April 2014 - Page 3 of 9 - CNX Software

April 24, 2014April 25, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

How to Update Firmware on Mele X1000 (Telechips TCC8935)

Mele X1000 is a Android Blu-Ray Navigation media player powered by Telechips TCC8935 dual cortex Cortex A9 SoC. I’ve already reviewed the device, and I had received an updated firmware a short while, after my review. I won’t do a full test again, but I’ll just document how to perform a firmware update on Mele X1000, and the method should be similar with other Telechips TCC893x devices. This method requires a computer running Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7. I’m not sure if it supports Windows 8.x. I’ve tried the method in VirtualBox running Windows 7 guest OS, and a netbook running Windows XP. In theory, it should also work in VirtualBox, but my computer running Ubuntu 14.04 failed to recognize the required USB connection. Let’s start by downloading MeLE_X1000_V4_00.20140305.19.zip, the latest firmware for Mele X1000 with the following Changelog: Solved bug: X1000 crashes when loading Hebrew subtitle for the movie. […]

April 24, 2014April 24, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC Mini-Module Plus System-on-Module

In January 2014, Avnet announced Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC Mini-ITX board featuring Xilinx Zynq-7045 or Zynq-7100 ARM + FPGA SoC, and more recently, the company has launched “Xilinx Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC Mini-Module Plus” systems-on-module (SoM) based on the same platforms, as well as a corresponding development kit including a baseboard and a power module. The SoM and development platform target PCI Express, embedded controllers, general-purpose prototyping, networking and communications, storage and servers, and Ethernet/Internet applications. Xilinx Zynq-7000 Mini-Module Plus specifications: SoC- Xilinx Zynq-7045 or Zynq-7100 dual core Cortex-A9 @ up to 1GHz with FPGA (350K or 444K logic cells) System Memory – 1GB DDR3 SDRAM Storage – 128MB parallel flash, 32MB QSPI flash, 8KB EEPROM, and micro SD slot Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet USB – USB 2.0 OTG port Debugging – USB UART, JTAG programming/configuration port, PJTAG header User’s IO via dual board-to-board connectors: 132 User I/O (66 […]

April 24, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Zeco CX5 is a Quad core Android 4.2 Video Projector with a Built-in Battery

There are many products based on Rockchip RK3188 quad core processor that can be used to watch videos on the big screen, such as Android TV boxes, and HDMI TV dongles. Zeco CX5 is an Android video projector that allows you to watch videos, play games, browse through your pictures on a screen as large 300″, and thanks to its 13,000 mAh built-in battery, you could even have your own mini outdoor cinema. Here are the specifications provided by the company: SoC – Rockchip RK3188 quad core processor @ 1.6 GHz with Mali-400MP4 GPU System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 4GB NAND flash, micro SD slot Projector Optical parameters – LED DLP, 0.45″ DMD, Shutter 3D, 750 ANSI Lumens, 2000:1 Contrast Ratio. Resolution: WXGA (1280 x 800). Lamp life: 30,000 hours Projection parameters – Fixed focus, 1.15:1 throw ratio, 1 to 7.5 m distance, 40 to 300″ size. Aspect […]

April 23, 2014April 23, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

Xiaomi Unveils $64 Mi Box Pro TV Box Powered by Amlogic S802 SoC

Xiaomi, now just called Mi, has announced three new products today. Two 802.11ac Wi-Fi routers: Mi Wi-Fi Router for 699 CNY ($112), and Mi Wi-Fi mini for 129 CNY ($20), and one Android TV box called Mi Box Pro featuring Amlogic S802 quad core Cortex A9r4 processor with 2GB RAM, 4GB eMMC Flash, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi that will sell in China for just 399 CNY ($64). Mi Pro Box specifications: SoC – Amlogic S802 quad core Cortex A9r4 processor @ 2GHz with ARM Mali-450MP6 octa-core GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 4GB eMMC Flash + micro SD slot up to 64 GB Video & Audio Output – HDMI (Up to 4K30) and 3.5 mm AV Audio / Video Playback – MKV, AVI, MP3 and MOV up to 4K resolution. AC3, Dolby and DTS audio support Connectivity – Dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi up to 120 Mbps (vs 40 […]

