onn-Android-TV-UHD-Streaming-Device

[mouldy]

I somehow ran across this little $20 gem
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Its an android tv streaming box. Very small, very limited storage but Android 10. And the price is probably as low as you will find one.

Ok, was looking, with a powered micro usb hub you can add storage in way of usb thumb drive or I suppose a usb SSD. Has to have pass through charging ability as this is how the device is powered. Some guy has a youtube video on it. Why do I think the hub cost as much as this box....

Then was looking and yea this can be rooted and lineageOS installed. Also there is an Android app for installing linux on a rooted Android device. Called "Linux Deploy". So long way around you could have either an android workstation or linux workstation. Is this a great idea, no, this thing to me looks el cheapo crappo and you can get a decent core2duo used business laptop or desktop that potentially could last much longer.

But if you need a $20 computer, I guess its at least theoretically possible. Think of it as the poor mans' raspberry. An artificially flavored version.

Just think, install Puppy somehow and you could resell these as Puppy dog biscuits.

[dancytron]

If you could get samba and some sort of remote desktop server running on it (or write a bunch of ssh scripts), you could run it hooked up to a smart TV, control it from a phone or computer, and defeat the awful Roku etc proprietary interface on cheap TVs.

[mouldy]

I saw one of those smart tvs super cheap last Black Friday and was curious enough to read about them. Figured there had to be a catch and their was. They are hardwired to be painful if you dont use their proprietary apps. You can do it, but spend bunch extra time chasing through menus to get to OTA option. They are cheap because the streaming services subsidize them to include their apps as default. Wonder if you could root one of them? Being cheap, when my old Sony CRT tv finally went to appliance heaven, I rigged the converter box (the kind that let you use digital signal on old analog tv) to work with an old $15 computer monitor from thrift store and old computer speaker for sound. My tv is all OTA, dont have enough cell data to stream more than few youtube videos per month.

I think this onn. tv box is interesting, especially cause it can be rooted and lineageOS installed. So yea you can do pretty much anything you want. Now longevity of it, I wouldnt be too optimistic. It looks really cheap to me. But yea you can add apps even unrooted via sdb, including smaller server app, though unrooted, SMB server (Samba like) is hard to configure to connect to computer, least so far havent been successful on my phone. Rooted, its piece of cake. Because of its price lot youtube videos on hacking it. That one to add usb drive and have android use it automatically as needed was cool. But sure there are other videos on installing server. You would just side load it with adb and server will run, but it will use a non standard port if you dont root the device.

Just for my education, if you connect a tv streaming box to a smart tv, it will use the tv box automatically? Or do you have to dive deep into menu settings each and every time? Like say I am pretty much back in 2010 far as tv technology goes.

[dancytron]

My mom's wasn't that locked down once I signed her up with a disposable email address, put in the code to activate it and did the normal channel scan. It's a homepage where she can choose live TV, hdmi in 1 or 2, and netflix or a bunch of other stuff they are trying to get her so sign up for. Hard to complain though, it's a full HD 35" TV for $110 including tax.

I was just thinking you could just put that android box on one of the hdmi in ports and just use the TV as an ota TV and the android box for everything else.

edit: This one is even cheaper and has bluetooth too.

onn. FHD Streaming Device

edit again: ^^^ This one is apparently the previous generation.

[mouldy]

Apparently you can root a smart tv: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/q-sm ... t.3022172/

Would think this would be popular, course it becomes popular and they start locking it down tighter.

If you try it, post your results. Yea those smart tvs are cheap. Always a price to pay somewhere for cheap.

[dancytron]

I'm not going to mess with my mom's smart TV now that she is happy with it.

I might buy one the $20 computers to hack on once I finish my present little project.

edit: For reference this is the thread for Lineage. https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/unof ... s.4313743/ Apparently they are rootable with the standard instructions for google reference developer's devices (ie not really locked at all).

