Cloud Media must have noticed the shortcomings of Rockchip SDK and RK3288 processor found in their Open Hour Chameleon box with pseudo 4K video playback and only partial audio pass-through capability, and the company have not given up on more traditional Linux based media players with a proven track record, as they’ve just announced Popcorn Hour VTEN featuring the latest Sigma Designs SMP8757 SoC with 4K video output.
Popcorn Hour VTEN specifications:
- SoC – Sigma Designs SMP8757 ARM Cortex A9 processor @ 1.2 GHz with ARM Mali-400 GPU
- System Memory – 1024MB DDR3
- Storage – 512MB SLC NAND Flash, 1x eSATA port, 1x SD card slot
- Video Output – HDMI
- Audio Output – HDMI, optical S/PDIF, and coaxial S/PDIF
- Video Containers – MPEG 1/2/4 Elementary, MPEG 1/2 PS, MPEG-2 TS, AVI, ASF, WMV, MKV, MOV (H.264), MP4, 3DMKV, BD-ISO, BDMV, 3D-BD
- Video Codecs – XViD SD/HD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 MP@HL, MPEG-4.2, MPEG-4 10, WMV9, VC-1, H.265/HEVC
- Audio
- Formats – AAC, M4A, MPEG audio, WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG, APE, TTA, DSD
- Decoders – DTS, WMA, WMA Pro, MPEG-1 (Layer 1,2,3), MPEG-4 AAC-LC, MPEG-4 HE-AAC, LPCM, FLAC, Vorbix
- Pass-through – DTS, DTS-HD HR, DTS-HD MA
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, optional WN-160P USB Wi-Fi dongle (802.11 b/g/n)
- Misc – IR receiver, power and network LEDs
- Power Supply – 5V/3A
- Dimensions – 144 x 110 x 30 mm (Aluminum enclosure)
- Weight – 1 kg
The system runs the company’s NMJ Media Jukebox application. Sigma Designs is a company strongly believing in the benefits of closed source software, so don’t expect much from them in terms of complying with open source licenses, except possibly the Linux kernel.
VTEN is up for pre-order for $169, with shipping scheduled for February 6, 2015.
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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