Xiaomi has a couple of streaming devices powered by Android TV. Among them are the 2016 Mi Box and the more recent Mi TV Stick that was announced last year. Both devices connect to a TV or monitor via an HDMI port and allow you to stream shows and movies and even play games. If you have always wondered how to take a screenshot on either of these devices, this guide should come in handy.

You would expect that since both devices run Android TV, the process is the same. Surprisingly, that is not the case. I own both devices and while they both run Android 9 with the March 2021 security patch, there are two ways to do it on the Mi Box and just one way to do it on the Mi TV Stick.

How to take a screenshot on the Mi Box and Mi TV Stick

Taking a screenshot on the Mi Box is done in two ways. There is a simple method that requires only one hand and there is a second method that might require the use of two hands. This second method also works on the Mi TV Stick

Method 1 (Mi Box only)

• Hold down the power button for two seconds. A dialog box should pop up on the right side of the screen with two options – Restart and Screenshot.
• Scroll down to Screenshot and select it. The Mi Box will take a screenshot of what is currently on your screen.

The above method doesn’t work on the Mi TV Stick. This is because when you press the power button for the same duration, the dialog box only presents you with the restart option.

Method 2 (Mi Box and Mi TV Stick)

This method is a familiar one as it is the same process that works on Android phones and tablets.

To take a screenshot on either the Mi TV Box or Mi TV Stick all you have to do is press the power button and volume down button at the same time on their respective remotes. A screenshot will be taken and saved on the device.

To view the saved screenshots, you will have to use a File Manager app or install a gallery app. The file manager app can also be used to copy the images to a storage device in the case of the Mi Box which has a USB-A port.

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As expected, Xiaomi has officially launched Mi Box 4S in China for only 289 yuan ($43). Yesterday, the company revealed only certain highlights of this product but today, its entire specifications are out. Unfortunately, just as we predicted, it does not bring any hardware upgrade.

The newly unveiled Mi Box 4S is identical to the original Mi Box 4 from 2018. The latter is sold as Mi Box S and Mi Box 4K in global markets.

That means it is powered by the same 64-bit quad-core Amlogic S905X chipset with 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores and Mali 450 GPU. The amount of RAM and internal storage is also similar at 2GB and 8GB respectively.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi Mi TV LUX Pro 82-inch 8K 5G & Mi TV LUX 82-inch 4K launched in China

The latest streaming box from the Chinese tech giant supports video playback up to 4K 60fps (H.265), HDR, Dolby Audio, and DTS Sound. The remote control is the same minimal one included with all the Mi TV products with a voice assistant key and microphone.

As for connectivity, the device comes with dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.3, 1 x  HMDI 2.0, 1 x  USB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack, and power input. It runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow with PatchWall UI on top of it. 

If this product ever makes its way to global markets, it will run Android TV Pie like the Mi Box S/Mi Box 4K. Anyway, it probably won’t launch outside China as the new model does not make sense over the previous model.

Having said that, in its home country, Xiaomi sells Mi Boxes in White color. In fact, the new Mi Box 4S only comes in White color. The company should bring this color option to other regions as well.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi TV LUX OLED Transparent Edition is the cheapest transparent TV at 49,999 yuan

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Xiaomi is known for its affordable products. One of them is TV streaming devices called Mi Box. The last model released by the company in China was Mi Box 4 SE in January 2019. It is a toned-down version of Mi Box 4 from January 2018. Now, the company teases an upgraded version of the latter model called Mi Box 4S.

The official Weibo account of Mi Box shared a teaser picture of Mi Box 4S along with four feature highlights and the price. According to the post, the new Mi Box model will come with dual-band WiFi, voice control remote, 4K HDR video playback support, and 2GB + 8GB storage configuration.

Further, the post also reveals its price to be only 289 yuan ($43). Going by the teaser picture, like the original Mi Box 4, the new Mi Box 4S will come in a white color paint job in China.

In case you are wondering, Mi Box 4 is sold as Mi Box S and Mi Box 4K in international markets. But this Android TV streaming box only comes in black color in these regions.

That said, Xiaomi will be revealing the entire specs of its latest streaming device tomorrow (October  21) when it will go for pre-order, followed by sale on November 1. 

