Explain the build 2390 of Mi Box

by Generalmilk

I’m a mi box user in US and a native Chinese speaker. One month ago I reported a few bugs in build 2179 and 2303 directly to Xiaomi’s engineers. The bugs were

  1. when mi box wakes up from sleep, the user specified resolution such as 4k@60 might change to 480p or other low resoluton.
  2. When user changes refresh rate in settings, it only changes display refresh rate, but system still think it is under the original refresh rate, resulting multiple apps misbehave, including Kodi. Kodi won’t play 1080p@24 video smoothly if user switches to 24fps in settings, unless reboot.
  3. WiFi still goes up and down, affects playback. I have to change my router’s WiFi bandwidth setting from 80Mhz to 40mhz to maintain stable connection.

I just updated 2390. After initial testing, it seems all three issues are fixed. The third one needs confirmation for long time usage, but I changed bandwidth back to 80Mhz, it is stable so far.

The box is still not perfect, but I’m glad they are able to fix all issues I reported to them. Maybe it is really the language barrier. Anyway, if anyone has a clue about how to enable the auto refresh rate switching, let me know. I can pass the information in Chinese and maybe we can see it in the next build.

Update 11/06: I just chatted with a developer via WeChat. He is incredibly chatty today, seems like things are going well. This update will be juicy.

  1. The auto frame rate switching is top priority now. They already noticed wrxtasy’s hint, but fix is not trivial. Kernel fix is easy but a lot of modules in Android framework and Android hardware layers need to be changed. They also need to work with Amlogic on this so a lot of things are not in their control. This fix will not be included in the current OTA4 update, but likely in next OTA5
  2. The current OTA4 will go public soon. It was stuck on the google assistant recognition quality and was held by google. The issue is fixed today, tester will receive the build very soon. Once google approved, everyone should receive it.
  3. P is planned with google! Development scheduled to start end of this year (likely). I think they are a bit short of hands since they also have Mi Box S to work with, but they did not give up this box.
  4. Please join https://www.facebook.com/groups/mibox/ the devs are there. It already has 7k users. The devs used to be in the EU forum, but one dev was attacked by the admin, so she is not longer active there. I introduced this place to her, in the future, the problem posted here is likely getting through.

Update 11/07: OTA4 RC2 is out for beta testers

Update 11/08: It looks like the OTA RC2 is approved by google and now everyone has received it. The Xiaomi dev team kept their words, at least this time. Please post bugs here, I will try my best to pass on.

The devs (currently I only know two person, one male and one female) are testing the DD+ dropout issue but they can't reproduce it. I did on my Vizio 5.1 soundbar, I may spend sometime to help if they still couldn't. I'm really busy at work this week and I have a newborn, so I can be really slow on this.

If anyone still have the mibox won't wake up issue in the latest build 2396 after reset , please leave comments. I don't think this issue has been passed on yet, and it is really hard to reproduce. I had it a few times on 2303 and 2179, but none in recent month. Then again I'm using an IR remote to wake the box up.

The rest is drama, not update. Since Mark (admin of EU forum and /u/CriticalOG here) insists that I was slanderous and asked me multiple times to show evidence, I'm going to translate the evidence from my wechat history with the dev. I'm not going to post the original screenshot unless I got her consent.

Dev: That admin Mark, deleted one of my (sic)

Me: I will post on reddit and kodi forum in the future

Dev: He has attacked me multiple times in private (original words in Chinese: 他多少次私下骂我)...sigh

Dev: Therefore I moved to the FB group.

Dev: The group admin is very helpful, and not violent

I know this is one-sided information from the dev, but given what I have experienced with Mark, whose side am I going to be with? You tell me.

gnullify

Inb4 that guy who spams every fucking thread with instructions on reverting builds posts some nonsensical shit.

akisnet

I bet the Reddit Nvidia Shield police kind of comments like "sell it buy Shield", "it's perfect without bugs" blah blah start in 3...2...1... GO!

dekomote

wrxtasy has documented pretty well why the auto frame rate switching doesn't work on xiaomi box:

here and here

This is a bug that's making the Xiaomi box bad for 4k TVs (or even HD TVs) with DD/DTS sound. And this is pretty much my only gripe with this box. They fix this, they fix the audio dropouts, judder etc etc.

