Full-sized set-top boxes based on AMLogic AML8726-M3 processor have the potential to support XBMC Linux & Android with proper hardware support, but are not always priced very aggressively. But today, I’ve stumbled upon MyGica A11 Android 4.0 media player powered by AML8726-M3, with 1GB RAM and 4GB flash that sells for $65.10 on DealExtreme including shipping, and just 339 RMB (~55 USD) in China.
Mygica A10 Specifications:
- SoC – AMLogic AML8726-M3 (Cortex A9) processor @ 1.0GHz with Mali-400 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 4GB Flash + microSD slot (Up to 32GB)
- Video Output – HDMI 1.3 (Up to 1080p)
- Video Formats – AVI, RM, RMVB, Ts, TP, TRP, Vob, Mkv, Mov, WMV, IOS, AFS, FLV, DAT, MPG, MPEG & SWF
- Video Codecs – MPEG1/2/4, H.264, AVC/VC-1, Xvid ,DivX3/4/5/6, and Real Video 8/9/10
- Audio Formats – MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, FLAC, ALAC, APE, AAC, AC-D, DTS & Real Audio
- Subtitle – pgs, srt, smi, sub, ssa, ass, and sub+.idx
- USB – 3x USB 2.0 Host ports
- Connectivity – 10/100 Mbit Ethernet
Beside the media player, the package contains a power adapter (100~240V / US plug), an infrared remote control, and a user manual in Chinese. You may have noticed Wi-Fi is missing, so you’ll need to use a WiFi USB dongle if you intend to connect to your router that way. However, if you don’t plan to connect via Ethernet, you are probably better off with one of those AML8726-M3 HDMI TV dongles.
Davilla, one of XBMC developers, is working with Pivos to port XMBC Linux to their AML8726-M1 and M3 set-top boxes, and they’ve released a new beta firmware last week. However, this firmware is tailored for the Pivos STBs, and most probably, it won’t work directly on Mygica A11. But since the source code is available, it should be feasible to adapt it to this low cost STB.
You can find more information on Dealextreme, or directly on Mygica website (in Chinese).
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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Does this player come rooted by default?
@Harley
Sorry, I don’t own it. You’d better ask this on dealextreme forums or on the Chinese website.
I can see a wifi tick box on official website 🙂 it may have wifi eventually 😉
http://www.mygica.com/ Is a lot easier to read. (for me at least)
But this is the single core version, right? Also see http://tabreview.ru/content/pdf_docs/aml8726-m3_quick-reference-manual.pdf. So how is the performance?
@Demetris
I think it might just be to indicate it supports Wi-Fi via external dongle.
@Peter Steenbergen
OK. I did not see there was an English version, but I can’t find the A11 here.
@S
Yes, M3 is the single core version. If you are just going to use this box as a media player, single core + hardware acceleration is more than enough IMHO. If you plan to also use it to run Android apps , then yes, multi-core will help.
Pretty shameful davilla is now a corporate bitch of Pivos… Thats not the spirit of open source xbmc
@Jarcho
I don’t see the problem with being paid to develop open source software. If he had taken his XBMC skills to Pivos, and made the changes private then it would be another issue. I think most of the Linux kernel is developed by people working at companies paid to do so.
@Jarcho
If there is one guy that has opensource in mind it is Davilla. Most people should take an example of him. Within 15 minutes the binary was released, the sources were available.
Hi CNX,
I asked J1nx this as well and he gave me some input. Im wondering if you have any experience with MyGica (GeniaTech) boxes and the component A/V output? I have an old CRT (only AVI and Coaxial inputs) and have noticed that a couple of the boxes which seem fastish (models 1200 and 1600) have A/V out; however it could be that they dont function or would not work with CRT tvs.
@NineJa
I don’t have experience with MyGica/Geniatech boxes. However I would be surprised if there were some incompatibilities with A/V output. I’ve never seen this type of problem when I worked on set-top boxes. I saw some display problems due to wrong PAL/NTSC settings (e.g. image colors), but I’ve never seen component / composite output fail to display at all.
Thanks CNX.
Since you and J1nx comment on each others sites, and Ive seen j1nx on some of the software forums too, I want to ask you both a question in general.
Have you guys ever thought about collaborating (two of you + software people in the community) and producing a custom stb using a kickstarter model? (Not indigogo as I dunno why, but it doesnt seem to have the same pull imho).
Just a basic outline of what I mean:
1. Contact GeniaTech (or another reputable manufacturer) and figure out a minimum production run size for a customized stb
2. Speak to your colleagues who work on XBMC, Linux Ports, Android Customs and develop an understanding of what would be required for them supporting the project (e.g. what the VideoLan guys have done for VLC on windows 8 through Kickstarter).
3. If possible, get a guy in China who could be your face to face contact with Genia (e.g. guy behind cubieboard) and if possible find someone who does case design and would be able to come up with something.
3. Put together this project team under an open source model with h/w support from GeniaTech and S/w support from the community (i.e. you know what source code you need and you know you have it up front).
