Simple questions on starting to use Android box to replace CTH

[TheCruncher]

That's interesting. I was really wanting to see if internet TV could replace my satellite TV at equivalent quality, and so being free wasn't necessarily the priority, (although it would be nice of course.)

I wanted to try to avoid being dependent on a really bad company like CTH, but also admittedly not have to pay the massively expensive fees for TRUE.

On GMMZ I had about 10 US based super HD channels and this is what I watched 90% of the time. I don't mind watching an occasional program on SD, but they just look so bad on a large screen , especially after watching 1080, that it really gets on my nerves now.

Reading more it does seem unlikely that I will be able to do this with TV on the Android box with KODI builds. For example the IPTV forum lists all current channels, about 830 in Jan 2016, but only 20 or so ( very obscure ones) are 720p, all the channels I would want - Nat Geos, Fox HD, Warner, Discovery and so on - are listed as being SD or lower than SD streams.

But I'll keep looking...

I assume you are American and prefer to view US channels. Take a look at http://www.streamlive.to/

Not free bu lots of HD channels and good quality streams

Thanks for the link-this may be a possibility! EDIT: bit concerned that if it's streaming from overseas or US based the international bottleneck will slow down too much for HD to be possible, though. I can get 12Mbps within Thailand , but once you try the US it's at least 5 times slower.

Actually, as I said in earlier post, I am British, but not that interested in watching live UK TV because the time difference makes it too awkward to watch, am not a sport fan at all, and I can get anything I really want with torrents a day or so after broadcast, and that's fine.

A lot of good series, perhaps most nowadays, originate from the US, and having had those GMM-Z US based channels for years now I got used to having them available when idly surfing, i.e. not decided what to watch, but flicking through until something interesting comes up. This is just a different experience from knowing what you want to see in advance, and just getting it, which is pretty easy nowadays.

In truth while surfing I would most of the time stop at Nat Geo Wild, which also seemed to be by far the best definition of any of the GMMZ channels -and just watch that in a daze for hours, marvelling at the quality of the actual picture...

I have realised of course from looking into this Android-Kodi stuff that live channels are the last thing it is for, and it's not really at the point where HD is possible for live streams.

What it is great for is video on demand-here of course all the files are pre-stored on the servers- so you go to look for movie X, or season 5 episode 8 of Game of Thrones, and of course you can get it in HD, because you are basically watching it from a file on a server.

This is a very different requirement and technical process from watching a live stream in HD, as it is actually happening, and which I think android boxes and internet TV can in reality not really do yet.

All right-this is obvious to people who have been doing this for years, but wasn't to me as I am completely new!

There is no problem streaming HD and Full HD streams for live tv on Kodi. The problem is the free streams, where everyone connects to and other addons leach from, so the servers become overloaded and the streams unwatchable.

With paid services this should be different since they are able to better balance their server load.

[partington]

That's interesting. I was really wanting to see if internet TV could replace my satellite TV at equivalent quality, and so being free wasn't necessarily the priority, (although it would be nice of course.)

I wanted to try to avoid being dependent on a really bad company like CTH, but also admittedly not have to pay the massively expensive fees for TRUE.

On GMMZ I had about 10 US based super HD channels and this is what I watched 90% of the time. I don't mind watching an occasional program on SD, but they just look so bad on a large screen , especially after watching 1080, that it really gets on my nerves now.

Reading more it does seem unlikely that I will be able to do this with TV on the Android box with KODI builds. For example the IPTV forum lists all current channels, about 830 in Jan 2016, but only 20 or so ( very obscure ones) are 720p, all the channels I would want - Nat Geos, Fox HD, Warner, Discovery and so on - are listed as being SD or lower than SD streams.

But I'll keep looking...

I assume you are American and prefer to view US channels. Take a look at http://www.streamlive.to/

Not free bu lots of HD channels and good quality streams

Thanks for the link-this may be a possibility! EDIT: bit concerned that if it's streaming from overseas or US based the international bottleneck will slow down too much for HD to be possible, though. I can get 12Mbps within Thailand , but once you try the US it's at least 5 times slower.

Actually, as I said in earlier post, I am British, but not that interested in watching live UK TV because the time difference makes it too awkward to watch, am not a sport fan at all, and I can get anything I really want with torrents a day or so after broadcast, and that's fine.

