logitech revue vs Chinese TV set top box

I have a Revue and I wouldn't buy one. They are incredibly limited even after the Honeycomb update. It has a web browser, it will do YouTube and Netflix, but streaming from online TV services is where it seems to be crippled.

Personally, I'd go with a Linux-based HTPC and run XBMC.

 

What the Chinese boxes can do that the Logitech can't is actually install apps. Sure, you can install apps on the Revue, but there are very few of them in the market...and just about all of them suck. Supposedly, the Flash version on the Revue identifies itself as a Google TV, so a bunch of websites block videos from it and you can't install another browser (no alternatives in the market). Basically, anything you can do on a phone, you can do on the Chinese boxes...and that's a lot more than what you can do on the Revue.

Of course, if your phone has an HDMI output, you could just use that and skip the box altogether.

 

Michael, I've been beta testing an Android streaming media box made by a company called ProcurDirect. They said they were launching in June. If you can wait a bit I can tell ya that this is one bad ass box. It has Android 2.3 and plenty of computing power.

They're not planning on partnering with Google/Android Market at this point. I was a little dismayed by that, but the more I mess with this little buddy the more I like it. I have been able to search the web with the browser app and download just about any app available on the Android market. All ya have to do is search for the app in APK form and download and install it. I also found a neat little trick with my Android phone. I install an app from the market and back it up on my SD Card, then pull it off of my card using the SD Card reader on the box. Games, Netflix, YouTube...pretty much any app you want. I ran into a couple of instances where a video would not play so I just downloaded the corresponding video format apks and I can stream just about anything now.

It also has two USB ports and an USB OTG port as well as a 2.5 inch SATA drive bay. I bought a 320 gig Toshiba external USB HDD and a 320 gig SATA. I torrent a lot of movies using the Atorrent app (er uh, legal of course). This box is pretty quick. I can download three full length HD movies simultaneously in about 20 mins. using a wireless network. You can build one helluva media library with this thing. I have over 150 movies and tons of music discographies all in the space of less than a square foot.

If you want to watch Live TV content, those capabilities are lacking. That is more a problem with lack of decent live TV apps here in the US. I see that evolving, though.

Hope this was helpful.

 

as for me, I'm satisfied with my Revue, I watch movies, play games and so on