4. Develop a dream specification which would give the you and us the purchasers atleast a year before hardware redunancy (e.g. 2gb ram, teams choice of proc manufacturer and proc model, heatsink, antenna, outputs and casing). Since you guys test and review devices, you know the weaknesses in design or parts or software that are preventing these from going big.
5. Develop unit prices based around quantities above the minimum prod run. So if 1000 is the minimum at $100 for the spec; can the unit proc go down by $5 if you get 2000 orders and so forth.
6. Develop the prototype with GeniaTech (as a sweetner to them, let them sell it post the project as a commercial product).
7. Go to Kickstarter with for a production run funding only. I.e. if funding arrives, we ship in 2 months becuase everything is ready and we just need the minimum order quantity to be funded.
8. Incentivize over and above funding by saying what could be done at each level (like what ouya did).
The only catch here would be that this would not be a profit making project for the individuals involved (except Geniatech) and the people would be doing this as an extension of their open source community contributions. OR if you can figure out a way to get some remuneration for the project team through a $15 / $20 markup in the price for a finished product, that would be cool too.
Thanks if you read through all that.
@NineJa
Thanks for the comment NiceJa.
That’s a nice idea. It may seem easy, but that’s a lot of work and commitment to do that, plus some starting capital for development. I would be happy to promote such a project, but personally, I don’t think I’d like the pressure, workload and red tape (Company formation, working visa…) associated with this project.
@NineJa
Indeed that would be a dream scenario and I would love to participate, but …
The size of what you describe is only possible for a medium to large sized business. OUYA can only do this because the investments done comming from te company, will in the end flow back into the company.
Setting it all up without a long term investment / business plan is impossible.
I might succeed with the right team, but the most important player shall be a really, REALLY competent project manager.
@j1nx
Hi both, thanks for your replies, and please don’t think that I think it’s easy 🙂 , I’m sure it’s not. I’m just a non technical guy with an interest in tech and a bit of spare time to dream about the zooomg product which I would buy for myself without hesitation.
After doing more net reading based on your comments,It seems to me that these boxes don’t go mainstream in a big way because they are not backed by a critical mass of people or don’t present a complete solution. The opposite of this is rasp pi with its community and ouya with its financial muscle.
I still think there is still a slot or market for a user designed stb through crowd funding IF you get the potential buyer to believe in the project. The best way to do that is to form a name brand association that funders will buy into so well selected zooomg specs at a palatable price as I mentioned in my first post BUT logos and names that enthusiasts and end users know of as a part of the project team; e.g. (more dreaming I guess)
1. Custom android rom supported by Team Cyanogen (speak to them they have a huge team and if they have an interest in rom proliferation, what is better than stb/mini pc which is Virgin territory for them)
2. Linux (ubuntu?/mint?) optimised development and hardware —– because the device would be dual boot designed obviously
3. Cat-sunglasses avatar guy from xbmc in the team (no hw acceleration ambiguity as 100% of the sources they need would be available to them)
4. Cnx and J1nx who run their own reputable blogs and sites and are technically skilled themselves
5. Andropos (you know him too I see) the owner of another popular forum (and located close in China)
6. Manufactured by Geniatech (e.g.) a company with 15 years history in the biz
7. Case designed by (can’t figure this out, adafruit??) with aesthetics and airflow in mind.
8. Extensive software documentation under the public license thingy.
So yeah it would be a massive collaboration , no doubt , but the names and respective communities would give it a large base of people who would be willing to fund because the vapourware fear wouldn’t be there. Other than company formation, it is possible to do it as a project team if profit per unit is not the objective.
Anyway, thanks for reading again, laters..
In case you wonder why this box is much cheaper than other AMLogic AML8726-M3 stb, it could be because MyGica actually belongs to Geniatech:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois-search/mygica.com
@cnxsoft
I figured that out the easier way last week, by just looking at both of their contact page. They are located at the same address, so assumed ……
@Nineja, wil get back to you a bit later.
@NineJa
There’s someone else who comments here who mentioned incorporating companies in Hong Kong for some development projects a while back. Spanish name IIRC.
hi,
I’ve got one of these units, I’m more than happy to test out any APKs to see if it’s XBMC compatible, please just point me where I can download them.
@gizmomelb
You could try that one: http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android/xbmc-12.0-Frodo_rc3-armeabi-v7a.apk
@gizmomelb
Hi!
You tried XBMC ? Any news ?
Somebody bought one, and connected a serial port anf got u-boot and linux output. So the Mygica A11 appears to be hackable.
http://www.xbmchub.com/forums/xbmc-android-discussion/3925-mygica-a11.html
There’s now a (preliminary?) XBMC Linux ROM for Mygica A11 – http://www.xbmchub.com/forums/xbmc-android-discussion/3925-mygica-a11.html#post33949
There’s a Test build available from j1nx site for the MyGica A11.
http://www.j1nx.nl/gbox-midnight-xbmc-linux-test-release/#comment-1680
Hi
I am interesting in your product.
Could you give me detail spec.
Best regards
Taeyeong Cho