Smart TV Box

I would like to know if there is any update for it.

i wasreally excited at first when i got the box but now it doesnt work,only worked a few times

Hi all, Recently I got this gift and also encountered the same issue as all of you did. Basically the firmware is outdated and that the distributors did not even bother to update them before massing out. Plus LOTS of apps couldn't download or even update itself (feels like someone gave you a lemon as a gift. -.-") So what I did was; First, go to the Philips website and download the latest firmware (I think it was released in July 2014). Now, the stupid website gave a VERY SIMPLE instructions on how to update the device. It says unzip.. put onto SD card.. power off the device.. plug in SD card.. etc etc. Now, after downloaded the whole zip file, you will have a folder name hmp8100_98_fus_eng. Copy the files INSIDE into the SD card (Remember DON'T COPY the whole folder hmp8100_98_fus_eng into the SD card. It will not work.) You should see around 5 files including one update.zip folder. Then the rest of the procedures are the same as stated. You power off the media box, plug in your SD card with 5 files including update.zip folder, then you power back on. TA DA~~ The android creature with the stomach rolling with some statics will appear. And you know you did it correctly!:D Have fun watching using this media box!

Sadly the smart tv box still stuck with 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Some of the apps cannot be installed from the Playstore. It will be great if Philips could provide with the latest Android update.

It could be better. I guess the engineers behind do not know too much about Android. To update Android market: login your google account and existing android market will be updated automatically after awhile. Then, you can install other apk. Most of the apks are not displaying or showing not compatible. Consider Android 4.1.1 is not a very old version, there could be more apk. Note: enable developer option and allow install from other sources in the setting. THEN -> Backup some of the apk from your handphone and install in Smart box, they will just work fine. e.g. For youtube version that comes with smart box - it is a very very old version 1.x for TV. I installed latest 10.x Youtube and now can search and play video as per normal. For powerpoint, excel and word, install WPS office <same installation as youtube explained above> For rooting instruction, do a search from internet. I found at least 1 article.

Design looks good. Ports are adequate, Remote control also fantastic. Still happy using the box.

Well built box, easy to use with uwand mouse. However, this box comes with very little memory - 440MB for installation of apps, very small by today's standard. The worst part is it comes with many useless apps, and cannot be removed to make space for better apps. Philips website doesn't have good firmware update, the one posted there is dated 7/2014, but it is actually a 4/2014 version. Android version is 4.1, thus we cannot install the latest kodi. I suggest Philips release a new firmware with root access, or at least a version without any pre-installed apk, may be another version with google play.

The product and remote are beautifully designed. If only the software would live up to this promise. The media player works ok but. Several of the bundled applications were only in chinese and not removable, android version 4.1.1 is outdated and locked down. First few days the system did not register the saved input data and data had to be input every time the system was powered up. Looking forward to a firmware update that lets me remove the useless chinese programmes. Nikah

1. The internal memory is limited. Download a few apps and soon out of storage. 2. Many apps on Play is supposed to be incompatible with device. Probably something to do with the dpi for the screen resolution. 3. XBMC (Gotham edition) with hardware acceleration still have video lagging audio. Really painful to watch. Despite updating to latest firmware, all problems unresolved. Perhaps Philips can provide a rooted version of firmware for those more technical to explore and improve the performance of this box.

Useless piece of box. Browsing on this is very slow. It can't even play 1080p properly. Truly disappointing.