You may already know that XBMC has been working on the Pivox XIOS DS set-top box based on AMLogic AML8726-M3. Pivosgroup has sponsored the development of XBMC for Android and Linux on their new media player, and it costs about $115 on sites like Amazon, but it’s not available worldwide right now.
If you’re looking for an alternative AMLogic AML8726-M3 device, and are a bit adventurous, you may have a look at the ZAP-A10, an Android 4.0 networked media player featuring AML8726-M3 Cortex A9 processor, with 1GB RAM and 4 GB Flash.
Here are the specs of this set-top box:
- SoC – Single core Cortex A9 @ 1GHz (AML8726-M3) with Mali-400 GPU
- System Memory – 1 GB RAM
- Storage – 4GB Flash & SD card slot
- Connectivity
- 10/100M Ethernet
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
- USB – 4x USB Host port
- Video Output – HDMI and component (YPbPr)
- Video Containers – M2TS / RM/RMVB / BD-ISO / AVI / MPG / VOB / DAT / ASF / TRP / FLV etc.
- Audio Codecs – MP3 / OGG / WMA / WMAPRO
- Dimensions – 11.6 cm x 11.6 cm x 2.7 cm
- Weight – 274 g
The player is sold with an IR Remote control, a 12V/1.5A (TBC) power adapter, 1 component (YPbPr) cable, 1 audio cable (RCA) and a user manual in Chinese and English. This device features are similar to the ones for Mele A1000 except it comes with more memory, features component output & one more USB port, but does not feature a SATA port. I also do not know if debug port (JTAG/Serial) are easily accessible.
Dealextreme only mentions a Cortex A9 processor, not the exact processor used, but I asked on their forums, and one person who bought one reported that it is indeed an AML8726-M3. After further research, I found what is apparently the same product, but called GV-12 on Aliexpress, uses AML8726-M3. The seller on Aliexpress (Eny Technology) also appears to be the manufacturer, and could can check more details about the GV-12 on their site.
If you want to play around AMLogic AML8726 single core devices (M1 and M3 processors), you could check out AMLogic OpenLinux ARM Wiki , Pivosgroup github repositories and/or consult Pivos XIOS DS forums. Even if this platform is similar to Pivos XIOS DS, it does not mean all Pivos software (especially Linux/ U-Boot) will work on the Zap-A10/GV-12, and If you just want to use XBMC, you’d probably better stick to the Pivos STB, at least for now.
ZAP-10 media player sells for $86.40 on Dealextreme including shipping.
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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