Olevia's OleBox looks a lot like the Apple TV, and it does a lot of the same things- but it is much, much more. Instead of a piece of hardware that you use to access Apple's content on your TV, the OleBox is basically a mini computer running version 2.2 of the Android operating system.
What this means is it turns your TV into a tablet computer, allowing you to browse the internet, play games, check e-mails, watch videos, listen to music, and so on, all in a small package that should fit nicely in your living room.
As a computer, the OleBox is powered by a 1.2GHz three-core processor, a separate 3D graphics chip, 512MB of RAM and 8GB of storage. It connects to your TV via standard cables or HDMI, and features broadband, Wi-fi and optional 3G networking for accessing the internet.
The OleBox is also equipped with two USB ports, allowing you to connect USB memory sticks, or even your mobile phone, directly to it and upload photos or videos to view on your TV. And because it is a computer, Olevia provides miniature Qwerty keyboard with the OleBox, as well as a remote control.
There is lots to like about the OleBox. Because it's an Android product, it will boot up instantly, access the internet, and is then able to download more applications online. On the other hand, it isn't backed by iTunes, so you have to search online yourself.
The Olevia OleBox sells for HK$1,990.