32GB at S$55).
https://s.lazada.sg/s.3yoh

And the performance is also pretty good (above RK3328 and below S905X2) but the heat issue prevents me from recommending this box for low budget users. Tanix TX3 Mini and TX3 Max are safer buy now even though the performance is not as good as TX6.

From Tanix Facebook page:

FIRMWARE Update: TANIX TX6 update by OTA. In order to get the v20190418, open the pre-installed "UPDATE" APP and check for updates.
 
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windwaver

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For Discovery Channels and National Geographics channels, I think you have to pay Starhub or SingTel to get the contents legitimately.

For Nat Geo, Discovery I find that youtube is pretty good as long as you don't need the latest episodes. Another good source is Kodi but the stream breaks from time to time.
 

windwaver

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For Tanix TX6 user only, formal OTA FW update has been released. You can try it to see if the overheating issue has got a bit better. I will still recommend using a fan with this box.

The cost of TX6 is pretty low (2G/16GB at S$42 and 4GB/32GB at S$55).
https://s.lazada.sg/s.3yoh

Hi Xiaofan, the TX6 looks good but is there a way to downgrade to Android 7 or 8? I've tried 9 and it isn't as compatible.
 

xiaofan

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Thanks! I'll try ADW Launcher 2

I just tried it myself on Tanix TX6 to replace the stock Alice UX Launcher, not bad as it supports drag and drop of icons. You can make it like a tablet interface. You need a mouse to use the ADW Launcher 2 effectively though.
 
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xiaofan

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Hi Xiaofan, the TX6 looks good but is there a way to downgrade to Android 7 or 8? I've tried 9 and it isn't as compatible.

The original FW is Android 7.0 but later Tanix upgrade it to Android 9.0. I think there should be a way to downgrade. I have not tried it myself though.

My unit comes with Android 9 and other than a few old apps it works fine. Tanix comes out frequent OTA upgrade for the TX6 so looks like they are selling this unit well and thus spend more efforts on this one. Or it could be they have more issues with Android 9.0 though...

Android 7.0 and 9.0 FW including instructions
https://www.getdroidtips.com/stock-firmware-tanix-tx6-tv-box/

Android 9.0 FW from official website
http://www.tanix-box.com/download-view/tanix-tx6-firmware-full-image-android-9-update/

There are two methods for firmware upgrade, using SD card or using PC. If you use PC, you will need a USB Male to Male cable.
 
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mankind66

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My friend just got the tx6 for below $40 after using his coins. Temperature can reach up to 90 degree


For Tanix TX6 user only, formal OTA FW update has been released. You can try it to see if the overheating issue has got a bit better. I will still recommend using a fan with this box.

The cost of TX6 is pretty low (2G/16GB at S$42 and 4GB/32GB at S$55).
https://s.lazada.sg/s.3yoh

And the performance is also pretty good (above RK3328 and below S905X2) but the heat issue prevents me from recommending this box for low budget users. Tanix TX3 Mini and TX3 Max are safer buy now even though the performance is not as good as TX6.

From Tanix Facebook page:

FIRMWARE Update: TANIX TX6 update by OTA. In order to get the v20190418, open the pre-installed "UPDATE" APP and check for updates.
 

xiaofan

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My friend just got the tx6 for below $40 after using his coins. Temperature can reach up to 90 degree

Yes there was a report that one even got TX6 at S$36.14 from Shopee. So the cost can be very low.

The idle power is high and that is the main issue with this box. CPU could easily reach above 90 degree C based on AIDA64 app report. Then the CPU may start to throttle and then the box will become even not responsive.

Hopefully more OTA updates can fix this. The latest OTA seems to make it better for normal operation.

Ref: the review here reports 19% performance loss but the review was done in Winter. In Singapore it will be worse.
https://androidpctv.com/review-tanix-tx6/
 
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swathe

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Yes there was a report that one even got TX6 at S$36.14 from Shopee. So the cost can be very low.

The idle power is high and that is the main issue with this box. CPU could easily reach above 90 degree C based on AIDA64 app report. Then the CPU may start to throttle and then the box will become even not responsive.

Hopefully more OTA updates can fix this. The latest OTA seems to make it better for normal operation.

This happens either the OS is mining coins or they used a factory reject CPU.

These can’t be fixed. Things are cheap for a reason.
 

xiaofan

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This happens either the OS is mining coins or they used a factory reject CPU.

These can’t be fixed. Things are cheap for a reason.

I rather think this is a design issue rather than conspiracy theory.

H6 CPU itself is not power efficient to start with. It could also be a HW design issue (eg: power circuits and thermal) which could not be totally fixed by OTA FW update. So I will not recommend this box now (especially since there are also bugs related to the notification bar ).

But the box is usable with a fan.

BTW, most good generic Android TV boxes (except high end models like Nvidia Shield TV) are relatively cheap and below S$100.

For Android TV box, if the cost is above S$120 and it is not from premium brands like Nvidia or Minix, you need to be careful. Usually they are preloaded box and not recommended.
 
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xiaofan

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The specs for Q+ tv box claim that the Allwinner H6 cpu is clock at 2Ghz. Wonder what the temperature is like?

Just do not buy any H6 boxes now. S995X2 box is a bit more expensive but much better.

If you want to go for low cost, RK3328 boxes are also pretty cheap. Performance is not as good as H6 but more than sufficient for streaming applications.

Or better buy Mi Box S at around S$70-86. CPU performance is a bit lower but it is actually better at streaming applications because it runs official Android TV OS -- Netflix 4k and Chromecast function built-in.
 
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mankind66

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FgMsICF.jpg


From my friend's
 

xiaofan

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Just do not buy any H6 boxes now. S995X2 box is a bit more expensive but much better.

