MINIX NEO G4 Android 4.0 Dual Core RK3066 DDR3 1GB RAM / 8GB ROM Google TV Box Mini PC Dongle Wi-Fi / IR Remote

I purchased this device because it had really cool specs and potential for something so small. The problem is, it does not live up to its promises.What was the problem?1. The remote is crap and you must have a real keyboard. Yes, you must have a keyboard because the virtual keyboard and remote are very clunky and hard to type. Typing is required if you plan on entering your wireless password, logging into your Google play account, etc.2. I was able to get my Logitech Harmony remote to work, but the IR receiver is lacking and you must be less then 6 feet away from the Minix for the remote to work well, even as a media player. I planned on using this as a HTPC, so that doesn't work.3. None of the video player apps I have or found (MX player included) could fast forward or rewind movies that I have on my NAS. Again, the reason I purchased this was to be a HTPC, so that is a biggie.4. When I search for apps, if I push the center/ok button on either remote or hit enter on a wired keyboard to confirm, it adds a random character to my word and therefore fails to find what I am looking for. This means I must use the virtual keyboard and it just plain sucks.5. I thought for sure Amazon prime was an app that I could download and is my preferred internet streaming service. I could not find it anywhere.6. I tried upgrading to the newest firmware (as of this week) and was unsuccessful. It came with JB 4.1 and the instructions I found for firmware did not work.7. The Google Play experience leave much to be desired. There really needs to be a version that is dedicated solely to mini PC or HTPC. Currently it feels like a phone and you have many useless apps in your way that you want to flick away with your finger, but can't. A bunch of crap in the way when all I want is HTPC stuff that was very hard to find.Conclusion: I think they started on a decent idea hardware wise but the software and user experience need more polishing. The user experience is horrible on Google Play and I gave up searching for apps that I could use. The keyboard and remote issues I experienced made it very frustrating to search for simple things. It has the feeling of hooking up your phone to your TV for a "look what I can do" thing but fails shortly after in functionality. I think Android mini PCs will be ready in a few years, but it will take a combination of better software, better receiver hardware for the IR remote, and better support from Google Play to make this compete against the likes of Roku, Apple TV, Xbox 360, or any of the major set top boxes that people use for video streaming.I will continue to use my Xbox 360 since it has been my favorite thing so far that I can watch movies from my NAS and stream all of the apps like Netflix, Amazon, Xfinity, HBO Go, etc. I was hoping that I could find something that handles more video formats then the Xbox 360, without spending a lot of money.

I bought this for my son for Christmas. He's 11 and too young in our opinion to need a cell phone. This gives him access to all the games and such in the Google Play store, as well as Netflix, youtube, etc. Think of it as a tablet with a giant TV as the screen.The downside is the imperfect way it accepts input from the user because it has, by design, no touchscreen. We bought a bluetooth keyboard from Logitech that has a touchpad. The Minix recognizes the keyboard just fine, but doesn't have a way of emulating common and essential touchscreen gestures -- such as pinch to zoom -- on the touchpad. This cripples some of the usefulness of the NEO G4 because there are some games and apps for which a conventional keyboard, direction keys, and even the included remote control cannot give you sufficient command of the application.In Angry Birds you can't zoom out to see the whole puzzle. No big deal, and the touchscreen does let you "grab" the birds and shoot them. However, in Google Earth -- which is great on a 46-in TV -- I can zoom in by double-clicking on the touchpad, but no amount of fiddling with every combination of keyboard, touchpad nor remote control allowed me to zoom back out. This makes the app essentially useless since you have to forcibly kill it to get it to reset to the beginning where you can see the entire globe.The OS itself has been modified to work on the NEO G4, with some customized features and an optional "10-ft screen" interface (i.e. a simplified interface with large icons, intended for being used on a TV while sitting on the sofa). However, it would be a HUGE improvement if the designers would recognize how the device must be used with an external keyboard and mouse or touchpad, and write some capability into the NEO G4 to mimic the on-screen gestures it will never be able to do.If it had that capability, it'd be 5 stars. As is, it's solid and fast hardware that is only 7/8ths baked.

I bought this item because video reviews on the net claimed this player to be good at running XBMC videos. Its good for running the videos that the reviewers were displaying, but those videos are not live streams nor are they true 1080p streams. XBMCandroid.com has a download for the Minux G4. The problem with that version of XBMC is that you can't play a live stream from an add-on like USTV. I uninstalled that version of XBMC and installed the 12.2 Frodo version from XBMC.org. The Frodo version will allow for a live stream to appear on your screen. The Minux G4 cannot play a live stream smoothly. The picture is choppy. The problem is that wi fi is not good for streaming live HD feeds like an ethernet connection. I do admit the Minix G4 did play The Walking Dead episodes off the Icefilms add-on pretty smoothly. I played the DVD rip versions. I thought this mini pc would be great addition to my living room entertainment system because it is small and it can be tucked away easily out of sight behind the TV.I advise anyone thinking about buying this product as a media player for XBMC to look at actual set top boxes as a better solution. Your boxes like the Gbox MX2 have ethernet connections to allow for faster streaming. I actually have the new Gbox and it has been a great experience so far. The box is run through the ethernet connection. I'm not an Android aficionado, and I really don't have the expertise with Android to really make an objective review about this product's ability to utilize Android.I have to say that you buy this product at your own risk if you intend to buy it as a media player for XBMC. You can't return it to the seller just on the basis that it can't stream XBMC videos smoothly. I don't blame the sellers for not accepting returns on items based on poor performance. They do take a loss when items are returned for refunds. In conclusion, I say don't buy this product as a means to play XBMC. If you are familiar with Android and understand what this product can do with Android, then it may be worth the purchase.