The last few months have been pretty quiet in terms of new Android mini PCs and media players, at least when it comes to new platforms. But finally there’s something new, as Telechips TCC893x based devices are starting to show up on the marketplace. The devices won’t beat performance records as the new Telechips SoC features a dual core Cortex A9 processor with a Mali-400MP2 GPU, but they’ll be very affordable. Hotach HTV003 is one of the first media player powered by Telechips TCC8935, and sells for $50 on Aliexpress.
Hotach HTV003 specifications:
- SoC – Telechips TCC8935 with two ARM Cortex A9 cores up to 1GHz, one Cortex M3 core, and an ARM Mali-400MP2 GPU
- System Memory – 1GB DDR3
- Storage – 4GB NAND Flash + micro SD card slot up to 32 GB
- Connectivity – Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
- Video Output – HDMI
- Audio Ouput – HDMI
- USB – 2x USB host ports, 1x micro USB OTG port
- Power Supply – 5V/1A via micro USB port
- Dimensions – 77 x 40 x 14.5 mm
The box is sold with an HDMI cable (optional), a USB cable, a 5V/1A power adapter, and a user’s manual. HTV003 currently runs Android 4.2.2, and is said to support Miracast DLNA, and Airplay. The company does not mention the Ethernet speed, but TCC893x processors integrate a Gigabit Ethernet MAC, which would be a unique feature for a device at this price. It still believe it’s a 10/100M Ethernet port though. I’m not exactly sure if the Cortex M3 is used in the device, but it could potential handle remote control input, while the Cortex A9 cores are down, to lower standby power consumption.
The Linux kernel, Android Jelly Bean, and a VPU “driver” (actually a wrapper around a binary) source code is available for Telechips processors on the company’s open source SW page. So there’s potentially some hacking potential, but the Linux kernel was also available for previous processors, and interest failed to take off except somewhat for CX-01 (Android only).
At $50 + shipping ($58 in total), it’s about the same price as the cheapest AllWinner A20 media player with Ethernet, but features faster Cortex A9 cores compared to the Cortex A7 cores found in AllWinner SoC. The GPU is the same: MAli-400 MP2. Beside Aliexpress, you could checkout the company’s Alibaba store if you want to buy in quantities, or visit Hotach website. The complete company name is actually Shenzhen Hongtai Auspicious Technology Co. Ltd…
Thanks to Gabe for the link.
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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Any support for XBMC yet? 🙂
Is there an ARM big.LITTLE Android TV box yet? Ideally, one where you can use all the cores (ie, not like Exy 5410)…
yes plzz any support for xbmc and who is releasing the firmware for this chipset and will there be more then one
@Tired_
You’ve got hardkernel and insignal Exynos 5420 development boards.
As for an actual Android TV Box, I just know Beelink is working on one with Exynos 5410. It could be the first “true” big.little based media players will be based on AllWinner A80.
apart from the ethernet what would make this better then lets say mk808 or allwinner a20 box when using as a media center or a tv box and xbmc comparability not that the allwinner a20 is xbmc friendly
i just bought it so we will see
Give it to us some reviews
@adem
@rafael duarte
i choose free shipping so it will take close to a month before i get. but when i do i will make review of it
Since it does not come with a remote control, does it support HDMI CEC?
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/small-rk3188-tv-box-android-dvb-t2/1405826163.html
this seller is trying to get more money from me saying he made a mistake with shipping. but i dont believe him plzz avoid this seller guys 🙁 just a heads up
THEY JUST SAID THAT THEY SENT IT WE WILL SEE IF IT CAMES I WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE
hey guys i got the device 3 days ago and i am not happy. even though the case looks the same as the pic above the chipset is not. i did not get the htv003 instead i got stv9803 which is a single core cortex-a5 telechip chip-set.
i have been arguing with the seller that they sent me the wrong item and she keeps telling me that its a dual core. what they gave me is tcc8920 single core and the htv003 has the tcc8935 which is a dual core cortex-a9.
i made a video and uploaded it to youtube so you guys can see and perhaps correct me in case i am wrong.
also here is a link for the CPU-Z dump http://valid.canardpc.com/a/2infrf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wmPNyQEnQ
i am going to have a chat to them one more time and if they cannot help me then i will complain to alibaba and aliexpress what do you guys think. ????? 🙁
@adem
That’s clearly not the right device. These guys deleted the original link to their product too. But Aliexpress should have a copy of the original. If you show the screenshots, you should be able to return it, and get a refund.
I think they should also pay the return shipping, but I’m not sure of the exactly rules with Aliexpress.
