📦 Xiaomi Mi Box S - Amazing Android TV Box with Built-in Chromecast, UltraHD and Google Assistant.

As a birthday gift to myself, I bought another Android TV Box for my weekend entertainment. I purchased the Xiaomi Mi Box S. I knew that you guys are aware that I just got the EVPAD 3S last two weeks ago. Yes, but the highlight of it – just the live TV streaming but the android apps feature is not actually Google Certified. There is a huge difference between the two. 

The Actual Home Menu on my Hisense TV

The Bluetooth Remote is full of simplicity and ergonomics.

OVERALL: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I must say that - this is the best item that I got for this year 2019 because I can use it every weekend and weekdays streaming videos online - Movies, Series and Vlogs. 

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Price ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Since I purchased this in their listing at Lazada storefront – Xiaomi’s Official Store, I only got this item for the amount of PHP 2,090.00 with an additional delivery fee of PHP 50.00. In comparison, it is quite higher if you’re going to buy at their physical store at malls – it is amounting to PHP 3,500.00.

With its feature, Built-in Chromecast; no need for me to buy a separate Chromecast that is ranging from PHP 5,000 (the original one). I can easily cast whatever videos from my laptop and phone towards the TV with no lag.

NETFLIX CERTIFIED: ⭐

Xiaomi Mi Box S is certified by Google, meaning, this product – all games and apps that can be downloaded in google playstore , you can maximize the full potential of it.  In addition, Mi Box S is claiming that they are Netflix-Certified. This means that this product can stream 4K (3840 x 2160) UltraHD. We can verify if the product is a Netflix certified if you can see the 4K wording below the title of the movie. (See screenshot below).

I already checked mine but it is not available. It only shows HD. I called Netflix Customer Service twice to verify if my gadget -MI BOX S is a Netflix certified but there is no way for them to verify. Maybe I will just figure this out, maybe there is a problem with the HDMI cable compatibility. I don’t know! But it is kinda frustrating as I need to go back my Hisense TV just to stream UltraHD.

(erratum)- After 30 mins of publishing this blog, I already figured out why it is not streaming 4K. It was because I plugged in the HDMI cable to a wrong HDMI portal.

• Output Resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• CPU: Cortex-A53 Quad-core 64bit
• GPU: Mali-450
• RAM: 2GB DDR3
• Storage: 8GB eMMC
• Operating System: Android 8.1
• Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2.4GHz/5GHz
• Bluetooth: 4.2
• Video decoder: 4K@60fps，VP9，H.265，H.264，MPEG1/2/4，VC-1，Real8/9/10
• Video Format: RM，MOV，VOB，AVI，MKV，TS，Mp4，3D
• Audio decoder: DOLBY, DTS
• Audio Format: MP3，APE，Flac
• Image decoder: JPG，BMP，GIF，PNG，TIF
• Support Language: Global

Powered by Android 8.1 for Superior Functionality

Mi Box S is powered by Android 8.1, easy to use and supports voice search and Chromecast as well as delivering a world of content the whole family can enjoy.

Access Tons of Content

Compatible with thousands of apps, giving you access to tons of premium video services and a constant stream of fresh new content

SmartCast

Dive into a bigger, better viewing experience

Google Assistant

With the Google Assistant, you can quickly access entertainment, get answers and control devices around your home. Just press the mic button on your remote to get started.

*Google is a trademark of Google LLC.

High Clarity 4K HDR

Features the latest 4K HDR technology and high-speed 4K processing for up to 60fps playback. Enjoy an ultra-high-definition, lifelike viewing experience

Premium Audio puts you in the action

Dolby and DTS deliver crisper, three-dimensional surround sound

High-Performance Storage Capacity

Install tons of awesome apps, watch extended cuts and play more games while enjoying faster performance and stability

Supports Wired and Wireless Connections.

Supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB connections, delivering super-fast transfer speeds.

🎥 FIRST TIME ! Binisita ako ng aking Kapatid at Pamangkin

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📺 Things You Should Know Before Buying EVPAD 3S Android IPTV Box Philippine Edition - My First Hand Experience.

Spending your hard-earned money for a gadget is such a big decision. Seemingly, you’re choosing what course you want to take on your college – can be failed or victorious at the end. In this blog post of mine, I’ll be providing you some points that will help you to decide if you’re going to purchase this newly gadget named EVPad 3S Android IPTV Box. With the amount of PHP 7,200, are you willing to buy this box that will give you free streaming of premium TV channels?

