I've heard of these android TV boxes a few times and I've done some research on them and it seems to me that the boxes are basically an android OS that you can download apps off the play store and also third party apps that allow free TV and movie streaming. So I was hoping that you guys could point me to a box that seem to perform well and easily as there seems to be a hundred and one choices. What are the apps that are recommended that offer free streaming content and do they work well? Could I skip the box and just download a streaming all on my android phone and Chromecast it over to my TV? Thanks and I hope I didn't break a million rules
If you're referring to boxes like this , you're going down a shitty road. These boxes like to boldly market their hardware specs and ability to stream any cable tv or movie for free. They are full of shit. The hardware is usually cheap, out of date and slapped together cheaply. Furthermore, the software they are running is not Android TV . They are running the same OS your typical android phone or tablet is running. They are nothing more than cheaply built android devices with an hdmi out. They are not "Android TV" boxes; they are "Android" tv boxes.
The software that allows them to "stream anything" is nothing more than Kodi (a free, open source platform for streaming one's local media) with unofficial add-ons installed that allow them to access unofficial streams that are likely distributing content illegally. To make things even better, the add-ons can stop working at any time (likely as a result of the streaming origin being shut down). You're then left to figure out a resolution to your now non-functioning "fully loaded" android box; don't expect much in the way of customer service.
Steer clear of these devices.