OVERVIEW: MiiPC - Android-computer and a media player for only $ 99
Devices / / December 19, 2019
This story began at the end of last year, when leafing through the new projects on a Kickstarter, I came across a very intriguing project. Developers from the United States promised release monoblock size of a small boxWho is able to become a full-fledged home computer at a completely ridiculous price for those who finance their fundraising campaign. The idea struck me as amusing, and I decided to participate. The project was successfully completed financing in May 2013, and promised to send candy bars in August. True, the timing of development and production team shifted twice. As a result, at the end of October, sending crossed the US border, and came to me in the Ukraine in November. What is the computer for 99 dollars, and why you should buy the same?
Unpacking
Came all the usual Ukrpost (it's like Russian Post, only in Ukraine, so the shipment of goods in this manner usually causes shock and awe; but no, nothing happened: the packaging was intact, no tampering or attempts to obtain a gadget from the sealed and glued box was not). The declared cost, by the way, $ 50 (probably to save on duty :)). However, for delivery outside the United States had to pay $ 15 to the principal amount, but these costs are justified themselves (further explain why).
Sending from the United States came in 4 days from date of shipment in the warehouse in Chicago, I think it is very fast. In a cardboard brown box in a dense dark gray material similar to foam rubber, he showed himself monoblock power cord with US plug, power supply, instruction manual, a few stickers - and more nothing.
What's inside
The body of the mini-computer is made of plastic: can be ordered in several colors, but I chose black as the most universal. All ports are taken out on the rear panel: 1 x HDMI, 3 x USB, 1 port for a microphone and headphones. The front has a slot for SD memory cards of different types. power button touch. Inside, there is a built-in Bluetooth and WiFi-module. When first switched on lights still green lights housing (which if desired can disable the settings).
The main thing about MiiPC
First - a small demo video:
The main feature of the device - the ability of parents to set up access and security for children, as well as control which websites, services, games and applications your child starts while you are not home. Fixed 4GB of memory, 1GHz 2-hyaderny processor and Android as the operating system that supports login to several different users. From the outset, this indie gadget I bought not as a replacement for the PC, but as a great modern media player for a record low price. So the whole story and my subsequent field tests it was built around that of its functionality: play streaming video / audio broadcasting, online radio, as well as video and audio files in a variety of formats.
How it works
After the first start program shell offers us to include parental controls, configure any accounts, and other nonsense. All this I ignore (and I recommend you) - and launch the classic Android 4.2. Everything here is like a conventional phone or tablet with the "green robot" inside.
To work with media files and various streaming services, we need applications. Set can be made of a special self-store (Google Play is not here, although the customer for music from Google is available for installation). here to create an account is not necessary. I chose a pair of free players and aggregators to online radio stations. But you can even install a full-fledged office suite, different text editors and code - use this candy bar, if desired, as a budget desktop.
Now even look at the settings: it is also something that should be correct. In particular, put the system in the Russian language, turn on Bluetooth and connect through all the necessary devices (keyboard and mouse), and find a wireless home network. Here, everything is ready, you can begin field testing.
Test the media player
I must say: no mouse control with our player will not work. Radio mouse and Logitech bluetooth-keyboard from the same manufacturer (but for aypadov and not for PC) were determined immediately and automatically without any dance with a tambourine. The keyboard was not really needed, so then I used only mouse. Started with streaming radio: TuneIn Radio station plays all without hesitation, nothing takes off and does not hang. As radio gadget works "with a bang". But attempts to connect Pandora and Spotify were unsuccessful: I was reminded what country I am and what I do not I can listen to here, and Spotify and even "flipped" the TV on its side so that these options had refuse. Next - streaming video. It can be used as a YouTube-client, and the Chrome browser. Video broadcast YouTube, channels and videos from Vimeo - it works (if you install Adobe Flash, it is available in the application and program directory). There were several applications that supposedly Stream TV picture various European and Russian TV channels, but they doing so crooked and broadcast in such a poor quality that the use of these craft folk artists I He refused.
Files in HD and FullHD-as played without problems. For playback, you can use either its own player device (but it may not have enough codecs, so it's best to use one of the available players from the store Android-apps). Even connect an external hard drive to 1TB defined and failures did not cause (though the outside its own power supply). We have MiiPC need to customize your own media server (although it apart and disconnected it may vent settings, so that next time will have to start all over again), but the files can be viewed and selected and in the shell-like conductor in Windows.
To summarize
$ 99 + shipping, MiiPC - a good solution for those who want to buy an inexpensive modern media center and connecting it to an external hard drive, the USB-drives and memory cards. The only drawback, in my opinion - is routed to the rear face of all ports and 1 HDMI connector. But, as a universal budget solution to play music, video and listen to radio / watching videos, podcasts, MiiPC suitable for everybody.
MiiPC