Jeffrey346

I would ignore it.  If you feel you must change your password, go to account and do it there do not use the supplied link.

I seem to recall a thread here at TV that stated that most cosmetics are confiscated and never make it through customs. Seems to have something to do with ingredients that may not be imported into the country. A farce as far as I'm concerned.

As for your tracking. Thai Post Tracking will take the USPS tracking number. If your package entered Thailand, it should be listed.  Good luck.

You should take it to Apple for repair.  Didn't Apple open a company store in BKK?  If so, I would take it there.

15 minutes ago, sikishrory said:

yes your right it is down to what the person wants. I have a ps4 also and i know that offers options for streaming australian tv via its own apps. I am not able to get these though as I have the thai store. I could if i really wanted but not worth it now as i have it all already.

ps4 also acts as a media server and i can cast movies and stuff to the tv through the ps4 but for some reason not from my aussie tv apps.

I'm not familiar with the PS4, but understand it does a good job streaming.

My Nvidia Shield is like a mini PS4. It came with a controller so the kids can play games. It even has Chromecast built in. I can cast from just about any device to the Shield. It comes in handy when my wife wants to show me something on her phone. I just tell her to put it up on the big screen...

45 minutes ago, sikishrory said:

I was thinking of ways to watch aussie tv in thailand and had seen these android tv boxes for sale on facebook.

I use the example of australia but the same probably applies to usa or other countries.

I found out android tv is just the android operating system to operate these boxes and it can (apparently) be installed on a laptop.

Then I looked into it and realised all the apps I need to watch aussie tv (7plus, 9now, tenplay etc) on an android box are all in the play store and downloadable to phone without android tv software or the box itself.

The next issue is that these apps require you to be using the australian version of google play store to even be downloadable. You can change your play store region only once per year. So you can't just switch as you please unfortunately. The way around this is to download the apps .apk file from a website. I used apkpure with no issues.

Second issue is that once you have the apps they don't work unless you are in Australia. Using a VPN that shows you as being in australia is the obvious soultion for that. Most free vpn keep australia as part of there premium paid service (usually 150-250b a month) or have a 1 or 2gb limit before you need to do something. Theres a lot of options for this depending on what you want. Some are free.

Anyway now I can watch aussie tv live or catch up tv with no issue and if I had a smart tv could probably cast it to the tv.

So I don't really see the point of these boxes as you can do the same things without the box.

If you want movies or other series then popcorn time is free and has most things which makes netflix and similar services redundant.

The beauty of these boxes [the good ones] they are designed for streaming and can stream just about any kind of file both audio and video.

In addition, you are not tying up your notebook. I can stream on a 55" screen and do as I please with my notebook. Not to mention the ability to run the audio through a TV connected sound system if one has one.

I have my Smart TV connected to the net via ethernet and still get buffering. My TV Box has 3G of RAM and rarely buffers. 

It just depends on what your needs are. Some rather have a TV Box and others are fine streaming from a notebook or smartphone. 

19 minutes ago, vogie said:

The one one I looked at was 8500baht, but that is neither here or there.

As has been mentioned on here you have no guarantee of receiving your item if customs intercepts it, I would imagine that Lazada is much faster delivery service, sometimes 2 or 3 days. But that is only my opinion, of course other people will have a different outlook on this.

You must have looked at the one without the controller. That one on Amazon is still $100. less.

You're correct about Lazada being faster on delivery, but I can wait an extra 2 days to save a $100.

5 minutes ago, vogie said:

Why would someone put themselves through the uncertainty of buying off ebay and the box having to go through customs, when you can buy off Lazada and are guaranteed delivery? There is one listed on Lazada for 8,500baht, how does that price compare with ebay?

eBay and Amazon Global Shipping guarantees delivery or you get a full refund. So, there is no downside. My Nvidia Shield was delivered with no customs issues.

I paid Amazon the equivalent of B7600 including delivery. Lazada has the Shield listed over B10,000. It was an easy decision for me.

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

On this issue, it's kind of both, from what I understand. My understanding is that DHL (and possibly FedEx) in Thailand have their own customs clearing houses where they have staff who work on behalf of Customs. Not sure exactly the precise relationship involved. But my understanding is DHL is hardly just an innocent bystander when screwing their customers over customs duty issues.

 

DHL sent me an email stating if I do get the import license, their fee to clear it through customs is B1500. So we all really know what's going on.

8 minutes ago, tomas557 said:

If there is a device that would require licensing in Thailand it will be the Shield, because it runs Android TV, which is an operating system fine tuned for the purpose of streaming.

 

Hope you get it sorted, but at the end of the day it isn't DHL that makes the decision, but Thai customs.

As stated above DHL does it's own customs clearance. 

3 minutes ago, tomas557 said:

But the app isn't free, isn't it?

 

I think it's something like 30$ to use on 1 TV.

Correct the App is not free and you need to upload content. My Shield box is easier to use. Keep in mind you must pay for a box so I can see the why some rather pay $30. rather than $175. for the Shield..

Go to Google and search idiot and see what comes up....

8 minutes ago, Headgame said:

No that is inaccurate.
I too have an LG Smart TV.
Go to the LG Content store and download the free Smart IPTV app.

Then you must sign up online for a third party IPTV service. There are many choices.

Once you get your link from the IPTV provider, just load the link into the Smart IPTV app and you're done.

