- Build in Bluetooth
- Aluminum Case
- Support XBMC
- Wifi 802.11 b/g/n
- Android 4.1.1 OS, Google Play Store pre-installed
BUT I am getting problems with WiFi. Seems to drop the connection frequently (signal strength is 'excellent'). In particular it seems to stop working when switching from one app to another. For example, if I am watching a Netflix movie and then switch to the browser. The problem seems to occur with my dlink 802.11n router. But not with an older linksys 802.11g router.
However the issue must be with this device. We have a vast array of devices in the house that use wifi: phones, tablets, several pcs, tvs, blu ray players etc etc. This is the only device exhibiting wifi problems.
Poor or non-working wifi is a deal killer. If I can't fix it, its going back. If anyone knows of any fixes out there, please post a comment.
Update:
PS I did find that by using an extension hdmi cable (included) and allowing the device to dangle, rather then be plugged in right behind the monitor, improved the wifi signal.
Also I ordered the bobjgear usb to ethernet adapter from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RTACDM/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00 and now have good fast connections.
But really, devices like this all seem to suffer from wifi issues which is the one function that most customers will want to work perfectly or the device is useless. Why don't the manufacturers get that?I've only had the imito one day so; this review should be tempered with the fact that one day does not mean how it will hold up. We bought the imito for my wifes dad who has spent far too many years on the old windows Web TV. I got it up and running to make sure everything was okay before surprising him with it at Christmas. Once up and running, this little product stunned my wife and myself. Its fast and efficient and does everything my Nexus 7 does and, some things better. If youre used to Google/Android, its a piece of cake.
I ordered the Logitech Key board and its a great little keyboard for the money. Some keys do not work as its 2 different companies systems melding together but, the vast majority of functions work very well.
This paragraph maybe the most important one. After hunting and pecking I settled on "Geek Buying" because Amazon warehouses the imito here in the states as well as housing the logitech keyboard. It will save you a ton of time to make sure to be aware of where the product ships from. I had both units in a few days.
Also... the manuals are Spartan at best. The logitech keyboards, (range extender), plugs into the imito, not the TV. The imioto picks up our router, which is upstairs, with no problem and like another reviewer has said... the imito runs slightly above skin temerature.
If your concerned about where the imito is made, (China), Google has contracted with a Taiwanese company to produce this type of product. No telling when it will get here and, I'm pretty sure the Google endorsed product will be based on the imito.
I dont normally review a product but, this one merited a review because its a very good product. Compared to all others I have been researching... its the best. I hope this review helps you.This is a nice little device. It came in yesterday and I quickly flashed in a new ROM (Finless ROM 1.4 from freaktab.com). I also installed Droidmote to control it via my Samsung Galaxy S3. So far everything has been working quite well. No issues with wifi or anything of that sort.
It is pretty neat to have Android Jelly Bean running on my TV. The devices main use will be as a HTTPC. I've already installed Netflix, HBO GO, Crackle, and XBMC.
This is my first experience with XBMC and all I have to say is that (besides for the lack of 720p and 1080p playback) it has been a great app for streaming online content. There are already quite a number of video add-ons that you can download and enable through XBMC. However I do suggest downloading the Navi-X add-on (which you must do by downloading it through the browser and navi-x website not within the XBMC app).
I was thinking of ordering this or the Minix Neo G4, but at the time only this device had Amazon Prime 2-day shipping, so I went with this. However Minix neo G4 is now available with Amazon Prime and in my opinion it is the superior device as it comes with its own remote with a power button which allows you to power off/on the device, an important feature the MX1 lacks. The only way to power it on/off with the stock ROM is to plug and unplug the device.
For anyone looking at this device or other android minipc's I suggest visiting freaktab.com and to get more info and insight on these devices.First off, make sure you purchase through GeekBuying's Amazon store. That seller provides firmware updates, customer service and handles warranties. I am impressed by this Android TV stick. It comes with the latest firmware (software) running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. GeekBuying released a beta to support native 1080p resolution, and is expected to release a final firmware for 1080p support in the near future. I'm writing this review in early January 2013.