A lot of good series, perhaps most nowadays, originate from the US, and having had those GMM-Z US based channels for years now I got used to having them available when idly surfing, i.e. not decided what to watch, but flicking through until something interesting comes up. This is just a different experience from knowing what you want to see in advance, and just getting it, which is pretty easy nowadays.

In truth while surfing I would most of the time stop at Nat Geo Wild, which also seemed to be by far the best definition of any of the GMMZ channels -and just watch that in a daze for hours, marvelling at the quality of the actual picture...

I have realised of course from looking into this Android-Kodi stuff that live channels are the last thing it is for, and it's not really at the point where HD is possible for live streams.

What it is great for is video on demand-here of course all the files are pre-stored on the servers- so you go to look for movie X, or season 5 episode 8 of Game of Thrones, and of course you can get it in HD, because you are basically watching it from a file on a server.

This is a very different requirement and technical process from watching a live stream in HD, as it is actually happening, and which I think android boxes and internet TV can in reality not really do yet.

All right-this is obvious to people who have been doing this for years, but wasn't to me as I am completely new!

There is no problem streaming HD and Full HD streams for live tv on Kodi. The problem is the free streams, where everyone connects to and other addons leach from, so the servers become overloaded and the streams unwatchable.

With paid services this should be different since they are able to better balance their server load.

You say "should" as if you don't actually have direct experience of watching these.

Don't mean to nitpick, but it is always the case that when you read about sites and services they overstate their capabilities, and when you try them they just don't match up.

Can I ask what reliable live 720p and above channels you yourself are getting by internet TV inside Thailand, and where you get them?

Just to add: I have been reading IPTV forums and their private server cost $105 per year annual subscription gets this kind of comment (dec 2015):

"It isn't going to look as sharp or crisp as an iks HD receiver no matter what you do. HD satellite feeds are 720p or 1080i resolution which looks real nice, IPTV is no where near HD quality and is probably over compressed. I have an AVOV box and it looks blurry (not sharp, crisp) for me too. Basically with IPTV you must accept that you're only going to get SD picture quality. I actually think that even the SD picture quality is more crisp, sharp on an iks box."

[joncl]

1920x1080 HD and the lesser 720 HD streams are common place here in Thailand these days .. as these two examples show and there for many many more.

[partington]

1920x1080 HD and the lesser 720 HD streams are common place here in Thailand these days .. as these two examples show and there for many many more.

Well that's very good to know - thanks.

That's why I'm asking these questions, it is so I can find and use these streams. Could you go so far as to say where you are getting these from, or if you want to keep it a secret, whether they are subscription, i.e. paid for, or not.

I have just got my android box so I will sign up for a month of ilikeHD and report back here after a few days with what I experience...

[joncl]

They are free streams via Live TV PVR on Kodi version 16 off a M8 set top box so no subscription required but it all depends on what you using your android box for and indeed what your android box will or will not do, as not all devices are the same or even similar. If your box will do ilikehd which you will let us know about that, you say in due course, Then it may do this if it (your android device) streams 1080i seamlessly.

[johng]

I've been looking at a few of the sites mentioned by various people e.g. filmONTV, just on a web browser on my Mac, and so far it seems a bit disappointing as regards quality. There are many streaming sites on web browsers, but they look fuzzy and dingy, and not crystal clear and sharp as you get on 720p or 1180p satellite channels.

This is really for me an essential part of trying to replace a satellite TV box with Android, so I got a bit disheartened. It also seems like many of these sites have about 6 tabs to view whatever you have chosen and most of these tabs lead to broken links, low quality streams that wouldn't be watchable on a 40in TV, or pop up ads.

This is only idle web searching though, and not directly related to Android or Kodi, but I'm hoping the experience will be different to this when I finally get my box. I like seeing the individual blades of grass as a lion leaps on top of an impala on Nat Geo Wild...

Filmon has hi, low, sd and hd streams I don't know what the bit rates and resolutions of the various streams are

but I find the low stream to be "watchable" on my 50 inch plasma tv.

Even on "low" there is occasional buffering using TOT 13Mbps ADSL

cant see how anyone could expect to get reliable HD or 4K !!! IPTV with 5.1 or better sound from a server half the world away.