April 23, 2014April 23, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 13 Comments

Linux Kernel Source Code and Chromium OS Overlay for Rockchip RK3288

A few days ago, we’ve seen Chromium OS running on Rockchip RK3288 development platform. I’ve been informed the source code could have already been released via the newly registered rkchrome github account with Linux kernel 3.10.30 and the overlay files to build Chromium OS for RK3288. There’s also a u-boot repository but it is currently empty. This Linux kernel can also boot Rockchip RK3188 based Radxa Rock development board, but more tests are needed to see if it’s really usable. I’ll have a look at the Linux kernel, and try to build it, and leave the Chromium OS part for later or other people. Let’s retrieve the source code:

git clone https://github.com/rkchrome/kernel.git
cd kernel

1 2	git clone https://github.com/rkchrome/kernel.git cd kernel

We’ve got two kernel config files related to Rockchip in arch/arm/config:

ls arch/arm/configs/ | grep rock
rockchip_chromium_defconfig
rockchip_defconfig

ls arch/arm/configs/ | grep rock

rockchip_chromium_defconfig

rockchip_defconfig

But since this is a recent 3.10 kernel with support for Flattened Device Tree support, and multi-platform support, there’s not much to be seen in these files, and […]

April 23, 2014April 14, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments

Techniques to Get more Space for Apps in Android

Many devices now have a single internal partition for apps and data on the internal NAND / eMMC flash, but some companies are still providing firmware with the flash partitioned with an “internal storage” partition for apps and systems, and another partition either called “phone storage” or “internal SD card” to order to store data. In the first case, no problem, but in the second, you may have issues where you have plenty of total space, but the device keeps telling you there is no space, leading to error messages such “email service has stopped”, app updates which can not complete, and app update downloads occurring in loops and draining the battery. I’ve experienced this issue with my phone (ThL W200) which features a mere 0.91 GB internal storage out of an 8GB NAND flash. Internal storage was 0.91 GB (94% full), phone storage 5.73 GB(3% full), and my micro […]

April 23, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

MotherBone PiOne is a 3.5″ Industrial MotherBoard for the Raspberry Pi and the BeagleBone Black (Crowdfunding)

Many people are currently using low cost development boards such as the Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone Black in real products, and 3.5″ single board computers are commonly in industrial applications, so APlus Mobile, a US based company specialized in rugged industrial PCs, has decided to combine the two and designed MotherBone PiOne, a 3.5″ motherboard that can be used in conjunction with the Raspberry Pi and/or the Beaglebone Black for industrial projects. Let’s go through the specifications: SoC / Memory / HDMI and Ethernet – Via BeagleBone Black and/or Raspberry Pi single board computers (usable simultaneously) I/Os: 16-bit GPIO – 5V TTL level 16-bit GPIO (I2C Slave) I2C, I2C2 Bus – Individual BeagleBone Black and Raspberry Pi 5-pin I2C Master access with additional BeagleBone Black 5-pin I2C2 voltage isolated port Analog Inputs – 7x wide range analog voltage inputs with trim adjust for voltage range select PWM Output – Two […]

April 22, 2014November 23, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Habey HIO Project ARM Board and HIO Wallpad PoE Automation Panel (Crowdfunding)

Habey has recently unveiled HIO Project, a $100 ARM Linux board designed for rapid prototyping powered by Freescale i.MX6 dual lite or quad, and shortly after, the company launched a Kickstarter project for HIO Wallpad, an in-wall Power-over-Ethernet touch controller for home or office automation embedding HIO Project boards. HIO Project Boards HIO Main Board (HIO-EMB-1200) specifications: Soc – Freescale i.MX6 Dual Lite or Quad ARM Cortex A9 processor @ 1 GHz + Vivante GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 4G iNAND flash, 1x micro SD socket Video Output – 1x HDMI Audio – 1x on-board audio codec with 1W Amplifier built-in to I/O expansion headers Connectivity – 1x GbE PHY to I/O expansion headers Expansion Connectors: 1x PCIe PHY to I/O expansion headers 8x 50-pin 1.27mm pitch female header for I/Os: 24bit Parallel Display Port, dual channel 24bit LVDS, MIPI DSI up to 24bit, MIPI CSI up […]