You can get a cheap an decent H.265 capable Android TV box for less than $50 with MXQ S85, but MK808B Plus may be the cheapest H.265 capable player on the market, as the Amlogic S805 based Android TV stick sells for just $35.99 on Aliexpress including shipping (promotion valid for 6 days). [Update: Apparently the seller “changed his mind”, and nobody could actually buy for $35.99, so the best option is with GeekBuying for $39.99, also a promotion for the first 1,000 pieces or 10 days whichever comes first] [Update Dec 9, 2014: Promotion for $29.99 on Gearbest with MK808BCN coupon valid until January 9, 2015].
MK808B Plus specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S805 quad core ARM Cortex A5 @ 1.5GHz with quad core Mali-450MP GPU
- System Memory – 1 GB DDR3
- Storage – 8 GB NAND flash + micro SD slot up to 32GB
- Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0.
- Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4b (female)
- USB – 1x USB 2.0 ports + 1x mini USB OTG port + 1x mini USB for power
- Power Supply – 5V/2A
- Dimensions – 88 x 32 x 16 mm
- Weight – 30 grams
The device ships with a micro USB OTG adapter, an HDMI cable, a power adapter with a USB cable, and a user’s manual. Compared to full-size Amlogic S805 players, you’ll lose Ethernet, optical S/PDIF, and usually one or two USB ports. It runs Android 4.4 with the MediaBox user interface, and is pre-loaded XBMC just like its big brothers.
The normal price is $45 to $50, and after the promo ends it can also be purchased on Ebay, Aliexpress, and GeekBuying. The latter will start a promotion on November 19 (tomorrow) selling the device for $39,99.
Thank you Gabe!
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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hi
can i run linux on it ? or it’s like the last mk808b with rk903 problem ?
Does it support cec through hdmi?
A pitty there is no real linux community around the amlogic soc’s.
@Anis
@Roel
I believe Amlogic M8 SoC is pretty good platform for running full featured Linux. Only problem is at the moment that Mali does not support OpenGL (not ES) HW acceleration which is used in X11 windowing system. Last info I have is that Amlogic engineers are working on that part too and probably we will have full flavor Ubuntu running on Amlogic.
Meanwhile, you can search for WeTek Lubuntu release (posted here on cnx). WeTek guys managed to get Lubuntu running on their MX device, but w/o OpenGL acceleration.
Hi,
Here is Amlogic linux site. Looks that there are complete sources.
http://openlinux.amlogic.com/
amlogic didn’t provide mali drivers build for x.org
but now they provide armhf build
so it isn’t big problem to make working ubuntu build for this device
What Anis said, Can it run linux or can we load a custom android version ?
just bought one yesturday
@adem
“But it was obsolete before I opened the box.
You say you’ve had your desktop for over a week?
Throw that junk away, man, it’s an antique.
Your laptop is a month old? Well that’s great,
If you could use a nice, heavy paperweight.”
Geek buying get the first bulk sale, there is no other seller who can proceed the order, so if you order yours from aliexpress, please make sure contact the seller to confirm if he can proceed the order. and the 35usd price is also wrong, that is lower than the cost, it’s a shame, aliexpress!
@eric
Yes, tried to order, but got 8 euro “adjust price” for total of “US $ 45.99”. Aliexpress offer is a scam.
Does it support cec through hdmi?
Geekbuying has a deal on them for $39
http://promotion.geekbuying.com/promotion/thanksgiving_giveaway_blow_out_sale?utm_source=promotion&utm_medium=TPB1411&utm_campaign=PM_TPB1411_TV_Box_Free_Gift_Card
@Matteo
there is cec control setting , but we haven’t tested it.
@anon
dude what are you talking about what desktop
@adem
Heh, just a song that flashed to mind when I read your comment. Never mind. 🙂
@adem
@anon
The song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zW9O3bwNgk
$34.36 on GearBest for 4 days – http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box/pp_124593.html
@cnxsoft
use this code for extra discount: CyberMon8
@cnxsoft
cnx it says 2G ram WTF is that wright or typo?
@adem
The description says 1GB RAM, the title 2GB RAM. It’s probably safe to expect 1GB RAM only.
@cnxsoft
S805 by ref. schematics from AMLogic supports maximum 1 GB DDR III, and they recommend from 512 MB to 1 GB to be used.
Just get one from gearbest at $29.99..
any way to install ubuntu on it?
thanks
Also $40 here at present: http://www.tinydeal.com/v-p-142714.html
And $24 here for 3 days:
http://www.geekbuying.com/item/MK808B-Plus-Amlogic-M805-Quad-Core-Android-4-4-Mini-TV-Dongle-1G-8G-WIFI-H-265-HW-Decode-Bluetooth-DLNA-Miracast—Black-337068.html
@onebir
That link shows $35.99 for now. Maybe they realized they made a mistake with the price?
@cnxsoft
~~!@#$! my mistake – they switched to GBP without me realising.
Does anyone knows what kind of deinterlacing algorithm do these Amlogic 802, 805, 812 Soc use? BOB, Motion Adapter, Vector Adaptive?
Maybe just grab a Hardkernel board. They support both Linux and Android.
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G141578608433
@sam
BOB and Motion adaptive de-interlacing.
New firmware for MK808B Plus: http://blog.geekbuying.com/index.php/2015/12/10/mk808b-plus-amlogic-s805-tv-box-firmware-update-20151210/
$19.99 for MK8908B Plus on Gearbest @ http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box/pp_126894.html