Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft), Author at CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

December 20, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Linaro 13.12 Release with Linux Kernel 3.13, Android 4.4, and Ubuntu Saucy Salamander

Due to the end of year celebration, Linaro release is a little earlier at this time, and Linaro 13.12 has already been released with Linux Kernel 3.13-rc3 (baseline), Linux Kernel 3.10.24 (LSK), Android 4.4, and Ubuntu Linaro 13.12, which for the first time is based on Ubuntu 13.10 Saucy Salamander. Other interesting development include an initial arm64 Ubuntu saucy rootfs (that one?), work to support octa-core 4x Cortex A53, 4x Cortex A57 SoCs, an Android 4.4 KitKat LEB for the Galaxy Nexus, and ARMv8 LSK and Nexus7_2013-AOSP builds have been setup and Android can be now built using llvm-clang toolchain with the related patches submitted to upstream. On a related note, there are also some Midway and Highbank engineering build images for Calxeda server processors, which may not be that useful going forward, as unfortunately the company has just closed door after running out of cash. Here are the highlights of this […]

December 20, 2013July 2, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Jynxbox M6 Android TV Box Review

I’ve shown some unboxing pictures and video of Jynxbox Android M6 earlier this week, and today I’ll write a review of this AMLogic AML8726-M6 dual core Android media player. I’ll start with my first impressions, go through the different settings, test video playback, wi-fi performance, and reports about different miscalleous tests: Bluetooth, USB mass storage, USB webcam, etc… First Boot, Settings and First Impressions First, you’ll need to insert the provided AAA batteries in to the remote control. Opening the remote is a bit tricker than I would like as the cover does not come off that easily. Before powering up the device, I’ve connected the provided HDMI cable between the device and my HDTV, and an Ethernet cable to my hub. The first Ethernet cable would not click with in the device RJ45 connector, although it works with my laptop and other devices, but using another one worked just fine. Connecting […]

December 20, 2013May 29, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

XBMC ARM News – AllWinner A20 / A31 Apk Released – $10 Discount on OUYA Console

I’ve just been informed that VidOn.me has released XBMC for Android apks for their AV100 (based on AllWinner A20) and AV200 (powered by AllWinner A31) media players with accelerated hardware video decoding. It’s not clear yet whether these will run on any AllWinner A20 / A31 devices, or have been locked to VidOn players, but you can give it a try and download them for your platform(s): android42-Vidon.me-release-a20-AV100-free.apk – For AllWinner A20 android42-Vidon.me-release-a31-AV200-pro.apk – For AllWinner A31 VidOn does have a github repo for XBMC, but it hasn’t been updated for nearly a year, so the recent releases are not there (yet). I had never personally heard about this company, but an article on Wikipedia gives the following description with regards to XBMC: VidOn.me (or VidOnMe) is a company that maintain a commercial fork and derivative of XBMC media center software, and other than offering non-XBMC based media player software […]

December 19, 2013December 19, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Mentor Embedded ARM Hypervisor Automotive Demo on Freescale i.MX6 Board

Virtual machines are usually run on server or desktop PC to run several operating systems simultaneous. About 2 years ago, I wrote about an embedded hypervisor running Linux and Android on the Pandaboard develompent board, with the goal of separating home and enterprise operating systems in mobile devices so that enterprise data is safe. Since then, virtualization extensions are now part of ARM Cortex A15 / A7, and as well as the new Cortex A53 / A57 ARMv8 64-bit cores, but in my mind at least, those where mostly designed to address the server market. It turns out hypervisors are also useful in the automotive field, where for example, the dashboard and In-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems runs in two separate virtual machines controlling two different displays from one processor. Mentor Embedded showcased such automotive system at ARM Techcon 2013, where they showed a Freescale i.MX6 quad core board, which looks […]

December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Droid Translator Performs Live Translation of Skype and Mobile Calls and Chats

When you go to a foreign country, you may end up staying in places where nobody can speak the languages you know. TIW (Technology Improves the World), an IT company based in Czech Republic, is trying to problem a solution to this problem with Droid Translator, an Android that leverages Google’s Android speech-to-text, voice recognition, and translation technology to translate live text or audio chats or even Skype or mobile calls. I gave it a quick try. First you need to have Skype installed on your device, and a Skype, as Droid Translator will import your Skype contacts. There’s the Free version linked above, and a PRO version for about $6.5. The free version only support DT chat (text and audio chat), and the paid version adds Mobile, and Skype calls (Audio and Video) support. The following language are said to be supported: English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Czech, Chinese Simplified, […]

December 18, 2013May 29, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 19 Comments

Q88Pro / Q88H Tablet Featuring AllWinner A23 Processor Goes for $50 and up

Yesterday, I wrote a post about what may be the cheapest Android tablet currently: SF-M703A. This single core Cortex A8 tablet based on AllWinner A13 could be actually based on the same platform as Q88, one of the best selling tablet from China, and it costs as low as $44. Today, I’ve found out that tablets based on AllWinner A23 dual core Cortex A7 SoC are starting to hit the (virtual) shelf including Q88Pro, aka Q88H, tablets, which sells for as low as $49.88 including shipping, or just $6 more than the single core version. Today, I’ll compare the specifications between the cheapest single core tablet to the cheapest dual core tablet. SF-M703A / Q88 Q88Pro / Q88H SoC AllWinner A13 cortex A8 @ 1.0 GHz with ARM Mali-400 GPU AllWinner A23 dual core Cortex A7 @ 1.0 GHz with ARM Mali-400MP2 GPU System memory 512 MB RAM Storage 4GB […]

December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Fedora 20 “Heisenbug” Release Makes ARM a Primary Architecture

Fedora has been supporting ARM architecture for a while now, but it was only as a secondary architecture without official support. With the recent Fedora 20 release, nicknamed “Heisenbug”, the ARM architecture, more exactly ARMv7 hard float and greater, is promoted to a primary architecture meaning ARMv7 will have the same status as x86 and x86_64 architectures with packages officially build and supported by the Fedora community. What it does not mean however, due to the nature of ARM architecture, is that you can simply download an ISO to install on any ARM platforms, like you would do on an Intel or AMD computer. It’s a little more complicated than that, as it is platform specific, but instructions are available for the Beaglebone Black, Compulab Trimslice, the Wandboard, Calxeda Energycore Midway and Highbank, and Versatile Express in QEMU. You can download images with MATE, KDE, XFCE, LXDE, SOAS desktops, as […]

December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

LG Announces Chromebase, an All-in-one PC running Chrome OS

LG has put out a press release announcing the company will unveil the first-ever Chromebase, an all-in-one computer powered by Google Chrome OS, at CES 2014. So after the Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, we now have a new category of Chrome OS device: Chromebases. LG computer will come with an Intel Celeron CPU, but future Chromebase computers might also run on ARM platform. Technical specifications: Processor – Intel Celeron CPU System Memory – 2 GB Storage – 16GB iSSD Display: 21.5″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS monitor Video – HDMI-in USB – 3x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 Connectivity – LAN Camera – 1.3MP 720p Audio – 5W speakers + microphone The computer will come with a keyboard, a mouse, and a cable organizer. LG will showcase their Chromebase in Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall #8204, during CES 2014, from Tuesday, January 7 through Friday, January 10. There’s no […]