Lineage page. https://wiki.oddsolutions.us/devices/dopinder/

[Clarity]

Not to be taken the wrong way, but I saw this from @mouldy

Figured there had to be a catch and their was.

This confuses a little as there seems to be a desire for a TV to be a PC. They are purposely NOT designed to be a PC and go out of their way to insure that they are not. Their is proprietary firmware that requires them to be the way they are designed; namely for the UI they provide working with those "standardized firmware"...similar to RasPis/x86-64/Macs-M1/phones, etc. where these, too, has a quasi standard in use.

This does NOT preclude that adventurous community could exploit these TV processors, albeit, they are extremely low powered and for those of us who have used them over the years, the performance with just minor LAN use can be less than stellar for things like DLNA media on your LAN, smb files use of your LAN, Bluetooth transfers, etc. The processor are so low powered that it begs whether the effort is worth it, IMHO. As such they are designed to not allow RAM increases, storage increases, LAN adapter increases, etc.

Yet, if one is to come up with a solution for these low-powered units, and the firmware required, it could be accomplished as an experiment to determine reason-ability.

In my case, recognizing this fact, I have resigned my use to providing a HDMI-PC (real PC) connections to take advantage of the screen size benefit. This allows great performance for ALL network use as well as to take advantage of a screen for the multiple uses I can muster. In fact, I will have several HDMI connections for 4 different uses in addition to the NORMAL smart-TV service on the single screen.

To me, the advantage has been that the cost of the screen matches what I use to pay for CRTs in the past when those would die. Today, my local Walmart has 2021 65" smart-TVs on clearance sale for $349 (ca). Thus, when I get it home, it will become essential a multi-purpose unit for 5 different meaningful needs without ever making any preemptive OS modification to the TV's smart-TV OS.

Simplest solution for what you ask that I can offer is for you to get one for your home use. Then, to add the kind of functionality you want in a TV, take one of your PCs and put a TV card in it to pick up TV signal for use in your PC and with the HDMI connection to the physical TV, you have a 2nd TV via a PUP with at TV card on a big TV screen. Would that work for your needs?

Couple PCs with HDMI, that I have, were found on trash piles with nVidia cards built-in. It would be all too easy to add a TV card to them and their HDMI connections allows both a TV and PC experience via the PUP you would use.

This is just 1 insight: I am sure there are others.

[dancytron]

The appeal to me isn't making a Smart TV into a PC so much as taking a Smart TV that's really cheap because Amazon or Roku are using it as an advertising platform with a crippled version of Android and making it into a Smart TV with a rooted version of Android that's either vanilla google or even degoogled plain vanilla android with a $20 box.

[Clarity]

Just an idea to address that particular need.

1. Take a free x86-64 motherboard that has a nVidia (because it has HDMI) from discard pile.

2. Merely add as much RAM as you can muster (in some cases scavenging can be fruitful)

3. Use Ventoy/SG2D to boot what ever you want including Androids ISOs or install the ISO choice

4. Download and Subscribe to whatever TV services you choose insuring the services you like do NOT have ads

Would this be a good choice for free or near-free ($20) solution for internet TV use as what we get on a smart-TV?

I thought I saw someone attempt something similar using a FireTV stick long time ago on the web, somewhere.

[mouldy]

Ok, there is bit confusion. I am original poster and was pointing out this onn. tv box. Its not a tv, its a tuner box for streaming video, but its android 10. I found you can root it and install real android and you can also extend the storage capacity. Cause it comes with like 5GB storage and android takes 4GB.

Its dancytron with the smart tv. He isnt looking to make a computer out of the onn. or his smart tv, but to root it and make it do the streaming he wants it to do rather than the advertising built into the smart tv. The smart tvs or some of them are cheap because they are set up to force advertising down your throat. Like the bloatware that comes on new computer with windows. They also do extensive data collection if connected to internet. Yes you can run them unconnected but then they tend to make watching OTA channels unpleasant with buried menu settings.

