Choose a universal media player to connect to your TV. Launching the media player iconBIT HDS6L Connecting smart TV iconbit full hd

Launch media player iconBIT HDS6L

In one of the previous articles we discussed the media player, functions and features of this model. Perhaps one of the readers decided to purchase this or another similar device. Arriving at the store, he paid the money and received a sealed box in his possession. Well, what to do next? This is exactly what we will talk about today.

We will not consider connecting to a TV and audio system. Strictly speaking, this process is no different from installing a regular DVD player. But when connected to home network It's worth going into more detail. This is again an optional procedure. The media player can also work autonomously. However, if there is a network in the apartment, then it makes sense to connect the device to it to facilitate the transfer of content from the computer, convenient management of the device and ensure its access to the Internet.

The standard connection method is Ethernet port. When using it, it is enough to purchase or make it yourself (or with the help of familiar “computer specialists”) a patch cord, one end of which is inserted into, and the other into the router or router. However, in many cases such a connection turns out to be undesirable. Usually the TV is located quite far from the computer, so running a cable to it turns out to be problematic.

In this case, you can use Wi-Fi, since the Realtek 1073DD chip, on which the media player in question is based, provides this opportunity (of course, the router or router needs to have Wi-Fi support). To do this you need to purchase USB Wi-Fi adapter and connect it to the appropriate port (it’s good that there are two of them on the player, so the adapter does not interfere with connecting a flash drive). True, you need to be careful here. The fact is that Realtek 1073DD cannot detect all USB adapters. So before purchasing this device, it is better to look at the manufacturer’s website and look at those models that are guaranteed to work.

Speaking of Wi-Fi, one cannot fail to note another very important point. The fact is that throughput This type of connection in the case is very modest. So the process of copying content from computer to internal HDD device can be quite lengthy. In addition, there may be a problem with playing HD video over the network (video in standard definition plays normally). So, if you have the opportunity to run a network cable to the media player, it is better to do just that.

Next, it is advisable to perform one more action. We are talking about updating the media player firmware. In the last article, it was not for nothing that we said that developers regularly release new software for your products. It not only corrects the errors found, but also adds support for new codecs, and also takes into account changes in the operation of Internet resources. The user manual does not say anything about the need to update the firmware. But it’s still better to perform this operation right away. Otherwise, you may encounter a situation where some of the player’s capabilities will be unavailable (for example, Google will update the YouTube software, as a result of which watching videos through the player will become impossible). The firmware procedure itself is not particularly difficult. It is described in detail in the manual, so we won’t dwell on it.

By the way, about firmware. There is not only official, but also alternative software. And it cannot be said that it is somehow worse. On the contrary, many users may find that alternative firmware is more convenient to use. Both options are actively discussed on the developer forum, so you can read about the advantages and disadvantages of each at any time. We specifically do not compare them in this article, since the situation is changing quite quickly (as new versions are released). To select the firmware, it is better to look at the forum and get the most up-to-date information. Well, or try both options yourself and choose the best one for yourself.

At this point, the preparatory work can be considered complete; it’s time to configure the media player. To do this, you need to enable it and go to the settings section. It consists of five bookmarks. The first two are for setting up audio and video. There is nothing unusual here. On them you can select the digital audio output to be used, set the screen size, select the video output operating mode, video stream parameters (saturation, brightness, etc.), etc.

The third tab is already more interesting. This is where you configure your network connection. In general, DHCP support is implemented. So if there is a router or router with a DHCP server on your home network, it will receive an IP address automatically. However, if necessary, you can enter it manually using the remote control. The next tab is for setting up the system (updating it, specifying the interface language, etc.). And the last one is for input additional parameters. For example, you can use it to customize the display of photos, in particular, turn off their preview, which significantly slows down the opening of folders with a large number of pictures.

It is more convenient to perform the rest of the media player settings directly from the computer. The device's own web server is used for this. You can connect to it by entering the IP address in the browser (you can find it in the player settings). Using the web interface, you can perform many actions: change the network name of the device, start and stop services, mount additional partitions (for example, network folders, including on), and also manage the UPnP server, UDP proxy and torrent client . By the way, about the last one. Numerous reviews indicate that the device freezes when the torrent client is actively running while watching a video. This is a known problem that probably won’t be solved with firmware updates alone. You must understand that the capabilities of the hardware platform itself are limited. And if you want the torrent client to be turned on all the time, it is better to purchase a media player based on a more expensive chip.

