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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I have to confess: AML8726-M3 Cortex A9 means nothing to me & I find the Arm nomenclature extremely confusing. If anyone knows of (or would care to write) a “bluffer’s guide to the Arm universe” – covering the nomenclature and comparing the extant SOCs in each category – I think many people would find it helpful.
@Onebir
AML8726-M3 has nothing to do with ARM, it’s AMLogic nomenclature:
I think they have 3 processors:
AML8726-M1 (aka AML8726-M) – 800 MHz – Single core Cortex A9
AML8726-M3 – 1 GHz – Single core Cortex A9
AML8726-MX (aka AML8726-M6) – 1.5 GHz – Dual core Cortex A9
I probably made a mistake (please somebody correct me), as AMLogic does not even mention their processors on their website.
If you want details about the different Cortex A (A5, A7, A8, A9 and A15), head to ARM Cortex A page – http://www.arm.com/products/processors/cortex-a/index.php
So, if it is not ARM, then why is it Cortex A ?
ARM gives out licenses to processor architectures they develop in their labs. The others take those designs and do some special stuff with it, like adding their own IP.
Sorry, forgot to finish last post. 😉
So, if it is being based on ARM Cortex IP, then why is it not ARM? Every manufacturer has ARM at the base, but adds its own stuff. Is that different with AMLogic?
They take the arm CPU core and package with the GPU and a VPU into a SOC.
For example the Allwinner A10 SOC is a arm cortex a8 core, a mali400 gpu and the CedarX VPU.
@.jon
Sorry I did not express myself clearly, when I said “AML8726-M3 has nothing to do with ARM, it’s AMLogic nomenclature”, I just meant to say “AML8726-M3 name is not related to ARM”.
deadhp1 probably explained it best. The AML8726-M3 SoC is composed of 1 ARM Cortex A9 core, a Mali 400 GPU (not sure of the number of cores) and a video encoder/decoder engine (not sure of the exact name either).
@cnxsoft
There is only 1 core on the Mali 400 in 8726 M1/M3 line.
There are two cores on the Mali 400 in the 8726-M6 line.
XBMC works under Android on the M3 with hardware decoding.
Why does it come with a composite cable if it seems to only have component and hdmi support? Does it really support component?
@h0t1ce
alright… sorry, I made a mistake it’s a component cable, not composite (Updated the post).
You can see the YPbPr and Audio jacks in the picture above, or even more clearly in the Aliexpress link.
ZAP-A10 Android Media Player can the ZAP-A10 Android Media Player do composite video output. if not what can it do
@Patrick
Sorry no composite, as far as I can tell.
Video Output – HDMI and component (YPbPr)
@Patrick
If you want composite video output here is a box for you(It has the same Amlogic chipset & has DVB-T too):
http://www.chinavasion.com/china/wholesale/Home_Audio_Video/Projectors_Home_Theater/Android_4.0_HDMI_TV_Box__DVB-T_Wifi_N/
thanks for your reply
one other thing can i put XBMC on this also. i need the box for xbmc with remote
@Patrick
I don’t know, but that box on ChinaVision looks like Geniatech ATV1100 which has AMLogic AML8726-M1 or AMLogic AML8726-M3 chipset, so XBMC for Android the Pivos version should work.