And I imagine you can use any external pc to do this streaming stuff to the tv, but why if you can root the tv itself and get rid of the nonsense? Has to be android and I assume like lot android devices, not all can be rooted. Not all are android. This onn box is android and can be rooted so assume thats dancytron's interest. Could be great for that, my only concern would be longevity. It doesnt look super rugged or long lasting. Biggest concern is heat. If it gets hot, it wont last. If it runs cool, probably last long time. I dont own one so cant speak to that concern. And a $20 item with a remote?? Dont look for the remote to have great longevity either. Though being android you could remote control it with computer, maybe even a smart phone.

[rockedge]

I would like to try to run a Void Linux variant, maybe a WeeDog-Void (WDL) built specifically to run on a compatible rooted Smart TV. Never tried such a project but does sound interesting. Would be mind blowing if a VoidPup would run on one. Sometimes I don't think Android is the best OS for a Smart TV.

Perhaps a point in time will come to be able to install some OS to run Kodi directly on the TV. Would add the remote control support I think.
Really compact WeeDogLinux Void builds can run on some tight hardware. But it's just a vision and a long way from reality.......

[mouldy]

Do your homework, make sure whatever you buy to experiment with, can be rooted, some android stuff is heavily locked down, some isnt.

Oh here is link to youtube video on adding extra storage to the onn. this post is about.

And rooting it and custom lineageOS for it: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/walm ... v.4313411/

Somebody takes this on as project love to hear how it went. Its interesting, but still think an old 2 core laptop for around same money be better bet for computer. But if you are staying android then this onn has possibilities.

[dancytron]

It would be a good platform for someone who wants to learn about android, rooting, running adb, etc without risking a phone or tablet.

I don't really need another project right now...

[mikeslr]

It would be a good platform for someone who wants to learn about android, rooting, running adb, etc without risking a phone or tablet...

BrokenTV.png (258 KiB) Viewed 3984 times

Well, at least I can call someone to fix it using the smartphone I bought for $50 on ebay.

[Clarity]

@mouldy shares an element that is built-in to all smart-tvs. I have used that additional storage technology with all of my TVs because most of them only have a skeletal amount of storage and adding a USB plug-in overcomes that limitation. I also use the same techniques with my FireTV stick, GoogleTV sticks, and other smartTV knock-off HDMI sticks for internet TV.

Many of the videos indicate to use a FAT filesystem. I have found that on all of my current internal/external smartTV units, I have tested and used NTFS/ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystems USBs, all, on my units. They are capable to read-write to the external storages without complaints or failures.

Hope this is helpful and speed others who would want to add storage to these home units.

[Clarity]

The apparent BEAUTY of this thread is that by purchasing a cheap smartTV unit, adding a USB attached to it and plugging the HDMI Iinto a TV, one has a fully functional AndroidOS PC.

This operational PC is all at a cost of less than $30 (ca) if you use something as cheap as an Onn unit.

On a knock-off that I had couple years ago before the manufacture disappeared, I even attached a keyboard-mouse to the unit to navigate the screen. ... Its a PC running Android.

Enjoy

[mouldy]

The apparent BEAUTY of this thread is that by purchasing a cheap smartTV unit, adding a USB attached to it and plugging the HDMI Iinto a TV, one has a fully functional AndroidOS PC.

This operational PC is all at a cost of less than $30 (ca) if you use something as cheap as an Onn unit.

On a knock-off that I had couple years ago before the manufacture disappeared, I even attached a keyboard-mouse to the unit to navigate the screen. ... Its a PC running Android.

Enjoy

Oh if you want to make to make android into desktop like system, consider Sentio Desktop launcher. There is older version works on android 5 and up and newer one, think android 9 or 10.

[mouldy]

The apparent BEAUTY of this thread is that by purchasing a cheap smartTV unit, adding a USB attached to it and plugging the HDMI Iinto a TV, one has a fully functional AndroidOS PC.

This operational PC is all at a cost of less than $30 (ca) if you use something as cheap as an Onn unit.

