Diamond Multimedia HD 1080P Android Media Player (Black)

Some reviewers say you won't notice the single core processor... If your other android devices are dual or quad-core, you will. I have a DNA phone and a Nexus 10 tablet, this AMP is painfully slow. I got it mainly for Plex, and it runs that pretty decent, (aside from not being able to watch movies full screen for some reason) but browsing the web is sooo slow. I don't have a lot of aps on it yet, and I probably won't ever. My buddy got a sony google tv device and is pretty pleased with it. He has the better processor and RAM, but is very limited on apps. I have the full android os and play store, just not the patience to wait...

I bought this gadget on an impulse, being somewhat frustrated by my experience with dedicated media streamers like the LG Smart TV Upgrader and the WDTV Live Streaming Media Player. In contrast to those restricted players, the AMP1000 opens up the entire Android Market, with games, Internet browsers, media player apps, news apps, and so on.It has been upgraded to Android 4.0.3, and entertainment apps like Netflix, Plex and even a beta version of XBMC run acceptably fast on its single-core CPU.

I got this so I could wirelessly watch movies from my laptop to my tv, but it slows things down and you can't watch a movie without it pausing.

I thought this would be fun to try out. I have an android smart phone and thought maybe games would be cool to play on my large TV. They're not, most apps for smart phones are tailored for phones and tablets and are therefore worthless to use at home, if you have a computer or current gen game system this is moot and if you don't have a computer, for another hundred bucks you can get a quality netbook that can do all that this can and more while being portable and worthwhile.First off, for a $130 device, this thing has budget written all over it. The box, the sparse manual, the glossy remote that will completely blow apart if you throw it at the floor (more on that later). Seriously the second I saw the box, I knew where this was going.Set up is easy, it comes with HDMI cables and Component cables, a remote and an A/C adapter. Plug them in and you're ready to fire it up. You will soon be at the home screen which is laid out poorly. A mid-tone grey background is the stage for four icons of the apps installed and a little android guy telling you where to click. A device like this should be visually impressive. They should've hired a designer for this device and if they did they should've hired a better one. After getting to the home screen, if you have wi-fi you will have to set up your network settings. This is where the fun really begins.Their ground-breaking 3 in 1 remote is absolute junk. It's an overly ambitious remote that has IR transmitters at both sides, a qwerty keyboard, mouse commands and a Wii-like motion sensor. Sounds really great right? I thought so too. It isn't. I believe the primary flaw here is that the IR receiver on the unit itself is too small. Just trying to get it to register button presses was a pain. To use it like a keyboard you would think that you would just be able to turn it sideways right? Nope, turn yourself sideways my friend! Gotta make sure the IR transmitter is pointing at the little receiver. Trying to enter my network information is where the frustration peaked and I tossed it at the floor. The remote completely blew apart. Top notch quality. Any of my other remotes would've just bounced a little and been fine at the force I tossed it, it's not like I gave it all I had. Regardless, I was able to go pick up all the pieces and snap them back together. This gave me a great indication at how cheaply this was made. Flimsy plastic shell, VERY basic circuit board and the rubber keypad. Let's be clear, there are usb inputs on the side for a wireless keyboard/mouse, but again, if I'm spending money on and using a wireless keyboard and mouse, why wouldn't I just buy a laptop?Once you enter all your network information you can go to the Google Play Store (The Android Market for those unfamiliar) and start downloading apps just as you would a smart phone. Here's where it fails for the second and last time. Android apps are designed for smart phones and tablets. They're ways to obtain information quickly from a mobile device while you are on the go or away from a computer. The available games are generally reliant on the touch screen mechanics of smart phones and tablets. Guess what? I don't need gps navigation in my living room. Angry birds and other android games are better in my hand on my phone or on one of my game consoles or computers where I don't have to deal with a clumsy, works-when-it-wants-to, remote. I can watch YouTube and Netflix on my laptop or on my TV via my media server or game consoles. Furthermore most current laptops have HDMI output so hooking them up to your TV is just as easy as this device.I understand that not everyone has consoles and laptops etc. But honestly, for $130 you can pretty much buy a laptop or console, especially if you don't mind buying it used. At $130, this cost more than my Galaxy S Blaze when I renewed my contract and I will take the Galaxy S over this all day long. Laptops, tablets, smartphones and game consoles can do absolutely everything that this device can and more, not only that, they'll do it better. I cannot stress enough, avoid this failed experiment and put your hard earned cash towards a game console, tablet, smart phone or laptop/netbook, you will be MUCH happier with one of those in the end.

Having owned several Android devices and phones, I looked forward to putting the Diamond Multimedia Android Media Player through its paces. Unfortunately, it turned out to be frustrating and disappointing. Getting started was easy though. An HDMI cable and component cables are both included. The first frustrating thing is the multi-purpose remote. It's a nightmare. At one point, I wanted to throw it through my TV screen. Once you get connected to your network, the Diamond Multimedia Android Media Player disappoints. The hardware is pretty slow. It is running a neutered version of Android 2.3.4. An update to Android 4.x is due out shortly, but I'm not sure how much it will help. The newer "Google Play Store" is not included. Instead, it comes with version 1.8x of the old "Android Market" which is from 2010. I attempted to update it by sideloading the latest Google Play Store, but it failed. In the "Market", you'll find that the majority of the most popular apps aren't listed because they aren't compatible with the Diamond Multimedia Android Media Player. If you enjoy playing Android games that are compatible, good luck playing them with the multi-purpose remote. It is not an easy or pleasant experience. At this point, the only thing I'm using the Diamond Multimedia Android Media Player for is to check my email. When and if an update to Android 4.x is released, I'll update my review if the experience improves. Until then, I recommend you look elsewhere to get online or interact with your TV.UPDATE 9/14/2012:Earlier in the week, I read that the Android 4.0.3 ICS was out for the Diamond AMP. I waiting patiently, checking for updates every day, but my AMP kept saying it was "up to date". I finally decided to download and update it manually. The update process is easy enough. I downloaded it to the SD card, and let Android do its thing. It was disappointing that the update completely wipes the AMP clean, and you lose everything. You have to start from scratch, reinstalling all your apps and settings. My first impression was that visually, the 4.0 update makes the Diamond AMP look much better and easier to use. Thankfully, the ancient version of the "Market" is gone, and the Google Play Store is now included. Many more apps are now compatible too. Now for the bad news. The Diamond AMP hardware which was slow on Android 2.3.4, is even a little more sluggish with Android 4.0. Still though, the update is worth it. The other problem is the mutlti-purpose remote is still frustrating and awkward. In the end, the Android 4.0.x makes the Diamond AMP a much better device, but it is still not a great experience.Update 6/2014: Diamond no longer supports this device, and the last update was Android 4.0 in 2012. Don't waste your money now.