Not to mention the upcoming single internet gateway ( bottleneck )

[partington]

I've been looking at a few of the sites mentioned by various people e.g. filmONTV, just on a web browser on my Mac, and so far it seems a bit disappointing as regards quality. There are many streaming sites on web browsers, but they look fuzzy and dingy, and not crystal clear and sharp as you get on 720p or 1180p satellite channels.

This is really for me an essential part of trying to replace a satellite TV box with Android, so I got a bit disheartened. It also seems like many of these sites have about 6 tabs to view whatever you have chosen and most of these tabs lead to broken links, low quality streams that wouldn't be watchable on a 40in TV, or pop up ads.

This is only idle web searching though, and not directly related to Android or Kodi, but I'm hoping the experience will be different to this when I finally get my box. I like seeing the individual blades of grass as a lion leaps on top of an impala on Nat Geo Wild...

Filmon has hi, low, sd and hd streams I don't know what the bit rates and resolutions of the various streams are

but I find the low stream to be "watchable" on my 50 inch plasma tv.

Even on "low" there is occasional buffering using TOT 13Mbps ADSL

cant see how anyone could expect to get reliable HD or 4K !!! IPTV with 5.1 or better sound from a server half the world away.

Not to mention the upcoming single internet gateway ( bottleneck )

This is what I wonder too, but several people have claimed you can (nobody except you has mentioned 4k though!) , so there we are... As I said I am starting to find out now and I will come back with exact details of what I can get and where from, so that others can use my experience as a reference.

[johng]

IMHO. In post # 20 mentioned Netflix having 4K

[partington]

Just briefly I have signed up for a month of ilikeHD, and am watching Nat Geo Wild HD on it now. It's not bad, and it's certainly watchable, but the picture quality is well below the old GMM-Z satellite.

I only just got the box today and started watching a few minutes ago so can't give any actual information on what resolution I'm watching at, because I don't know how to get these readouts yet.

To guess I would say it's below 720p, but better certainly than SD, whereas the crystal sharp satellite box version of this channel was noticeably brilliantly high definition, probably 1080p. Some of the other channels on IlikeHD, for example "Fox HD", though called HD are definitely not, just SD. One of the movie channels called Cinemax HD is noticeably fuzzy and probably not even full SD.

Not a systematic analysis, I'll put that up after a few weeks when I know what I'm doing but I would say ilikeHD is definitely watchable, but when you have TVs capable of 1080p, it's a step back rather than forward in terms of picture quality, though you get more useful , i.e. english language, channels, for roughly the same price as the GMMZ Platinum package (about 5000 baht for a year for GMMZ Platinum, 450B for 30 days for ilikeHD).

[IMHO]

Netflix 4K with 5.1 works perfect on my TOT 30mbps connect, just so long as no-one else in the house is trying to stream Youtube or IPTV at the same time

Netflix 1080P with 5.1 blows away any and all "full HD" IPTV streaming or PayTV I've seen, and I can run 3 TV's simultaneously at that resolution without buffering.

If only IPTV and Truevisions was as good....

Note that I have been informed I am a resolution "snob" though YMMV

[IMHO]

Just briefly I have signed up for a month of ilikeHD, and am watching Nat Geo Wild HD on it now. It's not bad, and it's certainly watchable, but the picture quality is well below the old GMM-Z satellite.

I only just got the box today and started watching a few minutes ago so can't give any actual information on what resolution I'm watching at, because I don't know how to get these readouts yet.

To guess I would say it's below 720p, but better certainly than SD, whereas the crystal sharp satellite box version of this channel was noticeably brilliantly high definition, probably 1080p. Some of the other channels on IlikeHD, for example "Fox HD", though called HD are definitely not, just SD. One of the movie channels called Cinemax HD is noticeably fuzzy and probably not even full SD.

Not a systematic analysis, I'll put that up after a few weeks when I know what I'm doing but I would say ilikeHD is definitely watchable, but when you have TVs capable of 1080p, it's a step back rather than forward in terms of picture quality, though you get more useful , i.e. english language, channels, for roughly the same price as the GMMZ Platinum package (about 5000 baht for a year for GMMZ Platinum, 450B for 30 days for ilikeHD).

If you're using their app on an Android box, just hit the "enter" button on your remote and you'll get a screen overlay informing the resolution.

In any case:

Nat Geo Wild HD (English) is 720p

Nat Geo Wild HD is 1080p, but has Thai audio

Nat Geo Wild IT and FR is 720p

Nat Geo Wild UK and DE is 480p

[tomwct]

I used to have hair.

