Broadcom Unveils BCM725x SoCs for STBs and TV Sticks

Broadcom has recently announced two new SoCs, namely BCM7250 and BCM72502, respectively targeted at OTT streaming media player form factor and  HDMI stick or dongle applications.  Both feature Broadcom’s Brahma-B15 ARMv7-A cores, support 10-bit H.265, HDMI 2.0, MHL 2.0, and up to to 4×4 5G WiFi via BCM4366 WiSoC.

Key features listed by Broadcom for both SoCs:

• High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)/H.265 compression
• 6000 DMIPS B15 ARMv7-A CPU
• 1.0 Gpix/s OpenGL ES 3.0 3D GPU
• Supports HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 or MHL 2.0 digital video output
• PCIe connectivity to Broadcom BCM4366 4×4 carrier-grade 5G WiFi
• 480/576p30 transcode
• 1080p60 10-Bit HD HEVC decode and 4Kp60 upscale
• High Performance DDR3/DDR4 system memory interface
• Supports Android, Chromium, DIAL, DLNA CVP2, Miracast protocols
• Supports Broadcom Trellis Multi-Application Framework and DTVKit software stack

The company can also provide reference platforms with 2×2 and 4×4 5G WiFi connectivity options via a high-speed PCIe interface, and announced that BCM7250, BCM72502 and BCM4366 are currently sampling.

Smart Labs is one of the first companies to have designed a products based on the latest Broadcom processors with SML-482 HEVC Hybrid box pictured above featuring BCM7250 processor, and with the following specifications:

• SoC – Broadcom BCM7250 with 3D GPU supporting OpenGL ES 2.0
• System Memory – Options: 512MB DDR3, 1GB DDR3 for Dual HEVC Decode, 1GB DDR3 for Android
• Storage – 256 MB flash  (Up to 16GB as option for Android)
• Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4 with HDCP 1.4 and 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 (upscale 1080p60 content to 4k2kp60), CVBS + stereo audio
• Video Codecs – HEVC / H.265, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1
• Audio Codecs – MPEG1/2, MP3, AAC, AC3, WMA, FLAC, OGG vorbis
• Tuner – DVB-C (QAM, ITU-T J.83 Annex A, B, C)
• Connectivity – 10/100Mbit Base-T Ethernet + optional internal 802.11n Wi-Fi or USB WiFi dongle
• USB – 2x USB 2.0 port,  1x USB 2.0 with internal Wi-Fi (whatever that means)
• Misc – IR Receiver
• Dimensions – 100x100x32 mm
• Weight – 140 grams

The device runs either Linux or Android as option, with Webkit as the browser, and Verimatrix and Securemedia for security / DRM. Smartlabs does not sell to individual, so you may end-up with one, possibly re-branded, via your IPTV provider. More details can be found on Smartlabs SML-482 product page.

I could not find a TV stick with BCM72502, but the one in the top picture might be Broadcom’s reference design.

Via AndroidPC.es

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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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