Well, finally, all that remains is to transfer the content to the internal hard drive. If you store video, audio and photos on an external hard drive, then the easiest way is to connect the drive directly to the device and copy everything you need directly (fortunately, the operation of copying files is very convenient). If the data is on the computer, then it is most convenient to transfer it to the player over the network.

There are two possible options here. The first of them is through Windows Network Neighborhood. To do this, you need to change the network name using the web interface, specifying the name of the home network group as the workgroup. After this, you need to start a special service - Samba (this can again be done using the web interface or from the remote control in network settings). In this case, the media player will become visible in the network environment. If you plan to frequently copy information from or to , it makes sense to enable Samba service autostart.

The second option is the built-in FTP server. Using any FTP client (the developers recommend using Total Commander or Far Manager) you can access the internal hard drive connected to a USB drive or directly to the root partition. However, using the latter option is recommended only for experienced users.

Well, in conclusion, we can draw a small conclusion. Most people are accustomed to the fact that after purchasing a video source, you just need to connect it to the TV. But in the case of a media player, this is not the case: the user requires some configuration of the device. Of course, you don't have to do it. But in this case, you won’t be able to take advantage of all the functions and appreciate its capabilities. Therefore, it is better to follow the steps described above. They are not complicated, do not require much time, but they will allow you to fully enjoy modern digital technology.

Compact, quite easy to set up and manage. Remote control included. looks concise. It doesn’t dull, as far as I could judge from not a very long time of use.

Minuses

When setting up, the TV does not find it right away - you need to wait. This is not a minus, but a feature due to which you can initially decide that the console is not working. After connecting you have to wait! and everything will appear.

Review

I bought it for my parents for their TV. Maybe the advice is quite obvious, BUT - when connecting, be sure to follow the instructions and read them well first. If you just plug it in and press the remote control buttons, nothing will work. Installation is simple, but the sequence of steps is important. After installation, an IR receiver is glued to some edge of the TV or cabinet, which receives the signal from the remote control. You need to aim the remote control at him, otherwise it won’t work. Regarding the operation of the console itself - after installation, access to YouTube was slow for a while, but now everything is OK. The rest (movies, TV series) are generally shown with a bang and do not slow down. The interface is simple and understandable. The included remote control is convenient, but it also needs to be further configured. if there are plans to use it to control TV, then the remote control can be “trained” to channels. The entire setup and connection took half an hour (taking into account that I did not read the instructions and had to redo it). I have not yet tried connecting memory cards and devices via USB. But overall, I recommend it.

Hello!

Nowadays the Internet will not surprise anyone. It is in many homes, especially in the European part of the country. Television is also becoming digital. The whole question is - what to watch? If you have 20 channels, consider that you have nothing to watch. And some dilemmas arise. For example: high-speed Internet 1 Gbit/s and an old Samsung TV. It is old only because it does not have a smart TV function. And so he is - WOW! We need to breathe new life into it too. Inexpensive.

First, I looked at what the network provider advised us. Recommends any Android device. Fine.

I looked at acceptable, inexpensive Android-based set-top boxes. Selected IconBIT XDS 300.

The company is well known. Her devices had to be used repeatedly. Didn't let me down.

Where can I buy? It is also necessary that it be in stock and delivered, and not dragged far away. I chose Yulmart.

Taking into account delivery it turned out to be 3019 rubles. But it would be possible for 2490 rubles as it is now. They dropped in price in two days. As Comrade Saakhov said: “There is no need to rush!”

I placed the order almost overnight. But I held the box in my hands within 24 hours.

While I was waiting for the set-top box, on the recommendation of my Internet provider, I downloaded the application (file Smotreshka-Launcher.apk) for Android STB to a flash drive. Prepared.

Everything you need to know is written on the box.

Honest China.

With your own barcode.

And then there is China with code 46. This is nonsense.

Company address and website.

There's already half an instruction here.

Inputs-outputs (connectors).

Remote controller.

I like that the remote control is teachable. Many people do, but still. A sufficient number of buttons are reserved for controlling the TV. To use one remote control.

