Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OSMC VS Android TV

Compare OSMC VS Android TV and see what are their differences

OSMC logo OSMC

OSMC is a free and open source media center built for the people, by the people.

Android TV logo Android TV

Android TV is a version of Android made for TV's
  • OSMC Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27
  • Android TV Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-10

OSMC features and specs

  • Open Source
    OSMC is completely free and open-source, allowing users to modify and improve the code according to their needs.
  • Wide Device Support
    OSMC can run on various devices, including Raspberry Pi, Vero, and other compatible hardware, making it versatile.
  • Built-in Kodi
    It comes with Kodi pre-installed, providing a rich media player experience with support for a large number of add-ons and plugins.
  • Regular Updates
    OSMC receives frequent updates, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and security patches.
  • Easy to Use
    The user interface is intuitive and straightforward, making it easy for users of all technical levels to navigate and use.

Possible disadvantages of OSMC

  • Limited App Support
    Compared to other operating systems, OSMC has a narrower selection of available applications and software.
  • Hardware Dependency
    OSMC is primarily designed to run on specific hardware like the Raspberry Pi or Vero, which may not be ideal for all users.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    While it is customizable, making significant changes or improvements may require a deeper understanding of Linux and coding.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with many open-source projects, users may encounter occasional bugs or stability issues.
  • Community-based Support
    Support is mainly provided through community forums and user contributions, which might not be as reliable or fast as professional support.

Android TV features and specs

  • Extensive App Library
    Android TV supports a wide range of applications from the Google Play Store, providing access to a vast array of streaming services, games, and utilities.
  • Google Assistant Integration
    Android TV comes with built-in Google Assistant, allowing users to control their TV, search for content, and manage smart home devices using voice commands.
  • Chromecast Built-in
    Android TV includes Chromecast functionality, enabling users to cast content from their Android devices or Chrome browser directly to their TV.
  • Customization
    Android TV allows users to customize the interface, including the home screen layout and app settings, to better suit their preferences and needs.
  • Regular Updates
    Being part of the Android ecosystem, Android TV receives regular updates and security patches, keeping the system secure and up-to-date with the latest features.

Possible disadvantages of Android TV

  • Device Fragmentation
    The Android TV platform is available on various devices from different manufacturers, which can lead to inconsistencies in performance and user experience.
  • Hardware Limitations
    Some lower-end Android TV devices may have limited processing power and storage, affecting the performance and capability of running more demanding applications and games.
  • Learning Curve
    Compared to more simplified TV operating systems, Android TV can be more complex to navigate and set up, potentially posing a challenge for less tech-savvy users.
  • App Compatibility
    Not all apps available on the mobile Google Play Store are optimized for Android TV, which can limit the availability of certain apps and features.
  • Ad-Supported Content
    Some Android TV interfaces include recommendations and advertisements, which can detract from the user experience for those who prefer an ad-free environment.

Analysis of OSMC

Overall verdict

  • OSMC is generally considered a good choice, especially for users who want a straightforward and flexible media center solution. Its open-source nature ensures continuous improvements and adaptability to new technologies.

Why this product is good

  • OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is popular for its simplicity, ease of use, and ability to turn any device into a full-fledged media center. It supports a wide range of formats, offers frequent updates, and has a supportive community. Additionally, it is based on Kodi, providing a customizable interface and access to a vast library of plugins and add-ons.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free and open-source media center solution
  • People who want to repurpose old devices as media centers
  • Those who appreciate the Kodi interface and its extensive library of add-ons
  • Individuals seeking a customizable media experience

OSMC videos

Raspberry Pi OSMC Media Player

More videos:

  • Review - OSMC Raspberry PI Kodi Media Center Run Through
  • Review - OSMC Media Center Setup - A Roku Alternative

Android TV videos

Android TV - Is it better than Smart TVs in 2020 ? 4k TV Apps Reviews, TV Comparison and TV Guide

More videos:

  • Review - Hisense H8F Quick Look - Best 4K Android TV for the price!
  • Review - Review: 2019 Hisense H8F Android TV 4K HDR With Dolby Vision & HDR 10

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OSMC and Android TV)
Video
62 62%
38% 38
Media Player
62 62%
38% 38
Media Players And Streaming Platforms
Watch Movies Online
67 67%
33% 33

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OSMC and Android TV

OSMC Reviews

The Best 5 Kodi Alternatives You Can Try
OSMC (short for Open-Source Media Center) is a free media player founded in 2014 and it comes as the best alternative to Kodi. It has a simple interface and it’s easy to use. And it offers an app store that enables you to customize your OSMC experience to your taste. This software allows you to play back media (movies, TV shows, music, pictures, etc.) from the local network,...
10 Best Kodi Alternatives You Should Use (2023)
If you are searching for a simple alternative to Kodi, OSMc is a viable option. It is very similar to Kodi. OSMC is open-source software with wifi adapters. You can get some compatibility as it is supported in Raspberry pi, Apple TV and VERO. If you want the replacement for Kodi in a more neat interface, You must go for OSMC.
Source: techdator.net
15 Best Plex Alternatives [2022] – FREE and BETTER Options
OSMC is among the best Plex alternatives as a Debian-based Linux distribution that boots directly to Kodi Media Center. With OSMC it is easy to get started right away with very little tinkering. If you are a tinkerer, OSMC is the best open-source Plex alternative that allows you to make custom changes.
Best Kodi Alternatives for Free Streaming
OSMC is a free and open source operating system that makes heavy use of the Kodi project. Essentially, Kodi is how the user will interact with the operating system for the most part. The benefit of running OSMC instead of an operating system like Android for the purpose of using Kodi is the simplicity that OSMC offers.

Android TV Reviews

We have no reviews of Android TV yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OSMC seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OSMC mentions (20)

  • Is there something like "network attached monitor"
    The devices had a small daemon that would periodically send HTTP requests to the central web service and check if it needed to update the content it was displaying and would update content accordingly. The content was displayed through OSMC. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Pay me the buying power to afford the things you got at my age, and maybe then I'll buy these things...
    Downstairs is a Raspberry PI hooked to large hard drive (8TB). That runs OSMC and provides network access for all computers/phones in the house while being hooked up to the living room TV. The IPTV can run through it but I just watch that on my computer. Source: over 2 years ago
  • one day my friend
    Just put osmc on it and use it as media center. Depending on your hardware it can be pretty solid. And there is a lot you can configure. it's basically an os which boots direcly to kodi. Also it supports hdmi-cec so you can use your normal tv remote, it's awesome. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Plexamp v4.2.2 Released
    I have heard good stuff about https://osmc.tv/. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Can someone suggest a Smart TV like distro?
    From what I know there aren't many options for this use case, and those that I know of (like OSMC or Plasma Bigscreen) all run on ARM devices like Raspberry Pi, but not x86/64. I would recommend the same as other commenters: to just use a normal distribution and put something like Kodi on it. You could probably configure the system to automatically start up whatever UI you prefer to make it more seamless. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

Android TV mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Android TV yet. Tracking of Android TV recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OSMC and Android TV, you can also consider the following products

Kodi - Kodi is an award winning free and open source media player that got its start on the Xbox console.

LibreELEC - LibreELEC is ‘Just enough OS’ for Kodi, a Linux distribution built to run Kodi on current and...

Emby - media server for personal streaming movies tv music photos in mobile app or browser for all devices android iOS windows phone appletv androidtv smarttv and dlna.

Stremio - Watch videos, movies, TV series and TV channels instantly.

Jellyfin - Jellyfin is a personal media server.

Oblecto - Oblecto is a frontend agnostic media butler bringing high performance high quality media streaming...