Android TV Box

Elon Jobs

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Actually i am a bit surprise why they suddenly amending the act? Nevermind I do not have such illegal apps.

Coz Singtel and Starhub their mobile side bleeding money from matching the new entrants and MVNO $20 20GB plan.
 

datolim

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Read the news and the government file carefully. They can not just ban all set top boxes.

Since you have a Starhub streaming box and that is an Android TV box as well running an Operator version of Android TV OS. You can install the pirate stream apps on your Starhub box as well. So you think the government should ban the starhub box as well? Same for the Sony Android smart TV running as well.

People can buy Mi Box S purely for the purpose of 4k Netflix and YouTube, and that is perfectly legal.

Looks like this is the end for the Android TV Box. Maybe you can still buy it online if you act fast.
 

xiaofan

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Looks like this is the end for the Android TV Box. Maybe you can still buy it online if you act fast.

No need to hurry, especially not to hurry to buy those Sim Lim Square or Shopping Mall boxes. Also no need to hurry to buy from online either. If you hurry you may get cheated.

In fact I can see the three kiosks at Jurong Point shopping centre kind of business as usual. And if you buy those fully loaded boxes now and you will just be caught in surprise later when the law kicks in and the seller goes out of business.

The proposed law does not ban sellers which sell plain boxes without those pirate streaming apps. The proposed ban also targets sellers and not consumers.

The proposed ban does target those sellers who try to sell plain boxes but provide guide and website links to those pirate stream apps.

BTW previous high court order already provided the power of dynamic blocking. For example it is said Ubox vendor Unblock Tech now changes the server address of the UBTV app and no longer needs the DNS change trick to work around the ISP block, still the rights holder can find the new server address and then add them to the block order.
 
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gregory_choo

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Looks like this is the end for the Android TV Box. Maybe you can still buy it online if you act fast.

Under the new proposed law, it is still legal to buy android box.

But it is illegal to sell boxes with apps that can be use to access unlicensed copyrighted material. Usually the sellers charge more than $100 for these apps. Many of the 'local' brands fall under this group. Those boxes like ubox, evpad are also affected.

So the risk of losing your $100+ is high if you continue to buy these boxes.

The safer and much cheaper way is to buy plain vanilla android box and install apps yourself. There are plenty of apps available and freely downloadable from internet, some are licensed, some are not. It is not illegal to use those unlicensed apps if it is for your own personal consumption.
 

Elon Jobs

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Under the new proposed law, it is still legal to buy android box.

But it is illegal to sell boxes with apps that can be use to access unlicensed copyrighted material. Usually the sellers charge more than $100 for these apps. Many of the 'local' brands fall under this group. Those boxes like ubox, evpad are also affected.

So the risk of losing your $100+ is high if you continue to buy these boxes.

The safer and much cheaper way is to buy plain vanilla android box and install apps yourself. There are plenty of apps available and freely downloadable from internet, some are licensed, some are not. It is not illegal to use those unlicensed apps if it is for your own personal consumption.

So is it fair to say that this new law is more of targeting the sellers and not the buyers?
 

xiaofan

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So is it fair to say that this new law is more of targeting the sellers and not the buyers?

Exactly.

It does affect consumers who rely on buying those boxes with preloaded apps if those boxes start to disappear from the market.
 

Elon Jobs

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Exactly.

It does affect consumers who rely on buying those boxes with preloaded apps if those boxes start to disappear from the market.

So can an expert (like yourself) offer a service (say for $50) to go to the houses of those with empty no preloaded app boxes and help them install the apps they require? And also to teach them how to install and troubleshoot themselves in the future.

Would that be illegal? Or grey?
 

datolim

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Under the new proposed law, it is still legal to buy android box.

But it is illegal to sell boxes with apps that can be use to access unlicensed copyrighted material. Usually the sellers charge more than $100 for these apps. Many of the 'local' brands fall under this group. Those boxes like ubox, evpad are also affected.

So the risk of losing your $100+ is high if you continue to buy these boxes.

