Jeffrey346

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.

3 minutes ago, superal said:

Your are correct regarding Lazada but when I made my comment there was not a local area option to buy on my screen but there is now so I surrender on that point ? . So Advice who did sell the boxes no longer sell them as per government instruction and that applied to all retail shop outlets , or so I was told . It does not seem to be the case on line . Interested to see if anyone else can source them from a shop . Does not make sense if the only obstacle is a 10 baht tax issue .  My local Advice were the local android suppliers and installers .  

I think there is a local shop called Peak that sells most brands.

I just looked at the box that I got my Nvidia Shield in. There are multiple UPS barcodes but no customs docs. Strange..

3 minutes ago, jenny2017 said:

I have just been to an " Advice Shop " and asked them if they had any android boxes . The reply was  " no , they are now illegal to sell in Thailand as instructed by the department of Thai Education , however it is permitted to have and buy a "Smart TV "     Has anyone had the same experience ?

 

   I have my doubts if the girl knows the difference between the Ministry of education and the Ministry of science and technology? 

 

  Aren't sex toys also illegal but openly sold near Nana? 

According to Customs, they are not illegal, just need to be licensed.

2 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

One problem with Amazon Global shipping and Amazon is general is they don't give you any option to choose the particular shipping courier for a particular package--only the generic delivery speed. They decide the shipper, and you don't even know until after the item has shipped, AFAIK.  Might be DHL, might be FedEx, might be UPS... etc etc.  But I don't think they use USPS at all for international shipments.

 

You are probably right. Since my eBay order will go back, I will most likely order from Amazon. I'll call customer service first and ask if I can select the carrier.

2 minutes ago, Headgame said:

Good reason to upgrade to a Smart TV, then download the Smart IPTV app, sign up for a IPTV service online and away you go.

Thousands of channels, major sports, music, VOD, etc. Most channels are HD.

I have an LG Smart TV and it only allows me to download from the LG Store. So you will have to find an Android TV that allows you to download from anywhere.