Farhanito

As far as I know, some Russian guys from 4pda forum are using this Auto Frame Rate daemon in their custom ROMs for Amlogic boxes.

I don't know if Xiaomi has saw this.

ciwy85

If all of the 3 points you have listed are fixed then it's only the refresh rate auto switch that needs fixing to make this box perfect cheap device.

PalebloodSky

My Mi Box is about 2 years old and I'm running the latest Oreo (2303) and it works great, use it every day. The only issue is occasionally it takes me pressing the power button on the remote a bunch of times to wake from sleep. I hope this gets fixed.

FreakDeckard

Please report them in Chinese that we need auto switch frame rate systemwide

_ding_ding_ding_ding

Before anyone gets too excited. I've also got the beta update and unfortunately WiFi connection dropouts still persist.

vulcanoid

I can't believe this is the point we are at. Supposedly, two adult men having a pissing contest about who knows what.

​

In July or June or whatever Xiaomi launched a build for the MiBox that until then, was working perfectly, but the build completely ruined the device.

Since then it's been getting better ... I really don't care who did what but many people contributed to the progress of the new builds that have been released.

​

There was a forum that normal people, like me, not developers, not engineers, could give their feedback and see what was being done on returning the device that we really liked and used, to it's former glory ... now because of two grown men behaving like stupid toddlers the rest of us have to become specialists to understand your technical babble shit.

​

Stop the pissing contest, we the customers and normal users just want to use our MiBox the way we had it before.

​

Yeah we know you can code and are gods of whatever tiny domain you think you are the kings of ... just grow up and do your job. That will be your triumph, not this pissing contest that goes nowhere.

​

You may think you've done a lot, but the fact is, the MiBox isn't working as it should ... so you haven't done enough.

psysfaction

Thank you @Generalmilk very much for your update. I start to find it difficult to get any infos on what is happening with the development of the firmware. Used to install several Mi Boxes with clients but currently can not recommend it anymore due to these issues. The EU forum has become useless and all threads seem to be locked down and not accessible anymore regarding the Mi Box. Anyway thank you for keeping us normal users in the loop :-)

dekomote

Thanks for the update /u/Generalmilk . Looks like things are finally going in the right direction. You get gold from me sir.

Maxrunner

What about the remote issues?

whyalwaysme2012

Does the Mi Box update silently? I had issues with the remote that are now gone.

Maxrunner

Also, why do they not update to the same build as the mi box s?

raytedjaja

hi OP, can you ask them why on earth they force update my mi box to oreo without asking user? i am still upset about that

321bluf

Please tell them in Chinese that the microphone in remote doesnot recognise my words in Google Assistant. 2. If i sideload an app some time it gets stuck and install button is greyed out 3. Please please update chromecast version so that i can turn off let others control my media playback from android home app.

Farhanito

Update 11/08: It looks like the OTA RC2 is approved by google and now everyone has received it. The Xiaomi dev team kept their words, at least this time. Please post bugs here, I will try my best to pass on.

How about a new thread with proper title. I think it will be easier to follow.

ultratt

WIFI (router is 2.4G) doesn't work as soon as I manually change the resolution to 1080 or 4k. WIFI will work if screen is set to Auto but it will be 720p. Anyone have the same issue?

Buckethead54

Thanks again u/Generalmilk Have you an ETA for the next RC3 update and its content ?

Thanks

Andriusdude

I know this is not exactly related to build 2390, but could you ask the devs if they could add support for the PS4 controller over Bluetooth and USB?

It's important to have support for many controllers now that the Steam Link app is available on Android TV.

CriticalOG

@generalmilk What you have wrote is lies, I did not once speak to anyone of them in Chinese. You are going to be sued! These messages also have been screenshot and sent to Mi Box / Mi TV Management team. I have not once said any of those things such as " I will post on reddit and kodi forum in the future " or "他多少次私下骂我".

What you have wrote is pure lies and fabrications, not one piece of it is true. I am taking legal steps against you and Dong Chun for your lies. Writing translated WeChat messages would not constitute evidence, neither would any translated conversation she has had with you. I've never threatened or abused anyone! It is all fabricated lies on your side. I will NOT tolerate such lies being publicly posted about me, no one is perfect and if I had did wrong doing I'd admit to it no problem. However you have gone too far with your slander now Tao Chen!

CriticalOG

Posting slanderous comments about someone attacking people now? oh dear oh dear.