The safer and much cheaper way is to buy plain vanilla android box and install apps yourself. There are plenty of apps available and freely downloadable from internet, some are licensed, some are not. It is not illegal to use those unlicensed apps if it is for your own personal consumption.

Yes the law have not been pass yet. But it does say the import and selling of these boxes is illegal. Yes you can say an empty box does not infringe any law. But it looks like the box that is capable of downloading streaming illegal apps is illegal.
With the Kiasu SG mentality the vendors would now be clearing their stock. Import would be ban and the online retailors would follow up very soon.
 

xiaofan

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So can an expert (like yourself) offer a service (say for $50) to go to the houses of those with empty no preloaded app boxes and help them install the apps they require? And also to teach them how to install and troubleshoot themselves in the future.

Would that be illegal? Or grey?

Plain illegal if you carry out the services for a profit.

BTW, I am a subscriber of Singtel TV since Jan 2012 and I added paid QQ Music VIP, Youku VIP and Xiami Music VIP recently for my needs, mainly on Chinese entertainment.

There are also many Apple Music, Netflix and TVB Anywhere SG subscribers in this forum other than SingTel TV and Starhub TV subscribers.
 
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xiaofan

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Yes the law have not been pass yet. But it does say the import and selling of these boxes is illegal. Yes you can say an empty box does not infringe any law. But it looks like the box that is capable of downloading streaming illegal apps is illegal.
With the Kiasu SG mentality the vendors would now be clearing their stock. Import would be ban and the online retailors would follow up very soon.

Android Smart TV, Android phone and tablet have to be banned if you say boxes that is capable of downloading illegal apps is illegal. PC and Mac have to be banned as well. Starhub streaming box has to be banned as well.

Will that happen? Do not over interpret the proposed law. If you really want to get a clear picture, consult a lawyer.
 

datolim

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Android Smart TV, Android phone and tablet have to be banned if you say boxes that is capable of downloading illegal apps is illegal. PC and Mac have to be banned as well. Starhub streaming box has to be banned as well.

Will that happen? Do not over interpret the proposed law. If you really want to get a clear picture, consult a lawyer.

No, no, no. The law can be written to specify only what is an Android TV Box. But you want to test/challenge the SG government on what they want to do. You not a Kiasu person.
 

xiaofan

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Henry Ng

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no time yet come here so often to BS. never read the news yet try to post fake news here.
BS got $ to earn? I focus on business. Do not forget what we read may not be the final thing. We must wait till it is implemented then can say. If we can think of using empty box to put in the app, they will also think of it. We have to wait until it is finalised.
 

Henry Ng

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So can an expert (like yourself) offer a service (say for $50) to go to the houses of those with empty no preloaded app boxes and help them install the apps they require? And also to teach them how to install and troubleshoot themselves in the future.

Would that be illegal? Or grey?

Should be illegal and the person providing this service may be arrested if the law is passed.
 

cscs3

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No, no, no. The law can be written to specify only what is an Android TV Box. But you want to test/challenge the SG government on what they want to do. You not a Kiasu person.

Nothing new, Hong Kong has started that since last year.
 

cscs3

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Plain illegal if you carry out the services for a profit.

BTW, I am a subscriber of Singtel TV since Jan 2012 and I added paid QQ Music VIP, Youku VIP and Xiami Music VIP recently for my needa, mainly on Chinese entertainment.

There are also many Apple Music, Netflix and TVB Anywhere SG subscribers in this forum other than SingTel TV and Starhub TV subscribers.

That's right. Is either you pay for the right (ie license, copywrite) otherwise illegal.
 

gregory_choo

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Yes the law have not been pass yet. But it does say the import and selling of these boxes is illegal. Yes you can say an empty box does not infringe any law. But it looks like the box that is capable of downloading streaming illegal apps is illegal.
With the Kiasu SG mentality the vendors would now be clearing their stock. Import would be ban and the online retailors would follow up very soon.

The document is clear and precise.

I8R2xaK.jpg



hint: last 4 line refer to ub box and evpad.

If you are interested in this topic, read page 64-67 of the proposed amendment:
https://www.mlaw.gov.sg/content/dam...x A - Copyright Review Report 16 Jan 2019.pdf
 
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