The stick works with all Google Play apps and for anyone that's already on the Android ecosystem, it works seamlessly with your Google account. Netflix streams at 720p, not 1080p because of limitations that Netflix is imposing on Android devices. Note, YouTube's new app no longer supports full screen on this device (it's a bug on Google's part that hasn't been fixed yet). You'll want to downgrade the YouTube app to the 4.1.47 version and uncheck automatic updates for the YouTube app in the Google Play store. XBMC has released a version for Android and it runs beautifully on the MX1. It's only a matter of weeks before XBMC will provide hardware acceleration for the Rockchip processor which is used by the MX1. Once that happens, 1080p video will playback silky smooth. At the moment, 1080p videos in XBMC are choppy and unwatchable because the video decoder lacks hardware acceleration.
Skype video calls work great on this device with my Logitech 310 webcam (supports up to 720p streams). It seems to stream video from my webcam to the recipient at either 480p or 720p. Quality is not super sharp, but pretty good. Google Voice search also works through the webcam's microphone. I have the MX1 connected to a Linkysy USB ethernet adapter and the connection is pretty fast. WiFi also works.
I found the Lenovo N5902 2.4 Ghz wireless keyboard and input device to use with the MX1, but haven't received it yet. The keyboard I ordered was defective so it is being replaced. I'm currently using a basic USB mouse with a bluetooth keyboard. It's by no means perfect, as evident in my review. In about 2 months time (March 2013), I anticipate that GeekBuying will have released the final 1080p firmware, the YouTube app will get fixed and XBMC will have released its Android app with hardware acceleration for the Rockchip processor. Once that all comes together, I figure I'll be able to retire the Roku HD and the living room media center PC, and I'll use this little beauty to consume all non-cable media in my home.
This is a great review that convinced me to purchase the device.
For the late
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I ordered this and once I recieved it had serious doubts that it was a actual IMITO MX1 as stated by the seller.After doing quite a bit of reading about the devices online and in forums speficic to the Imito and android tv sticks ran across several posts by people who have bought from this seller also and also had serious doubts about its authenticity ....I searched extensively in the forums for hours on end and finally concluded from the forums and descriptions of the pcb colors and firmware that Imitos come from the factory with installed and concluded that it was a clone not a actually brand name Imito .
I contacted amazon customer service since this seller has not provided a contact link and we reached a agreement on resolving this and I wrote a negative review about the product .
The seller contacted me after I posted the review and stated that even though it has no Imito logo that is is the same and that the Imito is made by numerous different companies in china . After many emails in which I pointed out that it was not a Imito and the differences I had found he asked me if I would remove the negative review I had made and I relented and agreed to do so .
I kept the unit I had purchased from the seller and ordered a Imito from a seller known to be a Imito dealer and who is on the forums regular and that works with people in the US that make custom roms for many devices of this type and who supplies the stock firmware codes from the manufacturer for Imito owners
I ordered a Imito mx1 from this dealer to compare with the product I recieved from this seller just so that I could compare the two ..... Now that I have I can state that they are NOT the same unit the main processor has different identification numbers and every memory chip as well . ADD that to the fact that 4 memory chips that should all match are from 3 different vendors ....
The reset button that is supposed to be on one end which has a small hole you use a paper clip or needle to push is not even in that area so any attempt to rest the device with a metal object is very likely to cause a catastrophic short of the device as well and in fact is on the right side about the middle of the case and there is no access hole to even allow its use .....
I joined several forums and created a thread on them asking people how you can identify a actual IMITO MX1 and many people posted pictures of the devices with the case removed and I found many pictures online of actual IMITOS out of the case as well .
Seems the pcbs of the real ones are red or blue reset buttons are on the end beside the HDMI connector and they are known to have good support from the factory in terms of software and function very well ....
My unit when booted would show a screen saying R-BOX and IMITOS show a boot screen with a IMITO LOGO and the firmware Is provided by IMITO ... this was what tipped me off to begin with. Some forum members that purchased from this seller ran utilities designed to show the firmware version and maker and the chipset operating frequency ect and posted the results so that we could definitively identify what we were sold in place of what we had actually ordered and it turns out that this seller is selling ug007 units saying that they are the IMITO MX1 ..... THEY ARE NOT THEY SPECIFICALLY SAY IN FIRMWARE THAT THEY ARE UG007 UNITS
END OF STORY THIS IS A SIMPLE REVIEW YOU DECIDE WHICH WAY ... I will say the unit almost functions as well as a real IMITO but not quite
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