EVPad 3s is a Chinese product that promises to give you lifetime access of your favorite local and international TV channels, movies and a full experience of android TV. I got the product for free - three days ago August 10, 2019 - but that won’t affect my comprehensive review and I will provide you my honest opinion after three days of using such box.

For the meantime, let us watch my unboxing video and initial review right on the day that I attached the product:

Watch The VLOG Below:

What to Expect Inside The Box:

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

• 1 EVPad 3s Android IPTV Box
• 1 HDMI Chord
• 1 DC Cable
• 1 Adapter
• 1 Charger
• 1 Remote (battery not included, AAA Battery)
• 1 Manual (English and Mandarin)

I was hoping that the IR Extender Cable is also included but unfortunately, you have to buy separately to maximize the IR portal.

(IR) Infrared Extender cable is a little device that lets the Smart Touch Remote communicate with your cable box or other AV devices. In other words, you will be able to turn the cable box on and change channels with the Smart Touch Remote without using your cable remote. In addition, it is a chord that will help you extend the range of the device so that the remote can be detected. By having this, you can supposedly hide the box behind the TV so make it look cleaner, and let the edge of IR cable visible in front of the TV – for remote detection.

I checked the price of IR Extender Cable on Lazada's Website - I was surprised since it is just amounting to PHP 100.00 which it is extremely affordable for the EVPAD company not to include it on the box. Well, I will just but one, since I wanted the box hidden behind the TV to make it visually immaculate. 

Specification:
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

The CPU has cpu cortex-a53 64 bit, The Cortex-A53 is a mid-tier 64-bit ARMv8-A-ARM core which offers a good balance of energy efficiency (performance/mW) and area efficiency (performance/mm2), which is why it is often found in entry-level SoCs. The GPU has  Mali -t720mp2. ROM of 2gb DDR3 and  ROM of  8GB EMMC. The USB Portal has 1 for 2.0 which is perfect for Mouse and Keyboard and 1 for 3.0 wich is working better for the movie with high resolution to avoid latency. 

Moreover, for Bluetooth, is  4 .2 version. Bluetooth 4.2 is an important update to the Bluetooth Core Specification with many new features and benefits designed specifically for Bluetooth Smart technology, and advantages when comparing Bluetooth 4.2 vs. Bluetooth 4.1 (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy or Bluetooth Smart)- more power-efficient and highly secure features, BLE 4.2 provides additional benefits allowing only trusted owners to track device location and confidently pair devices.

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WIFI is 2.4 GHz which for me, I am reluctant to use since I hated latency and so I decided to use Ethernet Connection instead. 2.4 GHz is actually working good but sorry I want more stable WIFI Chip. The primary differences between the 2.4 GHz and 5GHz wireless frequencies are range and bandwidth. 5GHz provides faster data rates at a shorter distance, whereas 2.4GHz offers coverage for farther distances, but may perform at slower speeds.

The Direct Current, I haven't tried if it will work - if connected directly to my TV via USB portal because I am trying to make sure that everything behind my TV is clean.  For now, as of writing - I used a socket as a source but next time - I will update you guys. Just follow my Youtube Channel.

Android version 7.0 is the Operating System which is actually good, as there is application in Google Playstore that is no longer working on the old version. 7.0 version is the Android "Nougat" - the seventh major version and 14th original version of the Android operating system. First released as an alpha test version on March 9, 2016. It has the ability to display multiple apps on-screen at once in a split-screen view but not sure if I can maximize this in Android TV since it has different interface versus the phone version. Maybe, I will try to use a mouse and will explore moving forward - but not sure what to expect (or might as well, I just buy Samsung Dex for my Samsung S8 Plus, T*ngina Gastos na naman )

THE ANDROID BOX ITSELF:

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really like the design because it is ergonomic - designed for efficiency and comfort in the working environment, especially in my condo where-in I combined my working station/Desk and Entertainment Area. I also love the fact that it can be easily attached on walls since there is the provision of two small holes at the back. However, I am not sure is double-sided tape will work when attaching on both the wall or TV because it has matt finish on the back of it. But, if you only put that on your table or rocks, it will work perfectly as there are four rubberized stoppers to avoid slipperily.

Well, as of now, I am still reluctant if I'm gonna hide it behind my TV - because of the design and color combination which harmonized my theme. The mixed of black and red - it reminds me of  Youtube LOGO, it gives a feeling - seemingly part of the whole design on my YOUTUBE SET UP.

