Last year, Solidrun launched their Cubox-i mini PCs powered by Freescale i.MX6 single, dual or quad core processor, and running Debian, OpenSUSE, Android 4.4, or various XBMC based Linux distributions. The company has now announced a new product called CuboxTV, that on surface looks similar to their Cubox-i4Pro mini PC with a quad core processor, but instead of running Linux desktop distributions, or Android, it’s pre-loaded with OpenELEC Linux distribution running Kodi 14.
CuboxTV specifications:
- SoC – Freescale i.MX6 Quad with four Cortex A9 core up to 1GHz, and Vivante GC2000 3D GPU
- System Memory – 1GB SDRAM @ 1066 MHz
- Storage – 8GB internal storage + micro SD interface
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4b, 3D support
- Video Decoders – MPEG-4 ASP, XVID, H.264 HP, H.263, MPEG-2 MP, MJPEG BP, VP8, Sorenson-H263.
- Video Encoders – MPEG-4 SP, H.264 BP, H.263, MJPEG BP
- Image Codecs – JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG.
- Audio Decoders – AAC, AACPlus, MP3, Vorbis, FLAC, audio encoder SBC, MP3, speech codecs G.723.1, G.726, G.711, G.729AB, NB/WB AMR.
- Audio Encoders – SBC, MP3.
- Speech Codecs – G.723.1, G.726, G.711, G.729AB,NB/WB AMR.
- Audio Output – HDMI, optical S/PDIF
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet (Limited to 470 Mbps)
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host port
- Misc – IR receiver
- Power – 5V/3A
- Dimensions – 5.08 x 5.08 x 5.08 cm
The picture above can be found on CuboxTV product page, but it’s probably a picture of Cubox-i4Pro, as CuboxTV lacks the eSATA port, and the micro USB “service” port (for serial console) according to specifications listed by SolidRun. Other differences include lack of Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity, and 1GB RAM instead of 2GB RAM.
So CuboxTV has been optimized to provide a cost effective solution dedicated to media playback, and while Cubox-i4Pro sells for $139.99, CuboxTV goes for $99.99 during the pre-sale period (first two weeks?), and $124.99 thereafter.
Via Liliputing and Harley.
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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And another difference: The lack of an IR transmitter. It only has an IR receiver.
Vero is a new Linux based mini-PC / media player from Sam Nazarko that runs OSMC (formerly Raspbmc), looks to be a rebranded / rebadged version of SolidRun CuBox-i2
https://getvero.tv
http://osmc.tv
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=209785
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_software_based_on_XBMC#OSMC_.28formerly_Raspbmc.29
OSMC (short for “Open Source Media Center”, formerly Raspbmc) is an Linux distribution based on Raspbian and XBMC designed specifically made for and solely optimized for open ARM architecture platforms that supports Linux, such as Raspberry Pi, and is maintained by its main developer Sam Nazarko, (who is also the lead developer of Crystalbuntu and LinXBMC).
Vero: different label with higher price?
@vpeter
Basically but there is more to it, see http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=209785
Very interesting reading 🙂
Whats the graphics performance like ?
I haven’t heard or seen anything good from anything with a vivante gpu
@Al
For full hd vivante is more than ok . If you want HEVC and h265 you will need to look for Amlogic 812 / RK3288 stuff.
@Job
I don’t think the IR transmitter is important for most users but it has a receiver. Also there’s a free smartphone app for remote control. Sounds nice.
No h265. Sumvision x4 would seem a better option. People have reported success with openelec on that hardware
@Craig whitcom be
So Sumvision x4 is based on S812, not only S802? It’s not clear from their product page.
http://sumvision.com/?p=product&id=549
Some products based on S802 mention H.265, because they can do hardware decoded up to 720p maybe, so that’s a bit of a stretch…
apparently it’s the AMlogic S805 quad core A5 1.5 Ghz
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=208233&highlight=sumvision
These units are better than any Android box for Kodi, come close to performance of an Intel NUC.
You also get stock Openelec, no custom builds or firmware required, burn image to SD card and your up and running.