I just got this G-Box from China at $103 shipped (now it is a bit more expensive):
Wholesale Newest Wifi and Bluetooth Google Android 2.3 TV Box with Remote +Cortex A8,1.2GHZ+DDR III
It runs Android 2.3.1. Here is my quick review after one day of use:
1. It runs old Market version (older by 2 versions), and I can download/install app fine.
2. I still can't root it by Z4Root and Gingerbreak.
3. It plays 1080p mkv movies from my external USB HDD. Though it is watchable, the output quality is worse than dvd quality. The movies play smoothly. I use its stock video player, Moboplayer.
4. The stock launcher is not so good, I replace it with LauncherPro plus and it works better.
5. The remote control can't control some menus on some apps. However, I can use my existing RF wireless keyboard/touchpad (Visenta v1) to totally control it. I can play Angry Bird with this keyboard. I believe all RF keyboard/touchpad can work with this unit.
6. Youtube can play high quality video, or HD video; but the display quality is not that great (same as playing HD movies). But it is more than watchable.
7. I connect it with the included hdmi to my LG Plasma 42 inch (1024x768), the aspect ratio is correct.
8. Unfortunately, the included apps, e.g. Market, Map, etc.. can't be updated from Market (all stock apps are system-protected).
9. Mine comes without builtin bluetooth and 2.4Ghz RF. Though wifi is builtin.
10. USB can be set as both host and OTG
11. The box itself and the included AC adapter are a bit warm when in use, indicating it is not so power hungry.
12. I've tried the following apps and they are working fine: TEDAir, GeekBeat TV, Revision3, Teamviewer, Moboplayer, tTorrent, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Smartkeyboard Pro, Dolphin Browser HD, TuneIn Radio, Whitehouse, etc. Text display on Facebook and Google+ are too small and no way to adjust the Text size in the apps. Ubersocial always works in landscape two-pane mode which I don't like and the text is also too small; thus, resort to Seesmic.
13. It sometimes shuts itself off when I press my remote key too fast, this is a bug.
14. I can use the stock remote to shut it off, but can't switch it on with it. I need to press the power button in front panel of the box to switch it on.
15. It takes over a minute to switch on. During booting up, it displays a big "G-BOX" word.
16. I can't find way to set the screensaver. The display is always on.
17. When I connect the box with LAN cable to my router, I can't establish Wifi connection. If I disconnect LAN cable, wifi connects fine.
18. Operating this box is quite responsive, except the moment it is installing a new app from Market. Not a big deal, though.
19. It has SD card reader on the right side of the box. It works fine. It works like an SD card slot in notebook. It has spring-loaded and the inserted card sits flushed when mounted. No other ports/slots on the left side of the box. The front panel has only power switch button and IR remote window. The remote operating angle is not great but ok.
20. Internal flash disk size is 4GB (not 2GB as Flexiview).
21. The case is all plastic material; but looks nice.
Overall, I'm happy with this box in every aspect, except the HD video/movie output quality which is somewhere between VideoCD(Mpeg-1) and DVD(Mpeg 2). It is a very good value for money. I'm not sure this is the limitation of Google OS or the box itself.
The box is bigger than the Flexiview, due to accommodation of CBVS output ports. The stock remote should be replaced for total control of the apps and for playing games. Angry Birds game is awesome on my Plasma TV, though (still don't know how to zoom out the screen).
I hope someone can root this things because I wish to upgrade those included apps to the latest version.
I can't find an equivalent box which has an official website for future firmware upgrade. The Aliexpress vendor is also very vague about firmware upgrade when being asked.
Will report more when I have more time playing it.
Update: day2: It's my fault. The HD/FullHD video playbacks very well at high quality on my Plasma TV. Yahoo HD, Vimeo HD also deliver high quality video from this box. What a great box!
Update: 30 Sept 2011:
1. Upgrade Adobe Flash to the latest version from Market, and Flash won't play in browser (stock browser and Dolphin HD). Still don't know what to do.
2. Friendcaster for Facebook is my favorite Facebook app because I can set it to display larger font size. The official Facebook app displays too small font.
3. In order to display great on your LCD/Plasma, set the Sharpness to 0.
4. Tweetcaster is my favorite twitter app because of its beautiful UI, and can set to display larger font size.
5. The box is still performing very well and fast. If you already have "dump" LCD TV and want to upgrade it to a super smart TV, don't buy a new TV, buy this box (or other similar box)!
Update: 7 Oct 2011: The Flash 11 problem has been solved. I have to uninstall flash, then go to website that requires flash for video. Then let the browser download the correct flash version. Now it works, and found that it downloaded Flash v.10.2. So this box only support Flash 10.2. It's good because Flash 11 take 5MB more space on internal SD.
Update: 26 Oct 2011: Really happy with this box. One annoying thing is that it has audio sync problem (just a bit) with all the offline and online videos I play regardless of any video player apps.