Then I cut True and got Kodi.

Now, I have no hair....but I'm reading a lot more books.

Seriously, steep learning curve.

My hair is a little grayer since I had True. Then cancelled True. Then picked up CTH. Then Cancelled CTH. Then picked up GMMZ.

Then GMMZ cancelled us! Now, supposeably CTH wants GMMZ customers, but I don't believe anything they tell us! Everyone needs

to file a complaint with the NBTC before 19 Feb, so they have to testify under oath, so we can find out what the TRUTH is!

On a second thought, what about using a Malaysian Satellite Service, or any ASEAN Countries Satellite Service, other than Thailand.

With cross the border access with ASEAN, we should not have any problems! What do you think?

[JaseTheBass]

That's interesting. I was really wanting to see if internet TV could replace my satellite TV at equivalent quality, and so being free wasn't necessarily the priority, (although it would be nice of course.)

I wanted to try to avoid being dependent on a really bad company like CTH, but also admittedly not have to pay the massively expensive fees for TRUE.

On GMMZ I had about 10 US based super HD channels and this is what I watched 90% of the time. I don't mind watching an occasional program on SD, but they just look so bad on a large screen , especially after watching 1080, that it really gets on my nerves now.

Reading more it does seem unlikely that I will be able to do this with TV on the Android box with KODI builds. For example the IPTV forum lists all current channels, about 830 in Jan 2016, but only 20 or so ( very obscure ones) are 720p, all the channels I would want - Nat Geos, Fox HD, Warner, Discovery and so on - are listed as being SD or lower than SD streams.

But I'll keep looking...

I assume you are American and prefer to view US channels. Take a look at http://www.streamlive.to/

Not free bu lots of HD channels and good quality streams

Thanks for the link-this may be a possibility! EDIT: bit concerned that if it's streaming from overseas or US based the international bottleneck will slow down too much for HD to be possible, though. I can get 12Mbps within Thailand , but once you try the US it's at least 5 times slower.

Actually, as I said in earlier post, I am British, but not that interested in watching live UK TV because the time difference makes it too awkward to watch, am not a sport fan at all, and I can get anything I really want with torrents a day or so after broadcast, and that's fine.

A lot of good series, perhaps most nowadays, originate from the US, and having had those GMM-Z US based channels for years now I got used to having them available when idly surfing, i.e. not decided what to watch, but flicking through until something interesting comes up. This is just a different experience from knowing what you want to see in advance, and just getting it, which is pretty easy nowadays.

In truth while surfing I would most of the time stop at Nat Geo Wild, which also seemed to be by far the best definition of any of the GMMZ channels -and just watch that in a daze for hours, marvelling at the quality of the actual picture...

I have realised of course from looking into this Android-Kodi stuff that live channels are the last thing it is for, and it's not really at the point where HD is possible for live streams.

What it is great for is video on demand-here of course all the files are pre-stored on the servers- so you go to look for movie X, or season 5 episode 8 of Game of Thrones, and of course you can get it in HD, because you are basically watching it from a file on a server.

This is a very different requirement and technical process from watching a live stream in HD, as it is actually happening, and which I think android boxes and internet TV can in reality not really do yet.

All right-this is obvious to people who have been doing this for years, but wasn't to me as I am completely new!

That's exactly why Thaiexpat.tv is the best solution for many British. It offers on demand 720dpi from an easy to use menu. It feels like a real TV system unlike the other options for UK here.

[nbm47]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

[TheCruncher]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

So let me see,.

If you don't buy the box, with or without a fully loaded Kodi, from a seller anywhere in the world then how you gonna install your own build?

Your own build includes the very same addons that are included in the sellers build, so they will work just as long as his.

There are no " update apps", the addon is always updated automatically, because the version check addon is included in Kodi.

Next time you want to warn other, and display your "wisdom", make sure you know what you're talking about.

[tlcwaterfall]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

Be aware also that there are some sellers who offer ongoing support.

And for people who want a fully loaded box this is the simplest solution for them.

Some people do not have the time or know how to install their own or others builds even looking at Youtube.