Let's open it.

Attachment and accessories.

This label is glued directly to the body of the console.

We peel it off, but the trace remains.

Will have to clean it up.

Let's consider.

AV, HDMI, network, USB1, power.

SD card, USB2.

Maintainers.

There are batteries for the remote control.

Warranty card, blank.

Warranty obligations.

Instructions. Roughly speaking, one leaf.

Power unit.

Remote controller.

Quite compact. Not like they used to be, the size of a shovel.

Inserts batteries immediately.

HDMI cable.

Lousy. I immediately threw it away. Not just because of the quality.

Let's put it all together. There was a small problem. Short cords. Either the power supply to the outlet is missing, or the HDMI cable to the TV. I can't throw out the power supply. I threw out the cable. Connected normal. Was.

Let's look at the instructions.

Insert your flash drive with the Smotreshka launch file.

Turn it on. The IconBIT/ loading screen appears.

Standard interface Android.

Follow the instructions for installing Smotryoshka.

And then we either watch TV or select applications.

There were no plugs from IconBIT. The only thing I did was register on sites. The login passwords were sent to me by my provider. For what paid.

I will show you several interfaces for traveling through the menu.

When loading Smotryoshka, select from two options: either viewing programs or Applications.

There are also several modes for viewing.

If you choose applications, then there are also quite a lot of options: from Youtube to viewing files (movies, photos). I tried it. Plays even formats that are not listed in technical characteristics ah on the Yulmart website, MP4, for example. This container is used by Apple. Playing.

More interfaces.

I want to say right away that not everything works. Some channels require an additional subscription.

But what works is very satisfying.

And what suits you? A person is tired during the day, wants to relax, rest. Why should he watch and listen to swearing on TV, which is already enough in our lives.

I want about the stars.

To animals. in good HD quality.

And you are here on the sofa, peace and quiet, with a cup of tea or beer. Fine. Poem by Mayakovsky.

What else can I say. The remote control was programmed to control the TV, according to the instructions.

It worked.

The remote control is comfortable, almost weightless, fits well in the hand, and is well balanced.

I also want to add. I noticed an interesting detail to myself. There are discrepancies in the names of such devices. The instructions have everything except the name. (Everything is there - I’m being passionate. By and large, there’s not much there. There aren’t even technical specifications).

Manufacturer, Representative, Importer.

But the name of this device, XDS 300, is not.

Android Smart Mini PC?

I doubt.

In Yulmart it is named as Media player IconBit XDS300.

On the IconBit website itself - TV set-top box, as well as an entertainment center and streaming player.

In general, there is no unity.

But since main feature This device serves precisely as a set-top box for TV, watching programs, and not playing media files, I classified this device, XDS300, as a set-top box.

I am completely satisfied with everything about it, except for minor, removable defects.

Enjoy watching.

The hero of today's story is a gadget designed to make it possible to work with the Internet through a TV, which initially does not support Smart TV or the Internet in general in any form - neither via cable nor via WiFi. This miracle is called the Android Smart TV Box for TV, which is essentially a mini computer (Mini PC Box) with a pre-installed mobile operating system. This device connects via a modern HDMI or old-fashioned AV cable to any TV that has these connectors, and turns it into a large tablet. In this manual, I will tell you in detail how to connect and configure a TV set-top box.

Features of TV set-top box Android Mini PC Box

Surprisingly, even in 2018, while shopping, I discovered that not all modern sophisticated TVs are equipped with even a simple Ethernet port for connecting an Internet cable. What can we say about Wi-Fi. So the invention, invented by the Chinese several years ago, is more relevant today than ever.

Moreover, Android TV set-top boxes, like any electronics, are being improved along with other technologies. Therefore, top models today support video in 4K resolution, wifi in the 5 GHz range, and many other “goodies” that make our lives more enjoyable. And it will completely eliminate the need to pay a subscription fee for TV antenna, by default, carried out to the apartment.

So let's figure it out. There are now many modifications of TV set-top boxes on Android for TV on the market, differing mainly in size random access memory, processor power and additional functions, but they all have common features:

• WiFi support
• Support for storage devices via OTG cable
• Built-in Android system
• USB ports for connecting peripherals and flash drives for watching videos or photos
• Many models have slots for SD memory cards

Installing, connecting and configuring the Android TV Box does not require any skills and works directly, as they say, “out of the box” without any additional drivers or programs - connect via HDMI cable to the TV, and off you go.

