There are many Android TV boxes based on Amlogic S905 processor on the market selling for as low as $40 shipped, and hardware-wise Unuiga S905 and S905+ TV boxes look quite similar to their competitors with respectively 1GB RAM and 16GB flash, and 2GB RAM and 32GB flash, but the main differentiating factor is official support for Remix OS 2.0.
Unuiga S905 and S905+ specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S905 quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 2.0GHz with penta-core Mali-450MP GPU
- System Memory – S905: 1GB RAM; S905+: 2GB RAM
- Storage – micro SD slot; S905: 16GB flash, S905+: 32GB flash
- Video Output – HDMI 2.0, AV
- Audio – HDMI, AV, coaxial S/PDIF
- Connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet
- WiFi – S905: 802.11 b/g/n; S905+: dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 4.1 (according to comment on YouTube)
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports
- Misc – IR receiver, touch button for power on/off and standby
- Power Supply – TBD
- Dimensions – 11.2 x 11.2 x 2 cm
Remix OS 2.0 is supposed to allow a better desktop use for Android thanks to improved multi-tasking support including better memory management so that background tasks are not killed as easily, multi-window support, a taskbar, a file manager for desktop user,… Charbax of ARMDevices.net is also involved in the campaign.
Unuiga does not really rely on crwodfunding for mass-production, but they’ve still decided to sell the device through Indiegogo with a fixed funding campaign aiming to raise at least $75,000. At first it looks like they’ve priced the devices very aggressively as Unuiga S905 requires a $25 early bird pledge, and Unuiga S905+ a $40 one, but shipping is not included and adds $15 to $40 via DHL. However, they’ve recently added “cheap shipping” rewards that bring the shipping fee down to a fixed $15 for all countries, but sadly is not available for early bird rewards, and does not include HDMI nor AV cables… So overall the price is about the same as what you’d find on Aliexpress, and the main draw is Remix OS. Delivery is scheduled for April 2016.
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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It will be interesting to see if they will provide updates for this device. Especially for RemixOS / Jide I think it can be hurtful if various low end chinese manufacturers start pushing out devices with their OS, but with no real support. Wonder what Jide’s thoughts are around this…
@Tore
Remix OS is a closed source operating systems, so Jide must have been involved in the development.
keep in mind: Remix OS already released for the s905 tronsmart. And it seems Jide will not offer root access. / info by -xda- user cameron.
Sure, I know that. But I just wonder what is their strategy for support and updates for 3rd party products. Because if it’s the typical chinese release and forget, then I think that will be bad for RemixOS… I hope Jide as a strict plan and conditions for 3rd parties.
@Tore
the design house has confirmed to me that the device bootloader is unlocked, so hopefully XDA and other developers can boot other OS images on the box “easily” I link to http://www.cnx-software.com/2015/12/06/how-to-run-headless-linux-on-amlogic-s905-devices-such-as-mini-mx-or-k1-plus/ I don’t know exactly how those alternative OSes work, but what I’m hoping is that someone who wants to boot an alternative OS can hopefully do it easily by “simply” booting off a MicroSD or USB storage and “transfer” that alternate OS to the Flash memory if that’s the OS they prefer to use by default.
In any case, I am very excited about Remix OS and I hope/expect that the Remix OS team will get a lot of success and provide regular software updates that will only make the experience better and better on S905, on Allwinner A64, on Qualcomm, on Rockchip and on other platforms which they support. I even hope Remix becomes a home replacement that can run off any Android device just as a “deep level powerful APK”, somehow. If Android N would be needed or not I don’t know, best would be if they find a way to make it work on every Android device. And the home replacement should launch either only on the external display or on the internal display also. Remix OS should enable Android Continuum.
Then I think the next step is mainly for all the Android app developers to always consider how to design their apps so they don’t only work good on Smartphones and Tablets, but so that they also work great with Keyboard and Mouse and some also with only a TV remote also. Just looking at that, even Google needs to improve all their apps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Google Photos, Google Maps even Chrome for example all those aren’t very well optimized for keyboard and mouse usage.
@Mac
What’s the main difference between having root access on Remix OS or having an unlocked bootloader? What would people want to do with root access in Remix OS? The unlocked bootloader is something that Unuiga’s design house has confirmed can be provided and is not something that the Remix OS team has influence over.
@Charbax
Root access allows you to install apps with extra privileges so they can change core systems. Titanium Backup requires root to remove pre-installed apps that are not removable otherwise and Adaway requires it to install the altered host file to block adds. Unlocked Bootloader allows you to install alternate firmware like cyanogenmod or aosp and custom recoveries like TWRP
@Charbax I think you don’t get the importance of being opensource. Closed Source OS on Closed source hardware means no support and community, like other trillions of chines boxes.
And I’m not even talking about hardware acceleration on linux and all other painful stuff.
Can we to install Remix OS on existing Android boxes???
@xxx
No, it needs to be ported to a specific hardware.
Any news if we can boot to remix os from sd card in android tv-boxes?