As the integration of Android devices is getting higher and higher, and the performance is getting stronger and stronger, a product called Mini PC Android has quietly entered people’s field of vision. The shape and size of this mini-computer which resembles a USB stick changed people’s understanding of the PC. The price of an Android Mini PC is usually below 100 US dollars and some Mini PCs even control the price at around 50 US dollars. Although the Android Mini PC is cheap, its performance is comparable to that of a tablet. Although it is not as good as a home console, it is still more than enough to deal with some daily applications or play high-definition media. Let’s take a look at what Android Mini PC can do.
Application 1: Mini PC Android as a game console
With the landing of large-scale 3D games on the Android platform, more and more players are no longer satisfied with driving racing cars or playing first-person shooting games on small-screen portable devices such as Android phones and tablets. So game consoles based on Android systems such as Ouya and GameStick came into being.
However, if you want to play games anytime and anywhere while taking care of office applications, then Mini PC Android will be more suitable for your needs. You only need to connect the Mini PC to a TV or monitor through the HDMI interface, and then match it with a wireless gamepad (such as SteelSeries’ Free Wireless Game Controller) to play games at any time. And, you don’t have to worry about performance at all. For example, an Android Mini PC equipped with a Rockchip RK3066 dual-core processor can run ordinary Android games smoothly. If a quad-core processor with stronger performance is used, the Android Mini PC will bring players a better and smoother gaming experience.
Application 2: Mini PC Android as a multimedia home theater
Today’s 1080p full HD signal output is already standard in Mini PC Android, and there are not a few Mini PCs that support 2k output. You can connect a wireless remote control to it, and you can enjoy online videos from Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, and other websites, listen to online radio, or browse local and cloud photos on the sofa through a large-screen TV. Not only that but by installing the free XBMC player on Android Mini PC, you can play almost all current mainstream audio and video format files.
Application 3: Mini PC Android as a secure and confidential Linux workstation
Most Android Mini PCs support Linux kernel operating systems such as Ubuntu. Thanks to these open platforms, you can run office software, video editing, and even application development on an Android Mini PC. Not only that, the compact Mini PC Android can also guarantee the security of the system from the hardware. With a Mini PC, you don’t have to worry about your account and password being stolen by the computer in the Internet cafe or your boss monitoring your every move through the company computer. At the same time, you can also deal with unfinished work anytime, anywhere.
Application 4: Mini PC Android as a video chat
Video calling on mobile phones or computers is already a common application. Mini PC Android also supports video calls, the only thing you need is a network camera that can be connected wirelessly. You can use Skype, Google+ Hangouts, or OoVoo to video chat with distant parents on the TV, or even hold a video conference at home.
Application 5: Mini PC Android for file sharing
Connect a Mini PC Android with a USB drive Ethernet dongle function and NAS hard disk (Network-Attached-Storage) to easily share photos with family members or share work documents with colleagues. Not only that but through the software on the Linux system, you can even build a small FTP server and provide upload and download services on the LAN or public network.
Application 6: Mini PC Android as a second home computer
Today’s desktop hosts are getting cheaper and cheaper, but there is still no price advantage in the face of 300-600 yuan for a Mini PC Android. If you have a spare set of peripherals including a monitor, mouse, and keyboard, you can have a second home computer with a simple connection.
While the computer won’t run the kind of software you’d normally use on Windows or Mac OS, the kids can play some light games on it. When you don’t want to get up and turn on the computer, you can also use it to browse Tencent Weibo, check emails, and even edit documents through QuickOffice software. If you have more complex application requirements, you can also achieve them by flashing the Ubuntu system.
The emergence of Mini PC Android is a breakthrough in PC technology. However, from the current point of view, the status of mainstream desktop computers will not be completely replaced by this mini-computer. But as more and more applications and games are developed on the Android platform, I believe that these mini-computers, which are only the size of a USB flash drive, will eventually change our lives again.
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