Programs for Android consoles are no different from applications for a regular phone - in most cases they immediately have Google Play, YouTube, browser, and so on - just like on any tablet. Accordingly, new applications are installed just like in any smartphone via Play Market. They can be controlled either through a connected mouse or keyboard, or through a special remote control.

Instructions on how to connect an Android TV set-top box to a TV as a Smart TV

But let's move from words to practical instructions and see how to actually connect an Android TV Box. Before purchasing a model, make sure your computer has an HDMI or AV input (popularly called “tulips”). The latter is available on all TVs with a “glass” tube, which means that even old TVs, inherited from parents and collecting dust on the far mezzanine for years, can be connected to the Android TV set-top box, and you can access the Internet from them or play movies, music or photos from flash drives.

The same goes for the Android Smart TV - most inexpensive small models only have an HDMI connector; if you have a very old TV, it will not work.

Please keep in mind that if your TV supports HDMI, then naturally use it to get the highest quality picture. Even on a good modern TV, connecting a Smart TV Box via AV tulips will produce a mediocre image, like on a tube TV. Next, plug in the set-top box and in the TV menu select HDMI or AV as the input signal source, depending on which cable you used to connect the Android TV Box.

In short, it is necessary that both the set-top box and the TV have identical connectors. Better, of course, HDMI - the quality will be noticeably higher.

Let's move on to the practice of connecting a TV set-top box on Android to a TV. Choose your option:

• HDMI cable
• or AV tulips for old TVs

and connect the TV Box to the TV

A picture familiar to all Android users will appear on the screen.

Now you can install everything on the console and enjoy watching it.

How to set up an Android TV set-top box via a WiFi router?

Here you can already use pre-installed utilities, but working with Android TV Box would be incomplete without its main advantage - the ability to connect to the Internet. In order to configure the set-top box to work on the Internet and connect to WiFi router do the same as on the tablet:

After this, you can already enjoy all the benefits of the Internet - download applications, watch movies on YouTube, browse websites, play games, and so on.

How to control Android TV Box from your phone?

To make it easier to manage Smart TV Box on Android, many models support work as with, which must be purchased separately. An alternative to it could be an application that is installed on a smartphone or tablet and turns it into a remote control remote control prefix.

There are many such programs - I have already introduced you to one of them. It was preinstalled on everything Xiaomi smartphones. Its advantage is that it interacts not only with TV set-top boxes, but also with televisions, air conditioners and other household appliances and other elements smart home.

However, you won’t be able to just download it and install it, especially if we're talking about about iPhone. Therefore today we'll talk about another universal and, most importantly, cross-platform application - Cetus Play. I talked about it briefly in an article about. It can be downloaded from both Google Play Market and Apple Store. This means installing it on both Android and iOS phones - iPhone or iPad.

To control an Android TV set-top box from your phone, you need 2 conditions:

• Connecting both the set-top box and the smartphone to the same wifi networks
• Install an identical application on both devices.

This means you will need to go to the same Play Market on the console and install the version of the Cetus Play program for Android TV. It is also free and publicly available.

Instead of an introduction, we would like to draw the attention of buyers to the reduction in price and progress of Smart TV systems over the past year. The ability to connect storage devices and wide support for various formats are now available even on the most inexpensive TVs. This is great, but the functionality of the "boxes" threatens media players entry level. Until complete disappearance.

Players are different

Today, several classes of devices can “inject” multimedia functions into a TV: followers of DVD players, computers and tablets paved their way to television screens.

The most labor-intensive type of media players are nettop class models. These avant-garde mini-computers impress with their compactness and stability, while the quality of components, ultra-low-voltage processor performance and desktop OS capabilities cannot be compared with the potential of other media players. Today, all the power of computer browsers, programs for playing content and file-sharing networks can be obtained within a quiet and compact “box”.