 

You certainly do not need an Android box, Fire Stick, Apple TV or whatever. 
Your LG Smart TV makes that hardware unnecessary.

I will certainly check that out. Thanks for the heads up.. 

I posted this in the Nvidia Shield thread.. Thought you guys may be interested.

16 hours ago, Jeffrey346 said:

I just posted my Amazon Shield experience above. Now my eBay story.

 

I ordered a SkyStream Two on eBay. This is a high end box like the Shield. I had it shipped via the eBay Global Shipping Program.

This morning I received a call from DHL telling me I need an import license or the box will be sent back to eBay.

I told them I received the Shield that was shipped UPS with no issues.. They couldn't care less.

I called eBay, explained what is going on. They said wait till the last arrival date which is July 26. If DHL has not delivered the package, call eBay and they will issue a full refund.

Let's see what happens...

Got an email from eBay this morning. They stated that they reviewed Thailand rules and the streaming box I ordered does not require a import license. 

They did not elaborate, but my guess is if Kodi or similar software is not installed the box does not need the import license.

They said a message was sent to the DHL Hub here in Thailand advising them that no license is required and to deliver the package. 

It's going to be interesting to see who wins.. eBay or DHL. I'll keep you informed.  

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

So I'm reading the description. Appears to be a fork of the Kodi player, but with a lean-back interface and remote control controller. But says it comes with no add-ons preconfigured.

 

So, AFAICT, it's still up to me (the end user) to figure out what respositories to use and what add-ons to use, and then be subject to them coming and going, dying, being replaced, etc etc...

 

Not sure how I see that being any different a situation from just facing the same headaches if I were running the regular Kodi player instead.

 

No No.. they say no addons to stay legal in the Play Store. After you install the App it will display a list od their builds. I suggest the first choice which is one alliance lite. Once downloaded it will self install. The 1A team keeps the build updated and you do not have to mess with Kodi or do any manual updates..

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Correct. It's just some (many) of the optional add-ons that are copyright infringing / illegal.  Which happen to probably be what people use Kodi for most.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not attacking Kodi... Just saying, out in the real world, that's what people do.

 

It's what most people who buy these boxes do. Tho I do pay for Netflix and a few others.

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

It's not the Kodi build itself, or its use as a basic NAS player.

 

But rather, the issues with the constantly (especially lately) changing, pulled, killed add-ons and repositories -- which in my case ended up making running Kodi with all the add-ons unbearably time-consuming and headache-inducing.

 

Try the APK, They constantly are updating the add-ons. All you need to do is watch whatever content that interests you.

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

This is what the MiBox has:

 

https://www.mi.com/en/mibox/

 

Plus the ability to add storage by incorporating external storage as internal.

 

I know it worked fine with Kodi in the past up thru 17... But I've pretty much given up on Kodi lately, so can't speak to the future.

 

Don't give up. Download this APK from the Play Store. IMO, this is an awesome Kodi build.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.onealliance.www

This is their help/FAQ app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.arcye.onealliance

If you have any questions, let me know..

18 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

18 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 I prefer my MiBox as my No. 1 choice, as I am modestly techie! 

The new MI box seems to be running an old processor and older memory with 2G RAM and 8G Mem. Doesn't seem like enough based on the Kodi changes coming down the pike.

I'm not knocking your MI Box, in fact I have a MI phone running Pure Android and it's the best phone I have had to date.

 

7 minutes ago, tomas557 said:

They are not under specced because they run Linux, and for streaming that is enough.

 

This are not Android boxes, and you can't install Kodi on them. They are used solely for IPTV streaming.

So how do you get the content loaded on the box?

5 minutes ago, tomas557 said:

MAG boxes are streaming devices. Magicsee is a piece of crap

 

https://www.infomir.eu/eng/products/iptv-stb/mag-257/

Thanks for the link.  They seem under speced. 1G RAM 512 mb memory

21 minutes ago, poosmate said:

I believe the licence requirement was for iptv streaming devices. Android boxes that are not preloaded with kodi etc are not really different to a telephone. Android boxes are not required to be licenced but iptv boxes like MAG boxes are. I would love to be able to buy locally a Mag box. Lazada used to sell them and I bought 5. They are no longer listed. Easily available from Ebay etc but worry getting in past customs.

Before the suggestions of MAG emulators on an Andriod I know and they are not anywhere as good as the box.

When you say MAG, are you referring to Magicsee ?

4 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

And I presume, no problem receiving the item successfully via UPS, despite all the NBTC garbage...

No issue.. UPS shipped it to BKK and handed off to Kerry. It was at my door here in Khon Kaen a total of 5 days later.  I'm talking 5 days from the day Amazon shipped it..

8 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

When I was TV shopping a year or so back, I remember the Thai salesmen claiming to me, and having product brochures, claiming that a couple of brands had generic Android TV OSes. But I can't remember the names right now, maybe Toshiba, maybe Sharp, not sure.

 

Part of the problem was the TVs at the stores are never connected and live to the internet, so you can never really get a good feel of how their online elements work on the store shelf. But I'm assuming EN reviews and such would provide a better insight into that.

 

If someone here actually has a better feel for that from actually having used one of those particular Smart TV brands that are generic Android TV and app store capable, please do chime in and let everyone know.

 

Personally for now, I've decided to keep the "smart" out of my TVs and rely on comparatively low-cost hardware accessories to provide their smarts.

 

 

Sony Smart TVs run Android TV

Plus I question the quality of the TCL TVs.