On a knock-off that I had couple years ago before the manufacture disappeared, I even attached a keyboard-mouse to the unit to navigate the screen. ... Its a PC running Android.

Enjoy

Since you have experience with tv boxes and sticks, do these run hot, hold up over long haul?

I can tell you from my experience with those old analog to digital converter boxes, many didnt last two years, a few lasted ten year. One I have now is one of original Insignia boxes replacing a string of lesser boxes. The Insignia and their clone Zenith boxes were two of the good ones that both the box and the remote held up. These old converter boxes, the ones that ran hot had short lifespan.

[Clarity]

... do these run hot, hold up over long haul?

Q&A

1. do these run hot? No

2. do these long haul? Yes

The following statements apply ONLY to the externals connnected HDMI Android units

• In fact, I have never had a failure. For example, my FireTV stick is a version 1 so that gives an idea of how long ago I purchased it before V2 & V3 came out?

• The knock-offs are still running although one of them, the manufacturer sold and has never upgraded over the past many years. So, no upgrades for it.

• The Chromecast dongle get updates all the time as well as the frequency of updates that smartTV software is updated.

Those are the ONLY current smartTV technologies I have.

P.S. I have a 58" AndroidTV Hisense TV that I purchased just a couple years ago that has recently died. I am NOT happy that its lifespan was so short and will never buy another from that brand. Others, of course, might be having longer service. Even though it is a TV, I rarely used it as a TV: instead, it was a monitor for 3 PCs, 2 of which were on a HDMI KVM switch. I am not sure if the KVM had any part in the untimely death of Hisense, but, nonetheless, I would NOT have expected a death of it in a mere 30 months of use. I use KVM, across the board, for ALL of my non-AIO desktop PCs. Thus each PC has ONLY 2 major wires: Power cable & HDMI cable group to the KVM. Simple for audio and video signaling, power, and boot USBs. Here's one of my KVM setups to control 4 PCs via a single Keyboard-Video-Mouse.

Hope all of the info in this thread is helpful

[mouldy]

onn. Android TV Box Specs

CPU: Amlogic S905Y2 – 4x ARM Cortex-A53 (up to 1.8 GHz)
RAM Memory: 2 GB
Internal Storage: 8 GB
Ports: microUSB & HDMI
WiFi: 2.4/5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac MIMO Wi-Fi
Bluetooth: 4.0
Operating System: Android 10
Remote Control: Google remote with TV volume/input/power controls
Video Settings: NO image quality settings / RGB, SDR / HDMI-CEC available, see manual / Automatic refresh rate not available.
Audio Settings: HDMI 5.1 / NO USB audio settings.
Color and HDR: 10Bit / RGB / HDR 10+.
Media sharing: GoogleCast YES / Miracast NO / DLNA with BlubblePnP / Airplay NO.

Found bit of info on internals of the onn. gizmo. https://troypoint.com/walmart-onn-andro ... orage_Hack

[Clarity]

Not sure if this is helpful, but one can uninstall much of the apps that it delivers with...all except the core apps.

The would be a very good solution for its price and what it does as "replacement TV brains" when its HDMI port is selected.

Also, I have seen several 'tubes to use an alternate remote as well as how to change couple app keys on the remote.

Enjoy

[mouldy]

[mouldy]

You can root and install lineageOS or you can root the version android that comes with box. Apparently if it updates you lose root with the version it comes with. Wont with lineageOS of course. But comments said if you want to use it for tv purposes, might want to keep the version it comes with.

If I ever get tempted by one of these, I am most curious about installing linux and you need to root it to do that with best effect. There is way to do it on unrooted android, but its pretty limited I think.

[Clarity]

Yeah, for $20 you get a AndroidOS stick with WiFi as well as a HDMI and a USB interface needed for power.

