• Manufacturer Mediabox
  • Release Date 2017
  • Where we got our copy Apex Interactive
  • Where to buy Mediabox
  • TheStrangerHAZ
  • Published April 6, 2017

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Prelude

Greetings Geek Node readers! Before I start this review, I would just like to explain the new format that’s going to exist for smaller pieces of tech/hardware that don’t quite fall into the same category as the others.

I’m calling this format the “mini-review” and the items contained within will all be a different type of device that follows some of this criteria:

  • Doesn’t have competition in the market.
  • Fills a particular niche.
  • Is a low-priced item that aims for a particular place in the market.

Mini-reviews will as such follow their own structure:

  • No scores will be given.
  • They will be no more than 500 words long.

As such allow me to introduce my first Mini-review, the Media box!

Introduction

The Media box is a set top box that runs Android and allows whatever TV it is connected to, to do the following:

  • Stream Internet-based content to the TV such as Youtube, Showmax and even DSTV.
  • Allows internet browsing and all manner of Android apps to be installed and used on the TV.

If this sounds confusing, just imagine being able to turn any TV (that has a USB port) into a Smart TV, this is basically what the Mediabox does.

Contained within the package is an HDMI cable, power cable for the device and a remote (that has motion capability, more on that in a second).

The box itself is black, small, square and made from a light-weight plastic and contains I/O ports for: Ethernet, HDMI, and optical and a 3.5mm aux jack; along with 2 USB ports and a microSD for data.

The Performance

Upon switching the box on, I was greeted by a very familiar Android interface that contained different tiles for each type of viewing (DSTV, Youtube etc). The menu was structured in a way in which you could easily navigate using just the remote’s arrow keys. After I found the little mouse button on the remote was when I realised that it also had a motion control feature much like older Smart TV’s did with their’s. Navigating with the motion control was about as easy as using ever other motion controller of this type (sometimes fustrating, sometimes very easy). Using the motion control allowed me to access a different homescreen which contained the normal looking Android interface and allowed me to do about the same as what you’d expect to on an Android device.

This is when I discovered that the Mediabox did in fact have WiFi capabilities (a fact that is never mentioned in the manual) making internet connection substantially easier. After connecting to the internet, I set to watch a couple Youtube shows which worked pretty well. I wasn’t able to find the quality settings but this may just be a limitation of the Youtube Android app.

Next I turned to DSTV Now. This was a rather simple process until I reached the point where I needed to scroll down. A couple reminders of why I hated motion control later and I had found the shows I was looking for which played at a high quality without noticeable problems.

So how was the general performance? Pretty solid apart from a tiny bit of lag here which is understandable coming from such a small device and it honestly didn’t really bother me; those of you who get quickly frustrated by these matters may have a different feeling however. Web browsing was also fine to do apart from using Google Chrome which quickly started showing more lag spikes (as we know Chrome to do with its RAM heavy usage), this problem was quickly alleviated by using other browsers.

The Conclusion

This all sounds pretty good right? A small Android box that contains just as much (if not more) functionality than a Smart TV; one that I wholeheartedly approve of in fact…well I would anyway apart from one small problem.

The price. Currently the Mediabox retails for R1999, a fact which makes me incredibly reluctant to recommend it. In my opinion , this should’ve cost no more than 1000 bucks at the very most and I fear this has also cut out the largest part of the potential market.

Prelude Greetings Geek Node readers! Before I start this review, I would just like to explain the new format that's going to exist for smaller pieces of tech/hardware that don't quite fall into the same category as the others. I'm calling this format the "mini-review" and the items contained within will all be a different type of device that follows some of this criteria: Doesn't have competition in the market. Fills a particular niche. Is a low-priced item that aims for a particular place in the market. Mini-reviews will as such follow their own structure: No scores will be given. They will be no more than 500 words long. As such allow me to introduce my first Mini-review, the Media box! Introduction The Media box is a set top box that runs Android and allows whatever TV it is connected to, to do the following: Stream Internet-based content to the TV such as Youtube, Showmax and even DSTV. Allows internet browsing and all manner of Android apps to be installed and used on the TV. If this sounds confusing, just imagine being able to turn any TV (that has a USB port) into a Smart TV, this is basically what the Mediabox does. Contained within the package is an HDMI cable, power cable for the device and a remote (that has motion capability, more on that in a second). The box itself is black, small, square and made from a light-weight plastic and contains I/O ports for: Ethernet, HDMI, and optical and a 3.5mm aux jack; along with 2 USB ports and a microSD for data. The Performance Upon switching the box on, I was greeted by a very familiar Android interface that contained different tiles for each type of viewing (DSTV, Youtube etc). The menu was structured in a way in which you could easily navigate using just the remote's arrow keys. After I found the little mouse button on the remote was when I realised that it also had a motion control feature much like older Smart TV's did with their's. Navigating with the motion control was about as easy as using ever other motion controller of this type (sometimes fustrating, sometimes very easy). Using the motion control allowed me to access a different homescreen which contained the normal looking Android interface and allowed me to do about the same as what you'd expect to on an Android device. This is when I discovered that the Mediabox did in fact have WiFi capabilities (a fact that is never mentioned in the manual) making internet connection substantially easier. After connecting to the internet, I set to watch a couple Youtube shows which worked pretty well. I wasn't able to find the quality settings but this may just be a limitation of the Youtube Android app. Next I turned to DSTV Now. This was a rather simple process until I reached the point where I needed to scroll down. A couple reminders of why I hated motion control later and…

Tech Review: The Media Box Mini-Review!

Tech Review: The Media Box Mini-Review!

2017-04-06

TheStrangerHAZ

Mediabox

0

Not Worth It

In my opinion, this should've cost no more than 1000 bucks at the very most and I fear this has also cut out the largest part of the potential market

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TheStrangerHAZ

Tech Editor / Gaming Author at Geek Node

Gamer, programmer and pc masterrace-er, my heart has pumped all things digital for longer than I can remember. I firmly believe that if you want to see the best of human ingenuity and passion, you need not look further than your local group of gamers.

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Article Tags: Dad why are you waving the remote around? · featured · Mediabox · Mini-review · Set top box · Smart Tv

Article Categories: Tech Review