Since I have quite a few devices with HDMI, and I got tired of getting behind the TV to plug or unplug the device, and sometimes I may want to cycle through them for testing, I bought an HDMI switch from Dealextreme for about $11. The device, called YS-189, features 1 HDMI output and 3 HDMI inputs so that you can connect 3 devices to one HDMI port of your TV. There’s also a 5V power jack, which is normally not needed, or so they say, and a small remote control (battery included!) with three buttons to switch between the inputs. First I’ll show a few pictures of the device, and talk about my experience connecting 3 Android mini PCs. Here’s the package with the black box and the remote. At the back there are more details about the device including specification and “user’s manual”. Now a picture of the […]
Artila Matrix-516 ARM9 Industrial Linux Computer Features 8 RS-485 Ports
Artila Matrix-516 is a Linux-based industrial computer powered by Atmel AT91SAM9G20 CPU (ARM9) with 64MB SDRAM and 128MB NAND Flash inside, and several I/O interface including 8 isolated RS-485 serial ports. This device targets industrial applications, including intelligent transportation system (ITS), building automation, energy-saving system, and factory automation. Here are the specifications of this industrial Linux computer: CPU – ATMEL AT91SAM9G20 w/MMU @ 400MHz System Memory – 64MB SDRAM Storage – 128MB NAND Flash + 2MB DataFlash for system backup (recovery boot) + micro SD socket (Up to 32 GB) Network Interface – 2 x 10/100BaseT, RJ-45 connector with 1.5KV magnetic isolation TTY(Serial) Ports 8 x isolated RS-485 (2500Vrms isolation). Connector: terminal block Baud Rate: up to 921.6Kbps Parity: None, Even, Odd, Mark, Space Data Bits: 5, 6, 7, 8 Stop Bit: 1, 1.5, 2 USB Ports – 2x USB Host Ports, 1x client port (reserved). Up to full-speed (12Mbps) […]
iben Gamepad Android Game Consoles Powered by AllWinner SoCs
Earlier this month, AllWinner exhibited many devices from their customers at the Hong Kong Fair, including an Android game console called iben GamePad. There are now more details about this gaming device, one of them being there are three models: Game Pad L1-B – Based on AllWinner A20 – $110 per unit for 500 pieces order. Available in May. Game Pad L1-C – Based on AllWinner A31 – $150 per unit for 500 pieces order. Available in May. Transformer Game Pad L2 – Same as L1-C except the actual gamepad is detachable, so you can just use it as a normal tablet when you don’t play. Available in June. Game Pad L1-C / L2 Specifications: SoC – AllWinner A31 Quad-Core ARM Cortex A7 CPU + PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 16GB flash + microSD slot Display – 7″ touch screen (5pts), IPS display. Resolution: 1280×800 […]
TP-Link TPmini “Android-on-TV” Box Features 2MP Webcam
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve started to see more and more Android media player with a camera that can be apposed on top of your TV such as the Archos TV Connect. Let’s call them “Android-on-TV” boxes / media players. Several Chinese manufacturers are also selling this type of device, but none of them have brand recognition in the West. TP-Link, however, is relatively well known for its cheap routers, and the company has introduced the TPmini powered by a dual core processor with 1GB RAM, 4GB flash, and a 2.0MP camera. Here are the specs of the device: SoC – Dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor @ 1.6 GHz + Quad core ARM Mali 400 GPU (They did not say, but it looks like Rockchip RK3066 to me) System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 4GB NAND Flash + microSD slot (Up to 32GB) Video Output – HDMI […]
CoAction Hero – Low Cost ARM Cortex-M3 Board Running Open Source CoActionOS RTOS
CoAction Hero is a tiny board based on an ARM Cortex-M3 micro-controller (NXP LPC1759), that makes use of CoActionOS ecosystem that includes the hardware, but also an open source RTOS allowing multiple app to run concurrently, and a graphical interface to communicate with the board. First, let’s have a look at the hardware specs: Micro-controller – NXP LPC1759 ARM Cortex-M3 processor @ 120MHz with 64kB RAM and 512kB Flash ROM. Storage – 1MB serial flash chip (pre-loaded with CoActionOS) Expansion port micro USB connector. 40 I/O pins are available on both sides of the board, and the board can be inserted in a breadboard. You can currently connect 2 modules to the board: Bluetooth and LCD device boards. CoActionOS RTOS will come pre-loaded on the board, and if you don’t want to, you don’t even need to know it’s there, and it’s use will be transparent. But let’s have a […]
Collaborative Comparison Table for HDMI TV Dongles
With so many HDMI TV dongles available on the market, wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a database to compare them all? The only issue is that it’s a lot of work to setup and maintain, so it’s unlikely one person is ready to spend his/her time entering such a lot of data. To work around this issue, and use the power of the crowd, Ian Morrison posted a link on Google+ mini PCs community to a “USB-dongle computers comparison table” powered by socialcompare.com where anybody can add or edit entries with the detailed specifications for each device I’ve given it a try and added GK802 / Hi802 mini PC. You’ll need to sign-in to Social compare, or simply use Facebook for login. You can then click on “+” icon, then enter the name of the device, and click on “Create an Item”, and a new column should […]
Tronsmart MK908 Quad Core HDMI TV Stick Review
Yesterday, I published some pictures of MK908, and this morning I updated it to the latest firmware, so it’s time to review this mini PC powered by Rockchip RK3188 quad core Cortex A9 SoC. First Boot, Settings, and First Impressions First of all, the firmware update has not changed the Home Screen, and we still get a standard Android Home Screen with an animated wallpaper. Screenshot and volume buttons are shown in the status bar, but there’s no soft power button, and no full screen button. Hopefully the power button can be added in next firmware update, and as we’ll see later the lack of full screen button is not really an issue. As usual, I’ve gone to the settings menu to configure Wi-Fi, and I had no problem to connect. The device also supports Bluetooth (built-in), and you can setup to device with VPN, as a hotspot, and add […]
Tronsmart MK908 Rockchip RK3188 Quad Core mini PC Unboxing Pictures
Tronsmart MK908 is one of the many Rockchip RK3188 Android mini PCs hitting the market this month. Beside the quad core Cortex A9 processor, this Android 4.1 HDMI TV stick comes with 2GB RAM, 8GB flash, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module, 3 USB ports, and a micro SD card slot. Geekbuying is selling the device for $89.99 including shipping, and the company sent me a unit for review. Today I’ll just show somes unboxing pictures, boot the device, and I’ll write a full review tomorrow. I received the device in the box below. But let’s move on to more interesting things, and see what’s inside the package. We’ve got a 5V/2A power adapter, MK908 itself, a short mini HDMI to HDMI cable, a mini UBS to USB cable for power, and a short mini USB to USB female adapter. I eventually found a manual user manual in English which hid […]