@adem I think the main thing is *not to confirm satisfactory receipt of the item* & complain (I forgot the exact term) before the automatic time limit expires. If you do this Aliexpress won’t pay the seller, & they’ll have to give you a deal (at least partial refund). Once they’re paid, it seems Aliexpress can/will do very little…
i took screen shots of the page and put them in a folder and tomorrow going to find out how much it is going to cost to send it back then open a dispute and get advice from escrow. because i dont think escrow paid them yet because i am yet to confirm the item received . i will seek advice from them and see what happens.
http://trade.aliexpress.com/order_detail.htm?orderId=61082495990977
@onebir
i still have 43 days before it automatically confirms order i will put in a dispute in the next few days. the device is not bad considering it is a single core cortex-a5 running at maximum of 800mhz it feels no different to mk808 but xbmc is a no go i only managed to install gothem and even that would not play with full H/W acceleration there is no audio video sync and all the other xbmc apk’s i installed wouldent even start. also some video app that i use for watching live streams would not work properly
@adem Ok – I think if the item is ‘not as described’ you’re supposed to get a full refund (& maybe a bit more). Let us know how it works out!
hi, if you don’t mind, could you point me to an alternative to this device?, i’ve been searching all over for that port layout, ethernet + at least 2 usb. i think i’ve seen an allwinner a20 based device that is very similar but without ethernet. thanks in advance
@eugenio
There are several, but in a slightly larger form factor. Check http://www.cnx-software.com/2013/08/20/48-ninss-tech-bba22-android-stb-powered-by-allwinner-a20/ for links to 3 boxes with dual core + ethernet + 2x usb.
There’s also the Cubieboard 2, Wandboard dual development boards. There are casing available for both.
Adem
I can believe this kind of things happened, aliespress,should have better way or system to check the item before the send it.
Good that you have time to dispute.
Cheer and good luck.
@rafael duarte
Aliexpress is a third party here, just like Ebay, so they can’t check the parcel before the seller sends it. However, I’m confident Adem will get his money back (at least partially) as Aliexpress has not released the fund to the seller yet, and the latter is clearly wrong here.
@onebir
i will inform you guys of everything
@rafael duarte
thanks mate
Cnxsof.
I do think the way to do this kind of business from aliexpress is wrong, I know aliesxpress its third party,but how many peoples still having this situation,wrong information about of the item,fake or ghost seller,maybe a reseller involving, and some other things.correct me if am I wrong, its to much info and seller,reseller,or aliex to try to confused the buyer,some when you click,it give another seller or resellers, so the I do step a way from aliexpress until they do some,I do know they do have a good dispute department, but waisting to wait even for a refund mostly credit.
guys i often look at geekbuying and if they have what i want for a similar price or eve $2 or $3 more i buy from them it does take awhile to get me but in the en it usually does
I do like geekbuying,and I look for this product to see if they sell,but I think to cheap.
OK guys its all good they wanted me to send the item back and when i told them it would cost $15 aus post air which takes up to 10 business days they said dont worry about it and that i did not have to send it back and they would fully refund me vai Paypal so they did well $50 of it. it actually cost $58 but i guess $8 is for shipment they paid so i guess $8 for this device is not bad. and i was surprised that it took less then 5 min for the transaction to finnish and the money is there available for me well $48 of it because paypal charged me $2 in fees and charges ow well still i am happy. also they said when the htv003 is available they would notify me
@adem
Good to see you’ve got a prompt resolution.
None that would have happened if they would have simply told you the device was not available…
i know brother i know 🙂
@adem You’ve had good luck with this seller 🙂
@onebir
yes i did i was lucky this time. also i am a bit surprised with this device despite the fact that i cannot run xbmc i can watch you tube and you tube like apps pretty well just not apps that show live stream but i think it may be a firmware issue the chipset does have neon i can run xbmc 13 gotham but it crashes a lot and 99% of the the addons dont work so maybe it may need a few bugs fixed and bobs your uncle you have a cheap device that you can use as a media center. also one more problem my box is really close to my repeater and when i use ethernet a lot of the time youtube freezers but if i take out the ethernet and just use wifi it works well ???? i dont understand it should be the other way around. also after they paid me back the money and told me to keep the device i decided to open her up and had a look at the cpu and i was right it was a tcc8925 chip-set i will do a quick video to show you guys.
closest thing i found to my device specs is this device
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wholesale-Telechips-CSO3-Android-4-0-4-Google-TV-box-TCC8925-45nm-1-0-Ghz-RAM/1278267475.html
also here is the video link for my video
http://youtu.be/z-jOoK7l8lA
hey guys where can i get firmware for this device stv9803 running tcc8925 i looked around goolgle but there is no info anywhere
@adem
If you haven’t tried already, you should try to ask the firmware to your seller. They may have it.
An alternative could be this HK company: http://touchmax.com.hk/eshowshop.asp?/55.html