GOLE1 was an different and interesting product combining tablet and mini PC features into one, but I found the 5″ screen to be rather useless, and the battery did not work exactly well since it would only charge when powered off. The new GOLE2 mini PC won’t have any of those issues since it does not come with neither a display or a battery, but instead comes into two flavors with a version running Windows 10 on Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail processor, and another running Android based Phoenix OS on Allwinner A64 quad core ARM Cortex A53 processor. The devices also include an HD camera and microphone for video conference, as well as 2.5″ SATA bay implemented through a USB to SATA bridge.
Beside the processor and memory, both GOLE2 models share the most of the same hardware specifications:
- SoC
- Intel Atom x5-Z8350 “Cherry Trail” quad core processor @ 1.44 GHz / 1.92 GHz with Intel Gen8 HD graphics (2W SDP) or
- Allwinner A64 quad core ARM Cortex A53 processor with Mali-400MP2 GPU
- System Memory – 2GB RAM on ARM / 4 GB RAM on Intel
- Storage – 32 GB internal storage, 2.5″ SATA slot for SSD/HDD, micro SD slot up to 128 GB
- Video Output – HDMI 1.4 port
- Audio I/O – HDMI, 3.5mm headphone jack, built-in microphone, 8 ohm speaker
- Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera – 5MP camera with 90 degree wide angle
- USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x USB 3.0 port (Intel only)
- Misc – Power , and volume buttons
- Battery – 2600mAh battery good about about 2 hours of typical use
- Power Supply – 5V/3.0A
- Dimensions – 151.24 x 57.56 x 142.7 mm (aluminum body)
The mini PC ships with the power supply, an HDMI cable, and a user’s manual in English, German, and Japanese. The Intel model is available in white and black versions, and ARM model in gold/orange only.
Just like GOLE1, the company has decide to launch GOLE2 on Indiegogo, where you can get GOLE2 Phoenix OS was as low as $69 (Early bird) and up to $99, while GOLE2 Windows 10 starts at $114 (Early bird) up to $144 without a license, so you’d need to add $25 to get a proper Windows 10 license. Shipping is not included and adds $35 for DHL or EMS shipping. Delivery is scheduled for December 2016. If history is any guide, you should be able to purchase GOLE2 for about the same price, if not lower due to cheaper shipping, once it gets sold on Chinese online shops in early 2017.
Via ARMdevices.net
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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Looks like that Intel model would make a heck of a HTPC, possibly with some kind of security recording software for the camera to add surveillance to the mix.
Can A64 physically address more than 2GB?
@blu
3 GB is the maximum (maybe needing 12 Gb modules)
@tkaiser
Thanks. I guess 12Gb chips would explain why nobody ever bothers with more than 2GB for this SoC.
@blu
Anyway: A64 is about cheap tablets and there people seem to care more about those crazy 64-bit than DRAM size. Why tablet? Since HDMI support in Allwinner’s 3.10.65 kernel used by Android and PhoenixOS pretty much sucks 🙂
The target audience of this GOLE2 A64 thingie will most probably also use old VGA or DVI monitors with 4:3 resolutions and might be surprised that they don’t get any display output at all with this cheap ‘Mini PC’ (they write ‘HDMI output 1080p’ and forgot to add ‘ only’)
In my view, Gole Tech people made a mistake, they should have VGA output instead of a built-in camera.
But I guess the camera is there for a reason, maybe government spying?? 😉
@JotaMG
VGA output for what? At least with A64 none of the typical ancient 4:3 resolutions is currently supported. And when you’re not using Armbian on your A64 device and checked out our latest build from 10 minutes ago, then not even HDMI-to-DVI adapters will work 😉
(with Armbian you can now set an option in uEnvt.txt to get correct output on DVI displays connected to A64 devices)
Easy!
Because their market will be much larger, and I’m not talking about CRT’s but Lcd’s with only VGA.
Capisce?
😉
@JotaMG
I do understand why VGA compatibility would be a plus. I just outlined what you get now with any A64 device: Very very limited HDMI capabilities. Even HDMI-to-DVI converters are problematic (with most of them no display output at all or horribly wrong colors unless adjusted — see my link above) and with VGA you’re simply lost since there’s absolutely no support for typical 4:3 resolutions now.
Fortunately yesterday linux-sunxi devs spotted a Github repo with a newer HDMI driver variant for Allwinner’s R16 (which is in turn an A33 and code could be used for H3, A83T and even A64) so this will change… next year and most probably only with mainline kernel unless someone wants to touch the smelly Android kernel Allwinner currently provides 🙂
@tkaiser
Yes, but with the Intel ones, it will be easy, both hardware and software, to have VGA output, or no?
The Gole1 “battery would only charge when powered off?” … That’s news to me! I’ve just bought my second and they charge just fine, whether on or off.
Also, Yes, the Screen isn’t really intended for regular use, but it comes in Very Handy, and I’ve been able to do most of the setup directly on the Gole1, before even having to attach it to a monitor. (can’t be good for my eyes though – working on somehting that tiny).
So far I’m loving the 1st model (especially because of the Screen). I might try #2 (If it also has No Fan!)