It's been about a year since the MK802 Android TV stick hit the market and changed the way many of us think about tiny computers. Since then we've seen dozens of little devices with low power ARM-based processors and Android software arrive.
Some have dual or quad-core chips. There are models with built-in cameras. Others come with wireless remote controls. And while they all tend to ship with Android, some can even run full desktop Linux software like Ubuntu.
Liliputing has been covering these devices pretty regularly over the past year, but one thing that readers regularly ask for is some sort of comparison chart. I've sort of put off that idea because I know how much work it takes to create a good comparison chart and keep it up to date.
But if y'all are willing to help out, there may be another way. Ian Morrison posted a link on Google+ to a tool called SocialCompare that lets anyone with an account contribute to a crowd-source comparison table.
There's already USB-dongle computer chart that's a work in progress. While I'm not in love with that name, I'm also not looking to reinvent the wheel here.
So this afternoon I took a few minutes to update the chart with an entry for the Tronsmart MK908 which is sitting on my desk. The process is pretty fast and simple (if you're doing one device at a time). Entering dozens of devices would be a bit more time consuming.
But if you've been following this space for a while and have a minute to update the chart with a device that's missing, all you have to do is register for a free account or login with Facebook to start editing.
And if you notice any mistakes, you can edit the chart as well.
That means its accuracy will depend on user contributions. We're also relying on a third-party service that may not be around forever, which is something I'm always a little wary of doing. But right now this may be one of the best tools available for folks looking to compare new Android TV sticks against existing models to find out which best suits your needs.
If this takes off, I'll think about adding a permanent page to Liliputing featuring the comparison chart.
In the meantime, I've embedded the work in progress here. Just hit up the main page if you want to start contributing.
Want to help create a database of Android TV sticks? is a post from: Liliputing
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