[nbm47]

Suggest you check with developers who create addons and builds on the internet, in their opinion these boxes from sellers only function for a given time. Considering most buyers of these are not tech savvy, they will be lost as what to do next without help, which they won't get from the box seller. If you are interested enough in Kodi or FMC or SPMC, you will take time to learn how they function, not trust some guy on the corner. Not all addons have automatic updates built into them Mr Cruncher which if you had enough wisdom you would know.

[TheCruncher]

Suggest you check with developers who create addons and builds on the internet, in their opinion these boxes from sellers only function for a given time. Considering most buyers of these are not tech savvy, they will be lost as what to do next without help, which they won't get from the box seller. If you are interested enough in Kodi or FMC or SPMC, you will take time to learn how they function, not trust some guy on the corner. Not all addons have automatic updates built into them Mr Cruncher which if you had enough wisdom you would know.

The addons are updated by the " Version Check" addon, which is part of Kodi, so it is there already before you have installed the first addon.

"Version Check" checks all the addons installed in your Kodi for updates and installs them automatically.

And if you knew what you were talking about, you would know that FMC is actually what you have to stay far away from.

SPMC is only a fork of Kodi, or in other words, Kodi with less functions.

Suggest you check with developers who create addons and builds on the internet, in their opinion these boxes from sellers only function for a given time.

So now you're saying that the devs who create builds warn that builds don't last long. It's actually the same as the CEO from Mercedes saying that BMW's are crap cars.

[2fishin2]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

So let me see,.

If you don't buy the box, with or without a fully loaded Kodi, from a seller anywhere in the world then how you gonna install your own build?

Your own build includes the very same addons that are included in the sellers build, so they will work just as long as his.

There are no " update apps", the addon is always updated automatically, because the version check addon is included in Kodi.

Next time you want to warn other, and display your "wisdom", make sure you know what you're talking about.

Simple answer is that these "sellers" purchase these substandard boxes in bulk from China for pennies then retail them with Kodi (which is free and another subject all together) Then these people drop support and go out of business and people are left with a box and not knowing how to use it.

What happens when one of these favorite addons the seller has chosen goes down the tubes? The buyer is again left with a "box" that does nothing.

Understanding and knowing how to use Kodi is the biggest challenge for most people.

Addon's are not always updated automatically, that's a user option.

Kodi has started to take action against these sellers as they are using the software and name without permission.

I would warn people to NEVER purchase a product from these resellers who are basically thieves.

[TheCruncher]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

So let me see,.

If you don't buy the box, with or without a fully loaded Kodi, from a seller anywhere in the world then how you gonna install your own build?

Your own build includes the very same addons that are included in the sellers build, so they will work just as long as his.

There are no " update apps", the addon is always updated automatically, because the version check addon is included in Kodi.

Next time you want to warn other, and display your "wisdom", make sure you know what you're talking about.

Simple answer is that these "sellers" purchase these substandard boxes in bulk from China for pennies then retail them with Kodi (which is free and another subject all together) Then these people drop support and go out of business and people are left with a box and not knowing how to use it.

What happens when one of these favorite addons the seller has chosen goes down the tubes? The buyer is again left with a "box" that does nothing.

Understanding and knowing how to use Kodi is the biggest challenge for most people.

Addon's are not always updated automatically, that's a user option.

Kodi has started to take action against these sellers as they are using the software and name without permission.

I would warn people to NEVER purchase a product from these resellers who are basically thieves.

I agree with your explanation, but there should be added something.

Ordering a basic Android box doesn't make the buyer more knowledgeable on a whim, so for most people ordering a fully loaded box is a better option. Once they have have figured out how it works, they can delete the build and install their own, but at least they are started.

Kodi isn't taking action against the sellers specifically, they are taking action against all the illegal addon developers, which is actually 95% of what is installed on most boxes.

Before you start again, yes building an addon to stream content which is the intellectual property of others, for free is illegal.

So yes, Salts - Genesis - Exodus -1Channel - Sportsdevil, just to name a few are ALL illegal and you are not even allowed to discuss them on the official Kodi forum.

Kodi was created for the purpose of playing your own media stored on your personal PC and not intended for streaming at all, and that is what the Kodi devs are now taking l;egal action against.

[dddave]

Why are you guys so intent on wanting to buy an android box from a seller (in Thailand or UK) who when your apps fail through lack of backup by the seller, complain about it.