Nettops: media players outside - computers inside

The problem is that the domestic use of these, in fact, desktop computers hardly compatible with the tasks of a TV set-top box. Selecting and purchasing a remote control, searching for a suitable media shell and setting up a DVB tuner will require serious patience, and therefore will turn the project into a “long-term construction”. We leave this method to experienced and determined fans of the PC platform, and we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the world of nettops in numerous news and reviews on the site.

The next subtype of media players are devices based on Android based OS. Attempts to provide TVs with the functionality of smartphones and tablets have become a trend in recent years: familiar and ready-to-use applications, adaptation of the OS to high resolution displays and inexpensive processors have had a positive impact on the proliferation of such devices. The disadvantage, as in the case of nettops, is the mediocre adaptation of the system to new controls: manufacturers have to “reinvent” Android interface taking into account the lack of touch input, and users need to get used to the specifics of using the “lazy” Air Mouse.

Mini-computers in the Android Stick format stand out among such media players. These miniature (the size of a large flash drive) devices lack a digital tuner and only have an HDMI connector. But they can boast an affordable price and a powerful operating system.

HDMI Stick - compact media players based on Android OS

The main role in the media player market is played by devices running the Sigma Designs and Realtek platforms - direct descendants hardware DVD and Blu-ray players. The loss of an optical disc drive is compensated by the introduction of streaming services, “omnivorousness” and, sometimes, a standard HDD connector in the media player case. Being more domestic than computer equipment, this class of devices rarely allows installation third party applications and services. The efforts of the developers lie in the area of ​​ease of operation and picture quality.

Classic IPTV set-top boxes are still relevant today

Our guide will focus on the last two categories of devices.

In the dark forest of characteristics

There are different approaches to buying a media player. Nothing prevents you from being guided only by the budget for purchasing the device. And such an approach will not necessarily end in disappointment, since the functionality of even the most budget models today satisfies the needs of an undemanding user. We will try to outline priorities for those who want to get the most out of a media player with a minimal investment.

Interfaces

The variety of interfaces in the era of digital broadcasting is disappearing, so the ideal candidate for connecting a media player would be a TV equipped with an HDMI input and support for resolutions from HD Ready and higher. The digital connector will provide maximum video signal quality and greatly simplify the output of multi-channel audio to a home theater. The HDMI specification allows you to transmit digital sound to speakers in an unchanged form (bitstream technology), which makes it possible to use the full potential of a high-quality audio system on media players running Sigma and Realtek platforms. Things are worse for set-top boxes based on ARM Cortex chipsets. In their case, the sound potential is most often limited to the transfer of a stereo stream (LPCM) already processed on the set-top box to the TV.

When it comes to connecting a media player to an outdated TV, the situation becomes much more complicated. In the absence of an HDMI connector, you will have to choose from the following analog interfaces:

• Composite output. Indicated on devices as AV Out or RCA. It uses “tulips” that have been familiar for the past ten years to output video signals and stereo sound. The quality of sound and video with this connection method leaves much to be desired, and if possible we recommend using alternative connectors.

Composite interface

• Component output. Indicated on devices as YUV Out or YPbPr. It is based on the same “tulips”, but the video signal is transmitted through several cables at once, and the resulting picture quality is the best among all available analog interfaces.

Component interface

• SCART. In fact, it is not an interface, but a “container” for transmitting an RGB image with low image quality by modern standards. Rarely found among the connectors of media players and, as a rule, comes in the form of an adapter from a composite connector or S-Video interface.

SCART connector

• S-Video. The least common interface in media players and TVs. Structurally, S-Video is a slightly higher quality alternative to the composite connector. This development has not gained much popularity among TV manufacturers, and today it is more often seen among the connectors of outdated computer video accelerators.

S-Video connector

Media players with an analog tuner on board have practically disappeared from retail, and in their place came support for the DVB-T2 digital television broadcasting standard. The digital television network in Russia is rapidly expanding, but widespread broadcasting in this standard is still far away. Presence digital signal in a particular locality, you should first check on the website of the operator of all-Russian digital television broadcasting or with local providers.

Form factor and network communications

The trick familiar to VCRs with identifying a flagship “by eye” is no longer relevant. In the media player segment, the bulkiest model is not always the most productive. The dimensions of the new players are dictated only by the number of connectors for connecting to the TV, as well as the presence of a compartment for a hard drive.

