Android TV boxes based on Realtek RTD1195 SoC are cheap (about $60), with a relatively slow dual core Cortex A7 processor, but include fast interfaces such as USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and sometimes SATA, and are said to be very good at playing videos. After several months of development since they’ve first been spotted, RTD1195 media player are finally shipping. One of the models is M-195, which had its firmware recently released, and can be downloaded from copy.com, filefactory, mediafire, or solidfiles servers.
This firmware is based on Android KitKat 4.4.2, with build number rtk-phonenix-eng 4.4 krt160 eng.ton.20141024.094201. Firmware update is pretty easy, and is operating system agnostic, since all you need to do is to basically copy the firmware file to a USB flash drive. A PC is not even necessary, as you can download the file and extract it directly from the mini PC itself. The same procedure should work with all RTD1195 media players.
- Extract M-195 RTD 1195 TV BOX STOCK FIRMWARE install-177490_20141024.rar, and copy install.img to the root of a USB flash drive.
- Turn off the TV Box, and connect the USB flash drive to the device
- Press the reset button with a toothpick or other sharp object, and turn on the device. Keep pressing the reset button for about 5 seconds.
- The firmware update progress will be shown on TV and last for about 3 minutes
- Once the firmware update is complete, the device will reboot automatically, starting the newly installed firmware.
In case something goes wrong, for example a power failure, and your device appears to be bricked, you can extract some files from image.img and copy them to the USB flash drive. The method below is from a terminal in Linux, but you could also use graphical tools in Linux (Archive Mounter) or Windows (Winrar):
|
1 2 3 |
mkdir firmware cd firmware tar xvf ../install.img |
then copy three files located in packages5 directory namely “rescue.emmc.dtb”, “emmc.uImage”, “rescue.root.emmc.cpio.gz_pad.img” to the USB flash drive, and repeat steps 2 to 5 above to complete the update. The only difference is that nothing will be shown on the screen (Step 4) during the recovery method.
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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Thanks for the update.
Who is the manufacture for this product?
What does the new firmware update include?
@Mike
M-195 is made by Bluetimes:
http://www.ebluetimes.com/en/ProductView.asp?ID=353&SortID=188
Yes I’m also wondering who is the manufacturer of M195?
@Gabe
Hmm, are you sure that BlueTimes is the ODM (Original Device Manufacturer) of all M-195 boxes including all those sold as OEM (Other Equipment Manufacturer) re-branded or under no brand name?
No, I’m not sure.
@Harley
It’s always difficult to find the manufacturer, especially several companies are usually involved.
The hardware and software design house, manufacturer, and “marketing” company may all be different.
will the source code be oss friendly? the interfaces look good
I received my device today and wanted to if I still need to update the firmware.
Android Version 4.4
Kernel Version
3.10.24
tony@tony_server #3
Thus Sep 25 13:01:10 CST 2014
Build number
rtk-phonenix-eng 4.4 krt160 eng.tony.2014.094201
Version Information
SDK_Release_140923
Thanks!
@Mike
The new version is dated October 2014, yours is September 2014. So you can update.
@xxiao
No news Realtek intentions as far as open source goes, and they are not known for being open source friendly, more like they are infamously known for the opposite to being open source friendly
Realtek looks to have modified XBMC code added a new customer internal player for this RTD1195 SoC but they have not released the source code yet as far as I know.
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=204918
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)
I downloaded the new firmware here,but after the update I still see the same version.
Android Version 4.4
Kernel Version
3.10.24
tony@tony_server #3
Thus Sep 25 13:01:10 CST 2014
Build number
rtk-phonenix-eng 4.4 krt160 eng.tony.2014.094201
Version Information
SDK_Release_140923
Thanks!
@Mike
Ah OK. It’s the same then. I don’t have the box yet, maybe next week.
@Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)
Do you have any Realtek 1195 device?
7.1 audio is not working on this device.
@Mike
Did you get this device?
@Mike
I was promised the device, but it never arrived…
Please script putty flash M-195
@Harley
Any news from the kernel source from realtek? Has anyone asked for it? I think it’s clear violation of the GPL?
BR
ramuller
New firmware -> http://androidpc.es/blog/2015/05/19/firmware-tv-box-m-195-realtek-1195/
No sure about the changelog (Maybe 7.1 is now working)
Finally. Thanks.
And another one -> http://androidpc.es/blog/2015/08/29/firmware-para-tv-box-m-195-con-soc-realtek-1195-29-05-2015/
No changelog, but based on new Android 4.4 SDK
Does somebody know the Uart connector pinout? I managed to brick my box.
@Gabe
Try to locate GND and 5 or 3.3V on the header, usually on the sides, and then try Tx and Rx with the remaining pins until you get some output.
pin 2 is RX, pin 3 is TX, but I can’t interrupt boot with either Esc or Tab. I get
RAMDISK: incomplete write …. kernel panic when trying to boot. So something messed up my flash. Maybe I could take it to gsm service shop & they can change the flash memory, but I don’t know if it worth it.
You safe my life , Thanks so much , My device had bricked and you can help me.