GEM Box Review

The Gaming Entertainment Multimedia (or "GEM Box" for short) is an android games console from EMTEC. It appeals to gamers and media lovers alike, but is it as convenient as it sounds?

The box itself can literally fit in the palm of your hand and therefore, takes the smallest amount of space. It's simple to get started. All you need to do is plug it in and connect a HDMI lead, both of which are in the box already.

Also included is a controller that's fairly comfortable to hold and reminds me of the Xbox 360 pad. The biggest difference here would be the option to use the mouse styled point and click or the standard analogue sticks depending on your personal preference. You can alternate between the two by flicking a switch underneath the controller. This was especially useful when wanting to browse the internet.

Check our unboxing video here:

From a gamer's perspective, the GEM Box gives you a lot of flexibility and ensures there's something for everyone. The Google Play store is all ready to go, instantly giving you the option to download and play a multitude of addictive games on the bigger screen.

Also available are console quality games that can be streamed via Gamefly and the next thing is, there are over 70 to choose from! For a small monthly fee, you can gain access to titles such as Bioshock, Tomb Raider and Saints Row IV. While I wasn't able to fully test this out (mostly in part to my caveman connection) it does give you the option of 10 minute trials for game's you would like to try out, which is always a plus.

Now I myself am an old school gamer and so when it comes to retro titles, I can spend hours going through them my library. To save time, the GEM Box gives you access to these games via emulation and is easily accessible from the main menu. The great thing is that for you couch co-op lovers out there, the GEM Box supports up to 4 bluetooth controllers, so let the best button masher win!

Prefer to play your PC games? Well you can also stream those titles to any TV in your household.

If you're looking for other forms of entertainment in addition to this, the option is also there for you. Youtube is pre-installed as standard, however there are an abundance of apps that are available to download from the Google Play Store as previously mentioned above. Looking to bring your own content over? No problem! There's a USB and Micro SD slot, too. Even better still, Android and iOS devices can mirror content directly to the TV, making it simple to use the device as a media hub for sharing photos and multimedia content directly from a phone, tablet or laptop.

The GEM Box was designed with the idea of freedom in mind and it definitely offers that. If you're looking to move up from your current setup or even looking to purchase a Smart TV, this will practically do it all for you.

Had a chance to try out the GEM Box? Let us know in the comments below or hit me up on twitter - @TheLibanAli

You can also find us over on our Social Networks:
http://www.facebook.com/weknowgamers
http://www.twitter.com/weknow_gamers