Review: Amiko A3 and other Android boxes

[Rob van der Does]

Well, you can make a post as long as you want, but Spark2 is crap and Fulan must have stopped the development for a reason

[Sicilian]

Well, you can make a post as long as you want, but Spark2 is crap and Fulan must have stopped the development for a reason

Why do they call is Spark 2? Its Android 4.2.2.

[Rob van der Does]

Spark2 is indeed Android 4.2.2 based; no idea why they went to names.

[Rob van der Does]

Spark can't compete E2 in the DVR area. It's nowhere as mature and flexible, and it would need an enormous amount of development to come to pair.
But: the SoC of the A3's doesn't allow for more then it does now.

[Sicilian]

Why don’t you go get yourself one of those clunky Solo2 and get the hell out of this thread?

I'm the boss here, if you don't like my opinion don't post here, simple..

A3 gives you portability which none of those clunky boxes you mentioned cannot.

Why would anyone want portability??

All I’m trying to say is that you should stop misleading people just because A3 does not meet your expectations.

I'm not mis-leading anyone, I'm just posting what I've found from my own experiance.

Suggesting that they rather get wetek play was also very unwise of you because I bet you don’t own one.

LOL, another stupid comment, do you want me to post a video with proof?

Though wetek play performs much better with openElec, it defies the purpose of me or anyone buying an android DVB system.

Why? You can use TVHeadend in Openelec. Also with the Wetek you can use whatever you like, boot Openelec from SD or install in flash. Run dual boot, Anroid in flash and boot Openelec from SD card, simple

I replaced my 800HD with wetek play which I realized wasn’t improving as I expected.

Android in A3 is no better than the Wetek, imo the Wetek satellite setup in Android is easier to use than the A3, but thats just my opinion.

I wanted something simple for my living room, wasn’t ready to waste time on tinkering like I used to do on the WP. In short, I wanted something that just works and A3 did that for me, now I watch TV, use my system as it should be instead of tinkering and logging bugs.

You should have used a E2 receiver that runs OpenViX

Everyone is complaining about “closed firmware”; IOS is closed firmware but yet everyone loves to have one. Why? Because it just works! And that’s how I feel about the A3. There is no need for many OS for a system, because you end up using one. One solid working OS is far better than a dozens of half-baked ones. Stop comparing products that are more expensive with inexpensive ones and stop misleading others. Go take a look at FTA Receiver forum, and tell me how many guys there complain. They don’t complain like you do because it works pretty well for them.

1) If you feel that way you shouldv'e purchased the IDENTICAL SAB ANDROID I HD and saved yourself a small forutune
2) I'm not mis-leading anyone, posting from my own experiance, I've got all the receivers in question and am able to test and post about them.
3) Yes I agree IOS products do just work, but I've not yes found any Android product that 'just works'. All have somekind of niggly bug. Android system in way compare to E2 as a PVR for family use.

@Rob van der Does
Spark2 is the beautiful interface that hides the UI seen in tabs and phones - they think TV-wise.

LOL, is just Android 4.2.2, Spark2, what a crock of crap....I prefer the UI on the SAB Nova Android HD or the Wetek, I found the UI on the A3/SAB Android I to clunky. Again you'll proberbly post saying I'm mis-leading...

BTW I don’t work for Amiko, Fulan or whatever.

You must have somekind of finincial interest in the A3 to post such a glowing report.

I'm not saying the A3 is a bad product, it's just not as good as your glowing report. Anyone who wants an A3 should save themselves a small fortune and buy the IDENTICAL SAB Android I

If you don't like my opinion get the hell out of my Forum, simple...

[Rob van der Does]

BTW I don’t work for Amiko, Fulan or whatever.

Well, you should. I'm pretty sure that putting your post on your CV will make you an excellent candidate

[twelfd]

Just adding a couple of points:

Spark2 is not the OS- nor does it claim to be, it's a custom launcher that's the main UI.

Secondly, Android is an open source OS- so calling it a closed source OS is incorrect. The Spark2 launcher is closed source however- but root access is available by default so you do have full access to the OS, so development would be possible, but pretty much uneeded, as all the features work.

As for the HDD being pointless- I have to disagree, A hdd is always a welcome addition- my E2 receiver has a hdd and I'm glad my A3 does aswell as it means a download directly to the hdd- plus it opens up the possibilities of re-directing the data partition to the hdd rather than having it on the NAND as you can on some phones (apps2sd).

[abu baniaz]

You have made comparissons with a Wetek Play. That is not a proper E2 receiver.

[ronand]

I have made a request at Kodi PVR support. If this is not currently available,none that I know of, please support my request here. It would be nice to have a Kodi PVR plugin for A3.

Can your friends at lava not help you?

[Sicilian]

I think this thread has run its course, time to close.