If you want to go for low cost, RK3328 boxes are also pretty cheap. Performance is not as good as H6 but more than sufficient for streaming applications.

Or better buy Mi Box S at around S$70-86. CPU performance is a bit lower but it is actually better at streaming applications because it runs official Android TV OS -- Netflix 4k and Chromecast function built-in.

Just looking back some older review of H6 boxes. Looks like the high idle power issues were there too.

This one is the review for Beelink GS1. Same issue with high idle power.
https://androidpctv.com/review-beelink-gs1/
GS1 idle power is even higher than TX6 at 5.1W.

https://androidpctv.com/review-tanix-tx6/
TX6 idle power is at 4.6W.

Just as a comparison, full power of Tanix TX5 Max S905X2 is at 4W. Beelink GT1 Mini is even lower at 3.5W.
https://androidpctv.com/review-tanix-tx5-max/

That being said, the latest FW 20140418 version seems to help and I have not encountered thermal throttle yet even when playing 1080p/4k YouTube video (output is 1080p since my monitor is only 1080p). Now the ambient temperature is 27 degree C and the CPU goes to between 70-80 degree C. No fan is used. Not very good but at least usable and no thermal throttle.
 
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xiaofan

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News:
Taiwan law passed to make it illegal to sell preloaded box like Ubox 安博盒子 and 千寻盒子.

This is similar to the upcoming IP protection law proposal in Singapore.

https://tw.youcard.yahoo.com/cardst...-a4e6-55bcbe2b2061/安博盒子、小米盒子合法嗎?一次看懂「電視盒子」演哪齣

為加強保護智慧財產權,立法院日前三讀通過《著作權法》部分條文,上架非法影音網路連結之應用程式者、協助公眾下載該程式者、製銷載有該程式之設備者,將處2年以下有期徒刑,或併科新台幣50萬元以下罰金。

至於一般民眾,並不會因自行下載侵權程式,或購買侵權機上盒遭受處罰。但若業者被查獲,民眾將連帶斷訊而損及收看權益,經濟部提醒,民眾對於「看到飽」的廣告手法應有所警覺。

The new law makes it illegal to upload apps with illegal audio video links on-line, to help others download such apps, or to sell TV boxes containing such apps.

The law does not target consumers buying the box. Still consumers may be affected because the apps may not work if the apps are blocked.
 
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xiaofan

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News:
Taiwan law passed to make it illegal to sell preloaded box like Ubox 安博盒子 and 千寻盒子.

This is similar to the upcoming IP protection law proposal in Singapore.

https://tw.youcard.yahoo.com/cardst...-a4e6-55bcbe2b2061/安博盒子、小米盒子合法嗎?一次看懂「電視盒子」演哪齣

The new law makes it illegal to upload apps with illegal audio video links on-line, to help others download such apps, or to sell TV boxes containing such apps.

The law does not target consumers buying the box. Still consumers may be affected because the apps may not work if the apps are blocked.

On a separate note, Singapore high court has ordered ISPs to block pirate sites showing EPL Games.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...n=STFB&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1555635683

The Singapore High Court last week granted an order sought by the London-based Football Association Premier League (FA), for nine key Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access by fans to the unauthorised websites.
 

windwaver

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xiaofan

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Think I'll just stick to S905X2 or RK3328, high temps are never good news for component lifespan.

Yes indeed it is better to stick to S905X2.

Thermal and Low WiFi performance are usually the two main problems of HW design for generic TV boxes.

Tanix TX5 Max got both right— very good thermal performance and very good WiFi performance.

Tanix TX6 WiFi performance is pretty good (not as good as TX5 Max) but it does not get thermal design right, which is at least partly due to the inherent problem of the 28nm Allwinner H6 CPU. But they should have added ventilation holes on the bottom to make it easier to use a USB fan to cool down the box.

For RK3328, it seems to me all the popular boxes are from unknown vendors, Tanix has the TX28 based on RK3328 but it is not popular at all. There are very few shops selling TX28 and the cost is actually similar to or even higher than TX5 Max. If not TX28 is not bad based on reviews, good WiFi performance, USB 3.0.

I myself have the H96 Max+ 4GB/64GB RK3328 Box, due to the big size the thermal performance is good. Overall performance is okay as well. At the time it was a bit expensive at RMB370 or S$74 from Taobao not including shipping. But the cost has went down quite a bit. Now Taobao price goes down to about RMB275 or S$55 for the 4GB /64 GB Version and RMB235 or S$47 for the 4GB/32GB Version. WiFi performance is so so but usable. It also has USB 3.0 port.

Ref: my H96 Max+ box is similar to this one with colourful faceplate.
https://androidpctv.com/review-h96-max-h2/

Ref: H6 is a bit better than RK3328 with faster CPU and GPU. Feature wise RK3328 is better than S905X, performance wise it is actually slower than S905X in terms of GPU.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2017/11/27/amlogic-s905x-vs-rockchip-rk3328-vs-allwinner-h6/

S905X2 is new generation and beats H6, RK3328 and S905X in performance and features aspect. So just stick to S905X2.
 
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cybertech

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On a separate note, Singapore high court has ordered ISPs to block pirate sites showing EPL Games.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...n=STFB&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1555635683

The Singapore High Court last week granted an order sought by the London-based Football Association Premier League (FA), for nine key Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access by fans to the unauthorised websites.

Will be interesting to see how ISPs going to block access to unauthorised websites streaming the EPL matches.
 

xiaofan

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Will be interesting to see how ISPs going to block access to unauthorised websites streaming the EPL matches.

Most likely simple blocking method like how they block UBTV which you are able to circumvent by using Google DNS.

But they may step up the blocking method. Then you may have to use VPN or other method.
 
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