There are very few Android TV boxes capable of recording video over HDMI. One of them is Zidoo X9 which works pretty well as long as you use the built-in apps, but playing 4K and/or H.265 with Kodi is a disaster, and despite Mstar MS09810 being a quad core Cortex A9 processor, the actual performance barely better than Amlogic AML8726-MX dual core Cortex A9 processor due to the poor memory bandwidth. But now, if you’d like a system with HDMI PVR function, but better performance and good Kodi support, Beelink i one (i826) could be an option with its Amlogic S812 processor and HDMI input support. There’s also a similar looking UBox i828 featuring Amlogic S802 processor which lacks H.265 support.
i one / Ubox i828 specifications:
- SoC
- i one – Amlogic S812 quad core ARM Cortex A9r4 at 2.0GHz with ARM Mali-450MP6 GPU
- Ubox i828 – Amlogic S802 quad core ARM Cortex A9r4 at 2.0GHz with ARM Mali-450MP6 GPU
- System Memory – 2G DDR3
- Storage
- i one – 16 GB eMMC Flash + SD card slot up to 32GB
- Ubox i828 – 8GB eMMC flash + SD card slot up to 32gb
- Video I/O
- Output – HDMI 1.4b up to 4K2K @ 30 Hz
- Input – HDMI up to 1080p to switch between inputs and recording.
- Audio I/O – HDMI ports, and optical S/PDIF
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports + 1x micro USB OTG
- Misc – IR Sensor, Power LED, power button, and recovery/update switch (via hole)
- Power Supply – 5V/2A
- Dimensions – 11.9 x 11.9 x 2.3 cm
- Weight – 208 grams
Beside the media player, the package includes an HDMI cable, an OTG cable, a power adapter, and a remote control. Both devices run Android 4.4.2 pre-loaded with XBMC / Kodi, “original ecology and AZW custom UI” whatever that means. I guess the first means stock Android home screen, and the later is another launcher. I could not find screenshots of the user interface.
i one (i826) can be found on GearBest for $110.69, but I’ve been given BI826GB coupon lowering the cost to $99, while Ubox i828 can be purchased for $102 on GeekBuying. Please note that both companies use the same marketing material, so provided they did not make mistakes in the specifications, both products should be based on the same Beelink hardware platform, with Amlogic S812 and 16 GB eMMC in i one, replaced by Amlogic S802 and 8GB eMMC in Ubox i828. Both devices appear to be better value than Zidoo X9 ($116 or more), but we’ll have to see how well PVR and timeshifting functions work [Update: Finally, PVR is not working yet]. I’m sure some of you will ask about HDCP, but I don’t know yet, and I’ll try to find out. [Update 2: GearBest told me HDCP is working on the HDMI input port]
Via AndroidPC.es
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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We are been told the PVR function is not working right now.
Yay, I’ve always wished for a way to timeshift and get rid of commercials. Hope they’ll ship to Sweden.
I’m not sure if I’m correct, but I think that I had conversation with one Amlogic guy related to HDMI input. If I recall correctly, Amlogic M8 does not support HDMI as input device, only HDMI IN as pass-trough. Maybe something changed meanwhile, that conversation was before M8 platform was available on market.
@Eric
@Stane1983
Thanks for the info.
The descriptions don’t mention much about recording except that picture:
which clearly states: “Record exiting moments. Watch the program, support for video recording”…
GearBest answer about HDCP: “our manager told me that HDMI input supports HDCP”
ZIDOO X9 HDMI IN record Play Station 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Dpimibqys
PVR without a harddrive?
@fathony
You’d need to use a USB hard drive.
“..told me that HDMI input supports HDCP”” – sorry I’m a noob .. so what does this mean to me the layperson wanting to record content my providers offers me – that may be otherwise content locked ?
@Matty
“High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), is a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections.”
There’s copy protection embedded into HDMI, and some systems may prevent you to record HDMI video output. Some recorders will work around that, which probably means bypass the copy protection.
Is anybody aware of a hands-on review for this device?
Is there any apps available for this device to record the HDMI-IN? Like the one in Zidoo X9.
Bu i828 modeline nasil yazılım yuklenir video izlerken ses gitti
U box i828 modeline nasil yazilim yuklenir video sesleri gitti
@Murat
cihazla gelen mevcut firmware in yenisi yok. yazilim derken fw yi kast ediyorsaniz eğer.
37.74 aud. For the s802 1gb version on gear best.
http://www.gearbest.com/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_236176.html
hi.. i bought one of these last year, and am not happy with gearbest. unit showed up with missing power supply and remote. the unit has had syncing problems with tv. despite trying to get new one in doa, etc they gave me 20.00 to buy new remote/power.. still does not help because unit does not sync with tv. i been trying to get a factory firmware .img file so i cant try to restore via usb/otg… does some one have something out there ? thanks.