Connected to your TV:

• You'll need a USB powered switch hub so that it the unit gets power and storage

• You'll need a firmware change to allow to use another OS (the lineageOS instruction explain)

• You'll need to further change to add a Linux that runs on ARMs

• You'll need to install Linux programs to make it functional for internet access

• You'll need a backup-restore procedure should something go wrong after you get the stick running

Did I miss anything?

Not sure of the performance as the CPU is really low powered.

[dancytron]

Yeah, for $20 you get a AndroidOS stick with WiFi as well as a HDMI and a USB interface needed for power.

Connected to your TV:

• You'll need a USB powered switch hub so that it the unit gets power and storage

• You'll need a firmware change to allow to use another OS (the lineageOS instruction explain)

• You'll need to further change to add a Linux that runs on ARMs

• You'll need to install Linux programs to make it functional for internet access

• You'll need a backup-restore procedure should something go wrong after you get the stick running

Did I miss anything?

Not sure of the performance as the CPU is really low powered.

Once you get the custom recovery installed it includes a function to back up and restore the whole operating system (although there isn't room) and a lot of other low level management things. I think you'd want to install the custom recovery, do the additional storage install, back up the original OS (maybe after rooting it), and then try more exotic things knowing you have a backed up copy of the original OS to go back to.

I've almost talked myself into getting one...

[mouldy]

Yea not a practical daily driver computer at all, but still be lot fun to make it work. Been reading more about linux on android computer. Termux install might be most practical. Apparently it can work on rooted or unrooted android computer.

Or termux with Raspbian:

[Clarity]

Get 1, jump in, and report back. Could be interesting discovery.

I am still awaiting delivery of a replacement to deliver at the $399 price. If it comes, I may consider taking an old non-supported Android HDMI TV box that is years old for mod'ing. Still trying to wrap my head around what I would use it for as Android comes with everything I need for TV use.

[mouldy]

Went grocery shopping today. Walmart had display of them at end of aisle to catch attention of passerby. I threw one in the cart. Dont have a hub yet so was just playing with it using included remote. Using a hdmi to VGA adapter. My monitor was not happy, big warning in middle of pic to reduce resolution, doing that with that big warning taking up so much room not easy, but finally did it. Then looked around its menus. Not impressive until you realize what a new $20 gizmo the size of a pocket watch was doing. I have powered usb hub on way, the kind that can do data and charging same time. And yea, no sound cause it does that through hdmi and this adapter has no way to share that.

Anybody reading this, this is for experimentation and fun. Suggest if you want an actual daily driver computer, that you get more bang for the buck to buy an old $20 to $30 C2D or equivalent laptop and install your favorite Puppy.

[dancytron]

I just ordered one.

It's going to end up being for my mom, so I'm not going to put linux on it.

I am going to put the custom recovery on it, set up the external hard drive hack, make it so she can play videos I give her to play on the hard drive hooked to her router (hopefully just by installing ES File Manager), and root it (mainly to put a host file on it and out of general principle).

I am hopeful the voice control works for her...

I think the last time I set up ADB and seriously messed with Android I was using Debian Jessie, so it will be a good refresher.

[dancytron]

Went grocery shopping today. Walmart had display of them at end of aisle to catch attention of passerby. I threw one in the cart. Dont have a hub yet so was just playing with it using included remote. Using a hdmi to VGA adapter. My monitor was not happy, big warning in middle of pic to reduce resolution, doing that with that big warning taking up so much room not easy, but finally did it. Then looked around its menus. Not impressive until you realize what a new $20 gizmo the size of a pocket watch was doing. I have powered usb hub on way, the kind that can do data and charging same time. And yea, no sound cause it does that through hdmi and this adapter has no way to share that.

Anybody reading this, this is for experimentation and fun. Suggest if you want an actual daily driver computer, that you get more bang for the buck to buy an old $20 to $30 C2D or equivalent laptop and install your favorite Puppy.

It should work with a bluetooth speaker and/or headphones???

Or maybe usb headphones. I should be able to test all of those to see if they "just work".