Make up your own build, its quite easy if you follow the guides on Youtube, then update as and when you have to. I say this because I'm 69 yo and if I can do it so can you.

These apps only work for so long without updates and if the box seller hasn't built in an update app, it won't work pretty soon. You will have no redress as the seller will refer you to sites such as Youtube for info more than likely. Remember these guys are only in it to make a quick buck and then disappear, only to reappear on another street.

Be aware !

So let me see,.

If you don't buy the box, with or without a fully loaded Kodi, from a seller anywhere in the world then how you gonna install your own build?

Your own build includes the very same addons that are included in the sellers build, so they will work just as long as his.

There are no " update apps", the addon is always updated automatically, because the version check addon is included in Kodi.

Next time you want to warn other, and display your "wisdom", make sure you know what you're talking about.

Simple answer is that these "sellers" purchase these substandard boxes in bulk from China for pennies then retail them with Kodi (which is free and another subject all together) Then these people drop support and go out of business and people are left with a box and not knowing how to use it.

What happens when one of these favorite addons the seller has chosen goes down the tubes? The buyer is again left with a "box" that does nothing.

Understanding and knowing how to use Kodi is the biggest challenge for most people.

Addon's are not always updated automatically, that's a user option.

Kodi has started to take action against these sellers as they are using the software and name without permission.

I would warn people to NEVER purchase a product from these resellers who are basically thieves.

I agree with your explanation, but there should be added something.

Ordering a basic Android box doesn't make the buyer more knowledgeable on a whim, so for most people ordering a fully loaded box is a better option. Once they have have figured out how it works, they can delete the build and install their own, but at least they are started.

Kodi isn't taking action against the sellers specifically, they are taking action against all the illegal addon developers, which is actually 95% of what is installed on most boxes.

Before you start again, yes building an addon to stream content which is the intellectual property of others, for free is illegal.

So yes, Salts - Genesis - Exodus -1Channel - Sportsdevil, just to name a few are ALL illegal and you are not even allowed to discuss them on the official Kodi forum.

Kodi was created for the purpose of playing your own media stored on your personal PC and not intended for streaming at all, and that is what the Kodi devs are now taking l;egal action against.

Makes one wonder if Kodi is doing this as window dressing to aid in defending lawsuits by copyright owners or are they laying groundwork for future "monetization" of the platform.

[TheCruncher]

I agree with your explanation, but there should be added something.

Ordering a basic Android box doesn't make the buyer more knowledgeable on a whim, so for most people ordering a fully loaded box is a better option. Once they have have figured out how it works, they can delete the build and install their own, but at least they are started.

Kodi isn't taking action against the sellers specifically, they are taking action against all the illegal addon developers, which is actually 95% of what is installed on most boxes.

Before you start again, yes building an addon to stream content which is the intellectual property of others, for free is illegal.

So yes, Salts - Genesis - Exodus -1Channel - Sportsdevil, just to name a few are ALL illegal and you are not even allowed to discuss them on the official Kodi forum.

Kodi was created for the purpose of playing your own media stored on your personal PC and not intended for streaming at all, and that is what the Kodi devs are now taking l;egal action against.

Makes one wonder if Kodi is doing this as window dressing to aid in defending lawsuits by copyright owners or are they laying groundwork for future "monetization" of the platform.

I suggest you read my post again or do some Googling about Kodi.

Kodi/XBMC is open source and will always be free. The addons you are familiar with are in no way related to Kodi or their developers. It are the developers from the addons who abuse the Kodi platform, since Kodi has never endorsed them nor have they ever promoted online content streaming.

XBMC Foundation, the producers of Kodi media player, announced their serious intentions to take legal action against users that violate copyright infringement or piracy laws. The legal action will also be taken against sellers of the product that advertise the app as having add-ons or plug-ins, or such products that fail to deliver.

Kodi is a basic media player application or software that can play songs and videos from any multimedia platform. However, it can also play third party plug-ins. When a user downloads Kodi with plug-ins, they unwittingly think that the add-ons are added by XBMC when this is not the case. These kinds of file sharing, at no cost to users and at no profit for the movie or music producers, make a case for copyright infringement or piracy, Torrent Freak reported.

Read more at http://www.lawyerherald.com/articles/34019/20160216/kodi-xbmc-copyright-infringement-piracy-nathan-betzen-ebay-amazon.htm#RplezjzDs4EDdU0J.99