It’s also not worth giving unconditional preference to media players with a HDD connector: in the absence of a “home video library,” this function will very soon cease to be in demand. Connecting a media player to a PC, constantly removing the drive to record new files, or painstakingly working with the web interface of a torrent client is tiring. But play files from local network it will be faster and more efficient. In the case of a mini PC based on Android optional The argument for this use is the characteristic shortage of ports for connecting storage devices: the only USB connector is occupied by a wireless keyboard, and the low current in the device does not allow connecting a USB Hub without power supply.

Capacious storage on board will accommodate any collection of media files

Fortunately, media players without support for data exchange over the network are rare today. Even budget models can offer an Ethernet connector or Wi-Fi support for receiving content via DLNA or Samba server. If possible, you should use an RJ-45 connector - wireless playback of Full HD video will require support for Wi-Fi 802.11n and a powerful router in line-of-sight conditions.

A clear advantage of Android-based media players is their support for social functions: clients for Facebook, VKontakte, Skype and other instant messengers work quickly and are always updated to current versions. Some media players are equipped with support for webcams via USB-OTG, and the second half of 2014 was marked by the release of Android Stick with a video camera and microphone in the device itself. Alas, the power of the Wi-Fi transmitter in the mini-PC leaves much to be desired, and to play 1080p video over the network, you will most often need a USB to Ethernet adapter.

Playback formats

With some reservations, we can say that the “omnivorousness” of modern media players has reached almost peak values. Over the past few years, there are no models left on the market that are unable to play video files in Divx/Xvid, H.264 and MPEG 1/2 formats. As for audio files, you should pay attention to the presence of support for high-quality audio in DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD formats. Some media players do not support audio in this format (due to the lack of a codec license or design features chipset), so it’s better to avoid an unpleasant surprise in the form of a “silent movie” in advance.

As for containers, the popular AVI, MP4 and MKV can be easily played even in budget models, which means that any modern model is suitable for watching movies in DVDRip, BDRip, BDRip-AVC and BDRemux standards.

Problems with choosing a media player plague only fans of “full-length” Blu-ray and three-dimensional video. 3D-enabled movies are often distributed as ISO images or as file folders. Truly convenient playback of such videos can only be provided by media players that support the ISO BD3D standard, but with the caveat that navigation through the film will be carried out using the simplified BD Lite menu. Support for 3D HD video in other media players will be limited to “heuristic” launching of the M2TS file from the folder structure or a complete lack of support for the standard. Unfortunately, support for the full Blu-ray specification has fallen into oblivion along with optical discs. Aggressive lobbying against copy protection called Cinavia played a role in this.

Devices developed in close cooperation with content providers stand apart - in pursuit of copyright compliance and stimulation of purchases in online cinemas, media players receive a limited list of compatible codecs and/or streaming services, relevant only for foreign audiences.

Controls

The interface of the Sigma SDK and Realtek SDK operating systems was developed taking into account the capabilities of a standard remote control: therefore, controlling such media players will not require additional skills for users of a TV or game console. Support for computer keyboards and mice is present in many models, but is of no practical use - multi-stage menus are easier and faster to master using the same remote control than using the mouse cursor.

TV comfort versus computer functionality

Media players under Android control is accompanied by another extreme: only multifunctional remote controls with a QWERTY keyboard and Air mode Mouse, which are not particularly ergonomic. In the end everything Android users Stick switches to control via a full-size set of computer keyboard and mouse - controlling a media player from the sofa will never be easy.

Performance and hardware platform

The confrontation between Sigma and Realtek chipsets is painfully reminiscent of the picture on the PC processor market. The Sigma Designs platform is usually accompanied by a thinner technological process and superiority in synthetic performance. The stability and speed of operation of the SMP series chipsets are overshadowed by the high cost of the platform for manufacturers - equally priced media players based on Realtek and Sigma will differ in functionality not in favor of the latter.

Realtek multimedia processors are much more flexible. Thanks to loyal pricing policy they have become much more widespread. As is often the case in budget products, a number of annoying shortcomings have plagued the RTD series platforms for a long time - experienced users of media players will nod in the direction of a well-known flaw, when video playback at a frequency of 23.976 frames/s was accompanied by constant jerks. The next negative point occurred due to the fault of careless manufacturers of TV set-top boxes: problems with ventilation in models equipped with a slot for an HDD led to overheating and unstable operation of a whole family of media players. Today, all these problems have been eliminated, and competition between the two chipset manufacturers occurs on an equal basis.