The Android Box has an LED Display which shows the military time, WIFI or Ethernet Status - and surely the IR sensor is also on it. Again, as mentioned above, it has two USB Portal for 2.0 and 2.3. It has also a TF card plug-in. In another side, it has a power supply plugin, IR Extender, Ethernet Port, HDMI, Audio Video, and SPIDF for the sound amplifier.

The portability is really amazing, you can even bring it to your friend's house if planing for a movie marathon.

SOUND :

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ LOVE THE SOUND

I am not a sound engineer but I can say that the sound is actually good. It supports, Dolby Digital Audio Coding 3 which  AC3 is a file extension for surround sound audio files used on DVDs format. The AC3 file format was created by Dolby Labs for use in a Dolby Digital audio on DVD, Blu-ray and other digital video formats.

The full potential of Dolby Digital Audio Coding 3, just to make it clear to you guys, it is not applicable when streaming Live TV and Movies provided by EVPAD's server since the stream quality and movies they had on their streaming server is honestly poor. But when you play a video, movies or music from your USB or any storage, you can really appreciate the quality of the audio. I tried Spotify, and it is totally perfect - the right speaker is the voice of the singer and the right speaker is for the instrument. The same thing with Netflix or any movie streaming apps installed from Playstore - you surround effect is noticeable and audible enough.

Undeniably, the box supports Dolby Digital Audio Coding 3 but still depending on your inputs, if you play video and audio that has  Audio Coding 3 - you can really notice the surround effect.

6K Resolution :

RATING: ⭐ , 👎👎👎👎👎

Both on the Box and on the Android Item, they highlighted the 6K Resolution which is very questionable since I am not really familiar as to what  6K Resolution they pertained to. Number 1, the GPU and CPU capacity on the said gadget is not actually proportioned for a 6K Resolution to play a smooth output with no latency. Number 2, based on my knowledge - there is no such 6K as of the time being both TV and Video, not even a broadcast (correct me if I am wrong).

You may refer the picture below for the available Resolutions in the market: (FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF RESOLUTIONS CLICK HERE)

IN-DEPTH REVIEW

MENU 



Turning On the Gadget via remote, you will automatically see the logo of EVPAD 3S, the transition is smooth as the welcome logo has a blue background and has a pleasing effect. After the welcome window, it will redirect you to the language option to choose from (which can be changed under setting if you're changing it later).

I was selecting the Tagalog which I found it difficult to navigate. I am a Filipino but the Terms for Technology in Tagalog is not actually the same interpretation in English which is difficult to understand. This happened a lot of time since the Philippines is an English Speaking Country and the default language that we used in our gadgets is English, so better never try to set up Filipino on set.

I was having a hard time to change from Filipino to English and so I chatted the EVPAD 3S Facebook Page and they assisted me right away. That can be fixed under setting in Android Setting.

Screenshot Below Sent To Me :

The Menu itself is straightforward. By using the remote, I can feel the ease of use. But one thing that I was disappointed is the Chinese Character visible on it. There is English yet since I would suggest if they only use English as this edition is for the Philippines, solely. I found it annoying, to be honest, I was thinking that I might the only one felt it but after uploading my unboxing and initial review - one of my supporters commented about the Chinese Language.

There are Four Major Features on this gadget that I find essentials which made us buy decide why to buy this item named - The HDTV, VOD, PLAYBACK and ANDROID APPS. Now, Let me review it one by one - and an in-depth explanation on it.

The HDTV feature is an application named MarsLiveSuper Version 20190719 where-in you can access the list of the Live TV and  Free Channel streaming real-time. This is an app just like KODI wherein you can install the repository for streaming movies which are hosted from a server (it can be a website, or hosting site). This technology built-in was available only in this box.

As of August 12, 2019, as of writing - they have fourteen categories available on listing based on country and kinds of content. It has the US and CA, Hongkong, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, India Channels. It has categories for Sports, Kids, Movies, and Documentaries. You can also save your favorite channel from those listings by adding it on "Collection" Category.


The VOD or Video on Demand is an app running on MARS PLAYBACK where you can play the stored movies on their server. They also categorized it based on kinds of content - Drama, Movie, Variety, Children, Sport, and Anime. The majority of the movies stored are Asian Movies and only a few English Movies available.

