Questions about switching from Roku

by Ausernameneeded

I am currently using a Roku stick and hate it. The 1/2 screen ad, the screen saver ads, the remote ads, and the ancient looking app UI.

I am thinking the Mi Box (can't afford shieldTV). My questions are:

-Can I have Kodi start up instead of the standard OS when turned on? Or is it more like an App and has to be started like one everytime?

-Does AndroidTV OS and/or Kodi have a ton of ads? I don't mind ads as long as it isn't obnoxious.

****-Is there an app that is like Roku's XTV. It has 24/7 and OnDemand videos of a lot of shows for free. It's the only thing keeping me attached to Roku. (I don't know the legality because it's streaming, but it's nice to have All in the Family marathon or something in the background).

-Is the Mi Box snappy with apps? I use Vue for cable, Netflix, Vudu, Etc.

-Will the Mi box get the next Android update?

Any help one one or more questions would be great. Again I know ShieldTV is the best, but too expensive for me now. AppleTV is an option, but like Google's openness. FireTV isn't for me because the UI is too dependant on Prime, which I don't want.

Thanks again!

kawshik201
  • Kodi is an app in Android TV
  • Android TV doesn't have any ads. There is a 'Recommendation Row' in the Top which can be customized in the setting.
  • You could check Pluto TV app but I don't know if it is similar to XTV.
  • Vue, Netflix and VUDU works fine
  • Mi Box will receive Android 7 according to Xiaomi
Tinmania

I don't think you have received a complete answer to the first question. While Kodi is of course an Android TV app you can also have it launch at start, without seeing leanback launcher at startup.

Android TV has Live Channels. This integrate with apps that are written to work with it. On the mi box Pluto TV is pre-installed and works with Live Channels. Its similar to XTV. Of course you can use Pluto via its app as well--I actually prefer it that way. Live Channels should get better after Android 7.0 update.

Oh, I find the mi box speed great for SPMC and just about all other video apps. It's not very fast for games but I didn't buy it for that.

ghostyroasty

Thanks for the Xtv channel. I didn't know about it! AndroidTV doesn't necessarily have ads, but the top bar has suggested videos. On the Shield there are also "ads" for games that might be on sale or something now available on Geforce Now. If you do go with the Android TV, get SPMC instead of Kodi for a better experience. In my personal experience though, Kodi's (or SPMC) plug-ins and add-ons are spotty. I currently have all three and plan on getting the updated Shield when it is released. I love the Android TV ecosystem and the ui, but the Roku has a better selection despite the horrible ui... BUT it works very well at what it does. The Apple TV. I love the ui there as well, but the controller is horrible with the swiping to navigate from app to app. Vudu isn't available on the Apple TV, but you can airplay from Apple devices, so keep that in mind. You're not going to have the selection of channels that the Roku has on either system.

tb21666

Do yourself the favor & use the Android optimized SPMC app instead of Kodi.

Bboy486

Their is an app that lets you boot into an installed app. So it would boot into ATV then launch your app of choice.