Hopefully, the company includes a new powerful processor as the Amlogic S905X present in the current model has now aged well. However, since the Chinese tech giant hasn’t teased chipset upgrade in today’s teaser, we are not hoping much. 

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi TV Stick Review: Portable & Fully Functional Android TV

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When Xiaomi announced the Mi Box in 2016, I was pretty excited. So excited that I got one for myself. However, it has not been a smooth experience all the while especially with respect to updates.

The device which launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow got an Android Nougat beta update but a stable update was never rolled out. Instead, it received an update to Android Oreo. It has now been reported that a beta version of Android 9.0 is now available for the device, and that is exciting news for owners of this 4K streaming box.

The info comes from a Redditor who has shared a screenshot (above) of the update for the Mi Box. The 620MB update is said to bring support for the Mi Remote app but doesn’t say more.

Android TV 9.0 was made available for the Mi Box S back in January. While this is just a beta version, it means a stable update is on the way if there is no repeat of what happened with the Android Nougat update.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi TV Stick with Android TV launches in India for ₹2,799 ($37)

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Google has officially revealed a date for its launch event. The date is October 9 and the venue is in New York. The venue is surprising since Google is known to host its launch events in California.

While the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the expected devices to be announced on that day, we are sure those are just two of all the new hardware that will be unveiled. Below is a list of other products that will also likely be announced:

1.Android TV Dongle (Chromecast Ultra’ successor)

Earlier this year, a Chromecast-like dongle was seen at the FCC. The dongle has Google’s “G” logo on it and an HDMI-out connector at one end. The FCC document referred to it as the “4K ATV” stick which means it supports streaming in 4K.

It has 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage and is powered by an Amlogix S905X processor. The dongle also has a remote similar to that of the Mi Box but with a dedicated Google Assistant button. Our guess is that this is the successor to the Chromecast Ultra but with Android TV on it so you have no need for your phone, tablet, or PC.

2. Mi Box 2 (Mi Box 4)

The Mi Box is the Android TV version of the Mi Box 3 that is sold in China. Announced back in 2016, Google (and Xiaomi) may announce a successor at the October 9 event.

The new box which may be officially called the Mi Box 2 was seen at the FCC a few months ago. It has the same design as the Mi Box 4 sold in China but comes with a different remote. The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant key like that of the TV dongle above but also adds a dedicated Netflix button and another button for Live TV.

The design of the box and the new remote seems to be the biggest upgrades as the internals don’t seem to have changed at all. It still has 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage. It also keeps the full-sized USB port in case you want to connect a USB flash drive or a wireless gamepad.

A test photo of the device at the FCC shows an interface similar to that of Android TV 8.0 Oreo. This is not surprising since Android TV 9.0 Pie isn’t yet available. By the way, Google has made a rule that Android TV boxes launched after December 15 must come with Android Pie.

3. A new Google Home with a display

A number of manufacturers have released smart speakers with displays. Lenovo’s Smart Display (8” and 10” models) and the JBL Link View are two examples. However, Google may launch its own smart display at the event.

News of Google’s own smart display was first reported last month by Nikkei Asian Review. The smart display will launch before the holidays and is expected to challenge Amazon’s own Echo Show. Google is said to have set a target of 3 million shipments for the first batch.

The device which will likely be made by Taiwan’s Quanta Computer will be the latest member of the Google Home family when it launches.

4. Pixelbook 2

The Pixelbook is still one of the best Chromebooks on the market but it is already a year old which means its internals are a bit outdated. A new Pixelbook is said to be in development and goes by the codename “Nocturne”. It is said to be detachable, allowing it to be used as a ChromeOS tablet. Nocturne has also been reported to have a fingerprint scanner, a first for a Chrome OS device.

With respect to specs, Nocturne has a 2400 x 1600 screen, two USB-C ports, and is missing a MicroSD card slot.

However, it isn’t the only ChromeOS device in development by Google. A second device codenamed “Meowth” was also discovered in Chromium source code. It has been reported as being detachable and working with the same keyboard base as “Nocturne”  and goes by the codename “Whiskers”. Meowth has also been reported to be less powerful than “Nocturne”.