The Playback is a feature where-in they store the recorded shows for the most recent broadcasted shows on selected channels from the fourteen categories that I've listed above. The capacity of storage is 24 Hours in the past seven days. You can go back and watch recorded shows that you've missed.

PlayStore App, since this gadget runs android nougat, you can access all the privileges of an android user via the google app store. Just make sure that the app that you're going to install is ANDROID TV compatible,  for an example: The IWANTV app is available on android mobile for vertical interface only but if installed in Android Box, it won't work as it is not Android TV compatible.

There was an inquiry about - what if they scramble the channel. Will this is also a question in my mind, how long they're gonna serve the streaming for a specific channel.

Since I can only read and understand in English, I will give you the Channel Listing under the US and CA and, the Philippines. In Addition, I will show you the Movies on VOD and the recorded shows that can playback

(Video Below) Listing as of 8/12/2019.

FINAL OPINION:

Undeniably, with EVPAD 3S - you only pay one time and you don't need to pay a subscription for access of premium channels via CABLE and alikes. With this box, connected to your TV and with at least 2mbps internet connection  - you can now enjoy the premium channels that I've mentioned in the video above.

The problem with this; the maintenance of the server of EVPAD 3s must be monitored, to avoid latency and also they need to fix it in a timely manner the channel if something wrong happened. I believe, as a consumer, we wanted to spend our blood money on a product that can satisfy our expectation. In comparison for a PHP 7,000 money versus a monthly subscription to cable networks - there are things that we need to consider. EVPAD 3s promised to serve for life, but how long?

Let us also consider the fact that the 7,000 pesos. It is not just the product itself. And EVPAD 3s also need to provide maintenance to stream the channel that they promise the so-called "FOR LIFE".

Nico wechat: Nico190325 Whatsapp:00852 68895427 Customer service: Wechat: IEVPAD2 Line: @ievpad WhatsApp: 00852 5762 7573
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/evpadphilippine/

🌈 My Opinion to All Young Homophobic Out There. 😡 #NoToWampepte

Social Media recently especially Facebook became toxic nowadays. Instead of using the technology to make life easier, use it in a good way, and communicate love ones; it went to the media of sharing hates and prejudice.

Recently,  a hashtag #NoToWamPepte became trending, I was stumbled upon this hashtag as it may sound funny to me at first but when seeing it in a broader perspective, it is totally an innovative way of hating the LGBTQIA. The message might make us laugh but the subliminal message behind it – it will affect silently and destructively to a certain group of individuals.

Young people are planting hate to gays in this kind of post. Despite the 80 thousand attendees of the Manila Pride Parade last June 2019 in Marikina- as a sign of the strong voice of LGBTQIA community in the Philippines being heard, homophobia is still rampant in the country.

Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBTQIA). It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred or antipathy, may be based on irrational fear and ignorance.

It saddens me, but we cannot blame these few individuals who are homophobic. We always have two sides of the coins. These young teenagers might have a rigid reason why they hate gays and continue spreading hates against PLU.

Meanwhile, “WAMPEPTE” is a gay slang of One Fifty which means One hundred Fifty Pesos. It means, it is a general amount of money that gay people are being offered initially to young teenagers to have s*x in return – eg. Out of school youth, Online Game Players in various computer shops, Students, Bystanders, and likes - who are in need of penny to sustain their “needs”, but most likely “wants”. This trade is not a secret but it is discreetly done as the majority of the involved teenagers are minors. And the other party who patronized these teenagers are professionals and most of them are discreet gays who are afraid to get involved in future controversy.

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“Iwasan ang WAMPEPTE, Para Si JUNJUN ay Healthy”, since wampepte is already associated to gays, it is obviously generalizing that gays are the carrier of sexually transmitted diseases. This also saddens me, but I cannot blame these youngsters. According to an article by Outrage Magazine, a 14 years old named Rod got diagnosed with HIV as a result of accepting money from gays and had s*x.

Rod – and his whole family – only knew about his HIV status a few days ago.

Apparently, Rod told his father he had sex with gay men, admitting that the money he gets from them, he uses to pay for his luho (vices), including playing DOTA, to buying whatever tickles his fancy. As soon as his disclosure, his father took him to the barangay health center nearest their house.

Truly, I must say that- at the end of the day, there is always a reason why one or group of individuals hated against another group of individuals. As we always said, there are two sides of the coins. The one who hates and the one got the hate – both have reasons and stories that we must listen and pay attention.