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FireTV vs Nexus Player
- Thread starter TheSiege
- Start date
tsupersonic
Senior member
...it just got announced. There's no way anyone can tell what's best until the Nexus Player comes out. Jeez.
Red Storm
Lifer
I think in the end the Nexus Player will "win" if only because Amazon's Android is just a fork. I think the official gamepad from Google is a big step in progressing towards bigger and better games for Android.
From a strictly media playing perspective, it depends on what the Nexus Player has. Needs 5GHz wifi for starters.
From a strictly media playing perspective, it depends on what the Nexus Player has. Needs 5GHz wifi for starters.
poofyhairguy
Lifer
For XBMC the Intel-based NP is a clear winner. Might be like the Chromebox where you can just put XBMCbuntu on there.
Kneedragger
Golden Member
First negative is the Asus one doesn't have an ethernet port. I don't stream over wifi..
Why do you say this? I have a FireTV, XBMC loaded and I can load netflix and hulu straight from XBMC all while keeping the original Amazon/Andriod OS if I ever need it
lopri
Elite Member
I still don't understand what these devices do. At least I now know what Chromecast does. But just what the heck do these boxes do? Can I replace my FIOS TV boxes with this? I am guessing not. It obviously cannot replace HTPC box that contains my collection of ripped movies. It's not for over-the-air broadcast, I reckon.
Just what do they do? Are they simply outlets for iTunes Store, Play Store, and Amazon Instant Video?
Just what do they do? Are they simply outlets for iTunes Store, Play Store, and Amazon Instant Video?
SpacemanSpiffVT
Senior member
following up with the last post, what is the big benefit of this over chromecast?
poofyhairguy
Lifer
Yeah sure for an everything box the FireTV is sweet, but if you are considering JUST for XBMC then its not the absolute best option. Thats all I was saying. It is a great jack-of-all-trades.
As for reasons why: The main one is that XBMC/Kodi development is primarily on x86, as are many of the best plug ins. As it is XBMC can't hardware decode VC-1 and MPEG2 files on the FireTV, which would KO it in my livingroom. Also Intel is going to have better single core performance, which helps with the XBMC UI and the prettiest skins.
With that said, I would rather have a Chromebox over any of these for XBMC as it has the power to decode HD files on the CPU. I don't think any ARM device short of that new NVidia monster can decode things like Blu Rays on the CPU...
Wouldnt the lack of ethernet severely limit your streaming capability?
poofyhairguy
Lifer
Not necessarily. My living room system streams everything over 5GHz N. The issue is when you don't get 5Ghz support (looking at you Chromecast).
cronos
Diamond Member
It's not just about speed, it's reliability as well. There's a reason why I have established a solid gigabit network and cables run through every single room at my home, and that's because I don't trust wireless and I want everything go through cables. Call me old fashion, but that's just how I like it.
I'm sure eventually technology will get to the point where everything will be wireless, but not now in 2014, at least not for me.
Kneedragger
Golden Member
I'm the same.. I have a server with all my movies that I stream to all my rooms. Bluray and and DVD.
Red Storm
Lifer
No doubt your solution is the more reliable and better performing one, but all it took me was $35 to get my stuff streaming from my desktop to our TV, in addition to Netflix, HBO, Youtube, Hulu, etc.
Someone already did this; can't remember who but saw the announcement on engadget or droid-life. Well perhaps I should say doing this as i don't think the tv hit market yet.
Based on the Nexus Player specs, I'm not sure what warrants the $65 premium over a Chromecast.
- It won't playback online streaming services any better.
- It's still wifi only, so no change (for me) on local file playback through Plex - which wasn't really lacking to begin with.
So, what then, a sleek outer shell and a remote? What am I missing? A $40 controller to play ad based mobile games? Eh. I'd have rather seen a Chromecast refresh with 5ghz capabilities and maybe a bump in storage.
- It won't playback online streaming services any better.
- It's still wifi only, so no change (for me) on local file playback through Plex - which wasn't really lacking to begin with.
So, what then, a sleek outer shell and a remote? What am I missing? A $40 controller to play ad based mobile games? Eh. I'd have rather seen a Chromecast refresh with 5ghz capabilities and maybe a bump in storage.
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