The keyboard dock is detachable and has a backlight which adjusts automatically based on ambient light. It can also be folded to serve as a stand when “Nocturne” or “Meowth” is in tablet form. When in this form, the keys and touchpad are automatically disabled.

We don’t have further proof to back any of these findings yet but there is a possibility Google may announce at least one new Pixelbook.

READ MORE: No Pixel smartwatch(es) this year says Google

Conclusion

The launch event will begin at 11 AM Eastern Time and a live stream will be available on the Made by Google YouTube channel for those who will be watching from home.

Which of these devices are you most excited about and which will you be buying?

(Sources: 1, 2, 3)

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Back in 2016, Google and Xiaomi jointly announced the Mi Box – an Android TV version of Xiaomi’s Mi Box 3. It was also the first Xiaomi product to be officially sold in the US.

Out of the box, the Mi Box ran Android TV 6.0 based on Marshmallow. Even though it received some updates, it never got updated to Android TV 7.0 (Nougat), though there was a beta version available.

We thought Xiaomi had given up on the device until a beta version of Android Oreo began to roll out to beta testers about a month ago. Now, a stable version of the update has begun rolling out to the Mi Box globally.

The new update brings a revamped user interface, Google Assistant, and picture-in-picture mode. With Google Assistant, you can now control your smart home devices from the TV.

READ MORE: Google-branded Android TV Dongle With Xiaomi-Like Bluetooth TV Remote Seen At FCC

Have you received the update? Do let us know what you think about it.

(Source)

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Xiaomi launched the Mi Box set-top box in the U.S in 2016 and the sales have been pretty awesome. The Mi Box launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and has not been officially updated to Android Nougat. It is, therefore, an interesting twist that the Mi Box has now reportedly been updated to Android Oreo. A Reddit user has confirmed that his unit got the update and he even shared a screenshot.

This is no doubt a good one for the numerous M Box users across the globe. But the thing is, the user who got the Oreo update on his Mi Box had enrolled in the beta program when Xiaomi conducted a search for beta tester last year. The implication of this is that the update is likely only available to beta testers at the moment despite it being a stable build. But it is an indication that the Mi Box users in the U.S and perhaps elsewhere may soon start getting Android Oreo update.

Read More: Xiaomi TV Speaker Unboxing: Simple Design But Solid Build

As a reminder, the Mi Box comes in a compact size just about that of a pocket wallet with some more weight and is coloured in matte black with ports for HDMI, USB, audio and power at the back. What could be said to be the main attraction on the device is its ability to stream 4K video at 60 frames per seconds (fps), something Apple TV cannot do. This 4K streaming ability places the device at par with Amazon TV box and Roku. Thus, Xiaomi claims the Mi Box is the best, most technically advanced streaming box money can buy and it came with a cheap price tag of just $69. The price still hovers around $69 but we recently spotted a seller on Amazon who offers the Mi Box for $39.99. That is the cheapest we have seen so far.

(source)

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It does not appear as if Xiaomi is done releasing products for the year as yesterday a poster teasing the launch of a new generation Mi TV Box was seen on their official Weibo page. Today, the account has also teased a redesigned Mi Remote set to debut alongside the new TV box.

Mi TV Box (4th Gen)

The ”fourth generation” Mi Box is said to come bundled with a form of artificial intelligence whose mode of function is still unknown. It is also expected to feature a magazine page layout and categorize content based on a study of the owner’s viewing habits.

Mi Remote

Xiaomi has also released a poster teasing a new remote for the set-top box. The image shows the first gen Mi remote, the second (and third gen remote), and a silhouette of a new remote. The accompanying text says the company had to develop a new remote to go along with the artificial intelligence feature of the new box set to launch tomorrow.

While there is no leaked info about the features of the new Mi Remote, some folks are guessing it might have a touch screen display similar to the render below. One thing we are sure about is voice control though, that should still remain.

READ MORE: Fans Queue Overnight to Purchase Xiaomi Mi Mix and Mi Note 2

The big question is what version of android will the new Mi Box run, Android TV or just plain regular android (marshmallow)? Chances are that it will be the latter as Xiaomi just recently released their first Android TV set-top box in the US.

