Review: EMTEC Gem Box Console

Turn your TV into a gaming hub.Instant access to a large library of thousands of games from Google Play and high-end console quality games from GameFly Streaming.

Pros:

• Runs on the latest Android operating system.
• Bluetooth controller support.
• Console uses Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
• Text entry petal system ala Steam big picture text input.
• Four games come pre loaded: Asphalt 8, GT Racing, Wonder Zoo and My Little Pony.
• Micro SD support for media like songs and videos.
• Can allow third party apps.
• Controller has a switch that turns it from pad to mouse. In mouse the arrow is controlled with a analogue stick.
• The controller is small and light and takes a lot of its design from the Xbox 360 controller. Its easy to setup and connect to the console.
• The console itself is lightweight and small. So small in fact that it can easily fit under your TV or tucked away on a shelf.
• Gamefly is pre installed.
• Shortcuts are assigned to controller buttons by default that make navigating the system UI a lot easier.
• Android phone users will be used to the layout of the store and how games work.
• Sign in with your Android account and you can then use achievements and saves function.
• Google play store will do its best to only show supported games and apps.
• Playing videos is relatively easy from the Micro SD card but it really shines when you use the Google Play video store.
• Can stream movies from PC.
• Really easy to setup the console on the whole. Takes minutes.
• Apps and games generally load fast.
• Gamefly streaming is really good and dependent on internet speed, Loads rapidly and looks really good to the point where you forget you are streaming.
• Android games get blown up on the big screen, Little button input lag and its weird at first seeing games from your phone running up on the big screen!
• You can actually setup the box to stream games from your PC.
• The console does allow multiple controllers to be connected allowing local multiplayer.
• Full parental control options.
• The box is really powerful and allows you to do so much.

Cons: 

• Game updates still slow things down. More how they are implemented. You boot a game and get to the main screen before you get a update pop up screen.
• Learning curve on the text entry.
• Accidentally pressing the home button will boot you back to the main menu with no real easy way to resume your game.
• Holding down home for too long will turn the controller off.
• Some games from Google Play dont perform or look nice blown up on the big screen.
• Google UI is not the easiest to navigate forcing you to use the mouse mode of the controller for ease and speed.
• The built in Gem store is minimal with all games chargeable.
• Some games you stream from Gamefly require a 5GHZ or wired connection in order to work.
• Random controller disconnects.
• You dont get an option to either see a list of available updates or have games automatically update in the background.
• Gamefly is the biggest culprit for button press lag even on wired or 5GHZ connections.
• Gamefly doesn’t support multiplayer.