Wholesale Newest Wifi and Bluetooth Google Android 2.3 TV Box with Remote +Cortex A8,1.2GHZ+DDR III
It runs Android 2.3.1. Here is my quick review after one day of use:
1. It runs old Market version (older by 2 versions), and I can download/install app fine.
2. I still can't root it by Z4Root and Gingerbreak.
3. It plays 1080p mkv movies from my external USB HDD. Though it is watchable, the output quality is worse than dvd quality. The movies play smoothly. I use its stock video player, Moboplayer.
4. The stock launcher is not so good, I replace it with LauncherPro plus and it works better.
5. The remote control can't control some menus on some apps. However, I can use my existing RF wireless keyboard/touchpad (Visenta v1) to totally control it. I can play Angry Bird with this keyboard. I believe all RF keyboard/touchpad can work with this unit.
6. Youtube can play high quality video, or HD video; but the display quality is not that great (same as playing HD movies). But it is more than watchable.
7. I connect it with the included hdmi to my LG Plasma 42 inch (1024x768), the aspect ratio is correct.
8. Unfortunately, the included apps, e.g. Market, Map, etc.. can't be updated from Market (all stock apps are system-protected).
9. Mine comes without builtin bluetooth and 2.4Ghz RF. Though wifi is builtin.
10. USB can be set as both host and OTG
11. The box itself and the included AC adapter are a bit warm when in use, indicating it is not so power hungry.
12. I've tried the following apps and they are working fine: TEDAir, GeekBeat TV, Revision3, Teamviewer, Moboplayer, tTorrent, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Smartkeyboard Pro, Dolphin Browser HD, TuneIn Radio, Whitehouse, etc. Text display on Facebook and Google+ are too small and no way to adjust the Text size in the apps. Ubersocial always works in landscape two-pane mode which I don't like and the text is also too small; thus, resort to Seesmic.
13. It sometimes shuts itself off when I press my remote key too fast, this is a bug.
14. I can use the stock remote to shut it off, but can't switch it on with it. I need to press the power button in front panel of the box to switch it on.
15. It takes over a minute to switch on. During booting up, it displays a big "G-BOX" word.
16. I can't find way to set the screensaver. The display is always on.
17. When I connect the box with LAN cable to my router, I can't establish Wifi connection. If I disconnect LAN cable, wifi connects fine.
18. Operating this box is quite responsive, except the moment it is installing a new app from Market. Not a big deal, though.
19. It has SD card reader on the right side of the box. It works fine. It works like an SD card slot in notebook. It has spring-loaded and the inserted card sits flushed when mounted. No other ports/slots on the left side of the box. The front panel has only power switch button and IR remote window. The remote operating angle is not great but ok.
20. Internal flash disk size is 4GB (not 2GB as Flexiview).
21. The case is all plastic material; but looks nice.
Overall, I'm happy with this box in every aspect, except the HD video/movie output quality which is somewhere between VideoCD(Mpeg-1) and DVD(Mpeg 2). It is a very good value for money. I'm not sure this is the limitation of Google OS or the box itself.
The box is bigger than the Flexiview, due to accommodation of CBVS output ports. The stock remote should be replaced for total control of the apps and for playing games. Angry Birds game is awesome on my Plasma TV, though (still don't know how to zoom out the screen).
I hope someone can root this things because I wish to upgrade those included apps to the latest version.
I can't find an equivalent box which has an official website for future firmware upgrade. The Aliexpress vendor is also very vague about firmware upgrade when being asked.
Will report more when I have more time playing it.
Update: day2: It's my fault. The HD/FullHD video playbacks very well at high quality on my Plasma TV. Yahoo HD, Vimeo HD also deliver high quality video from this box. What a great box!
Update: 30 Sept 2011:
1. Upgrade Adobe Flash to the latest version from Market, and Flash won't play in browser (stock browser and Dolphin HD). Still don't know what to do.
2. Friendcaster for Facebook is my favorite Facebook app because I can set it to display larger font size. The official Facebook app displays too small font.
3. In order to display great on your LCD/Plasma, set the Sharpness to 0.
4. Tweetcaster is my favorite twitter app because of its beautiful UI, and can set to display larger font size.
5. The box is still performing very well and fast. If you already have "dump" LCD TV and want to upgrade it to a super smart TV, don't buy a new TV, buy this box (or other similar box)!
Update: 7 Oct 2011: The Flash 11 problem has been solved. I have to uninstall flash, then go to website that requires flash for video. Then let the browser download the correct flash version. Now it works, and found that it downloaded Flash v.10.2. So this box only support Flash 10.2. It's good because Flash 11 take 5MB more space on internal SD.
Update: 26 Oct 2011: Really happy with this box. One annoying thing is that it has audio sync problem (just a bit) with all the offline and online videos I play regardless of any video player apps.