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Xiaomi’s Mi Box has been launched as the company’s first product ever to go on sale in the US, just as was rumored weeks back. The Xiaomi Mi Box enters the lucrative US market battle ready to take on similar products like Amazon’s Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku’s wide range of media players. The Mi Box streaming device has been tipped by Xiaomi’s VP, Hugo Barra as the best, most technically advanced streaming box money can buy and it carries a cheap price tag of just $69.

Xiaomi has continued its renowned reputation of offering well studded devices for ultra cheap price tags with the Mi Box and for $69, users get a host of features that the Mi Box offers. The Mi Box comes in a smallish size just about that of a pocket wallet with some more weight, and is colored in matte black with ports for HDMI , USBB, audio and power at the back. What could be said to be the main attraction on the device is its ability to stream 4K video at 60 frames per seconds (fps), something Apple TV cannot do. This 4K streaming ability places the device at par with Amazon TV box and Roku.

On the software end, the Mi Box runs Android TV which is reputed as having one of the better user interfaces and allows users to search universally for titles across multiple services. There is also the cool voice interaction feature via the tiny remote controls it comes with. In addition, the device comes with support for Google Cast which means it can function for the same purpose as Chromecast. Still on the software, the Xiaomi Mi Box enters the US pre-installed with live-TV service Sling TV. Mi Box owners get the added incentive of being able to check out the service for free for just the first day, even without inputting credit-card info. After that, they can begin the normal seven-day trial, and there’s also a $50 coupon for the Sling in the box if they choose to subscribe.

On the hardware terrain, the Xiaomi Mi Box packs inside it 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage, and has support for Dolby Digital Plus audio playback, DTS Surround Sound and is HDMI 2.0  compatible. The Mi box is powered by a quad-core ARM processor and a Mali 450 GPU. It comes with a Bluetooth voice remote and Xiaomi had earlier hinted the box will also work with a Mi Game controller for those who want to enjoy Android games on a large screen. The controller will likely be sold separately, though.

For all these, Xiaomi has pegged the price of the Mi Box at $69, far cheaper than all other comparable box in the US market that streams 4K video. Xiaomi has officially entered into retail partnership with Walmart who will sell the Box in close to 4,000 of its stores across the US. The device will likely be available for purchase by the end of the week.

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Xiaomi’s first product to be sold in the US will not be a phone but an android set-top box called the Mi Box which will run Google’s Android TV and is expected to go on sale in October.

The info was divulged by an insider source at Xiaomi, who said that it will be made available for purchase in early Q4 2016.

Mi Box Specifications

The Mi Box was first demoed at Google’s I/O 2016 event. It has 2GB of RAM, 8GB of built-in storage (there’s a full-sized USB port as well), can stream 4K videos at 60 fps, has support for Dolby Digital Plus audio playback, DTS Surround Sound and is HDMI 2.0a  compatible.

The box will be powered by a quad-core ARM processor and a Mali 450 GPU. It will come with a bluetooth voice remote and Xiaomi says the box will also work with a Mi Game controller for those who want to enjoy android games on a large screen. The controller will probably be sold separately.

While Xiaomi has not released an official statement with regards to pricing, but it is expected to sell for less than $100.

READ MORE: LeEco Pro 3 May Feature Large Battery and Thin Body

The design of the Mi Box is actually the same as the Mi Box 3 already available in China, the differences are that the US version offers more RAM, doubles the ROM, uses a different CPU and GPU, and most importantly runs Android TV instead of regular android.

Source: Techcrunch

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While Xiaomi is mainly known for its smartphones, the company has a wide variety of products under its belt, including Android boxes. Now, the company has just unveiled a brand new Android box called simply as the Mi Box at Google I/O. We had expected the new Android box launch at the event since the company’s global VP had already teased the coming of the product a couple of days back. Since the new Mi Box will be coming to US, it will be the first official product from the company in the region.

In case you are wondering, this isn’t the Mi Box 3 model that was announced last year. Instead, this is a new model and runs on Google’s Android TV platform. The Android box supports 4K UHD streaming and latest HDR standards. It comes with a bluetooth remote as well, which supports voice recognition. The box also gets support for Google cast which lets you mirror your Android or iOS device. Unfortunately, the company didn’t announce a release date or pricing for its new Mi Box. But the company did reveal that the new box will be available worldwide.

The specs of the new Mi Box 4K are as given below. 

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