Comparison of the performance of these platforms can be done the old-fashioned way, guided only by the operating frequencies of the processor, but the lion's share of the load in the SoC of media players falls on hardware decoders. The performance of content playback for these devices is beyond the purview of benchmarks.

However, measuring performance in “synthetics” remains the only possible way SoC classifications. Specialized multimedia processors and competing chips based on the ARM Cortex architecture can be divided into five classes (in order of decreasing performance).

For buyers who are not ready to analyze the market in search of the ideal media player, we have prepared a list of current Smart TV systems for any budget and needs. These products will not necessarily include market leaders, but the ratio of price and functionality allows us to confidently recommend these models for purchase.

Upvel UM-521TV

The UM-521TV media player is the most successful candidate for enlivening the TV screen social networks, online entertainment and other applications for the Google platform. Quad-core processor, 2 GB RAM and stock Android Jelly Bean will appeal to customers for whom timely exposure to news feeds and videos means much more than painstaking selection of content for long-term viewing.

TVZor TVZ100ZT

The ideology of the TVZor media player goes against fashion - the model belongs to the still small class of devices developed in collaboration with content providers. In the Russian market, the limited selection of streaming services can rarely boast of success with buyers, but TVZ100ZT has every chance to change the current situation. For just 3,000 rubles, the buyer receives a media player with a rich set of equipment, a programmable remote control with a QWERTY keyboard, a DVB-T2 tuner, an online media library and a set of connectors for connecting to a CRT or LCD TV.

Unfortunately, from functionality Android systems there is no trace left, and access to files on the local network is closed. But 20 stable IPTV channels are complemented by a pack of free TV series in the online store, and support for formats for digital media is in no way inferior to “full-fledged” and more expensive competitors. More details with TVZor TVZ100ZT

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

IconBit Movie3D IPTV

“Functionality before performance” - the Movie3D IPTV model is based on the outdated Allwinner A20 chipset, and the proprietary shell adjacent to Android leads to extremely slow navigation through the device menu. In contrast to these shortcomings, the player has a rich set of functions and a reasonable price. Work with custom IPTV playlists, support for stereo pairs of the BD3D ISO standard, numerous streaming services and access to the Google Play application store cannot but appeal to thrifty buyers. Beginners will also appreciate the abundance of free content, while experienced Android users will appreciate root access and the ability to install third-party apps. You can find out more about IconBit Movie3D IPTV in our review.

ASUS O!Play Mini Plus

ASUS O!Play Mini Plus

In the O!Play Mini Plus model, ASUS engineers chose not to get involved in the pursuit of smartphone functions. The lack of support for Blu-ray ISO images and shortcomings in the online component will be accompanied by fair complaints from users. However, this model is aimed at practitioners and its main goal is convenient playback of content from local and network storage devices. Gigabit Ethernet, a card reader and an eSATA connector allow you to accept any video and music fully equipped. The level of implementation of these functions directly indicates the quality of the media player. The presence of a composite output will allow you to play Full HD files even on old TVs. But O!Play Mini Plus is not respected among enthusiasts, since the media player is based on the notorious revision of Realtek MD chipsets, which means the device is completely closed for flashing at home.

Google Nexus Player

Google Nexus Player

Google presented its vision of what a TV set-top box based on operating system Android. A model called Nexus Player, developed in collaboration with ASUS, has finally gone on sale. The interface and functionality of base Android have been adapted for easy use on the TV screen and streaming content. The media player supports Google Chromecast functions, allowing you to broadcast video, music and photos from your computer, smartphone or tablet to the TV screen. Distinctive feature interface - automatic ranking of applications and multimedia files in accordance with user preferences.

The basic kit includes a multifunctional remote control with an integrated microphone, and a game controller is available at an additional cost.

Nexus Player is built on a quad-core Intel platforms Atom, operating at a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz. The graphics component is based on the Imagination PowerVR Series 6 video accelerator, and the memory subsystem has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage. Wireless communications are represented by Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1, and among the communication connectors there are HDMI and Micro-USB. The new item costs $99.