set-top box

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Media Player SoCs at CES 2014 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 802 and Sigma Designs SMP8756

Media Player SoCs at CES 2014 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 802 and Sigma Designs SMP8756

Apart from Nvidia Tegra K1, CES 2014 has been somewhat disappointing when it comes to new mobile SoCs announcement. On the media processor front, we’ve had Marvell announces Skyworth Android TV set-top boxes and HDTV based on their ARMADA 1500 Plus SoC, and we’ve got at least two new processors for media players with Qualcomm Snapdragon 802, and Sigma Designs SMP8756. Let’s have a look at some of the details. Qualcomm Snapdragon 802 Qualcomm has started to enter the media player space with MPQ8064 / 8064M last year, but I haven’t seen actual products based on this SoC, except Qubi, which is not shipping yet. This year, the company announced Snapdragon 802 SoC designed for next-generation smart TVs, smart set-top boxes and smart digital media adapters. As usual, the company gave very little details in the press release, but here’s what we know: Quad core Krait processor @ 1.8Ghz with […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 14 Comments on Geniatech ATV1220 Dual Core Android TV Box with DVB-T Tuner Sells for $95 and Up

Geniatech ATV1220 Dual Core Android TV Box with DVB-T Tuner Sells for $95 and Up

I’ve tested several Android TV boxes based on AMLogic AML8726-MX dual core processor including GBox Midnight MX2, Tronsmart Prometheus, or Jynxbox M6, that sell for about $90 to $120. Today I’ve been informed that Geniatech ATV1220 offers about the same hardware specs as the aforementioned devices, but adds a DVB-T tuner, and sells for $95 on ChinaVasion, or $99 on Mygica e-Store (Geniatech comsumer brand). Geniatech / Mygica ATV1220 Enjoy TV dual core hybrid box specifications: SoC – AMLogic AML8726-MX dual core Cortex A9 @ 1.5 GHz + Mali-400 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage –  4GB NAND flash + SD card slot Video Output – HDMI 1.4a, composite Audio – HDMI, stereo audio via RCA connectors. Antenna Input – Compliant with DVB-T, Frequency: TV 48.25 ~ 863.25 MHz. Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with external antenna USB – 4x USB 2.0 host ports Misc – IR […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments on Popcorn Hour A-410 Linux Based Networked Media Jukebox is Now Available for Pre-order for $259

Popcorn Hour A-410 Linux Based Networked Media Jukebox is Now Available for Pre-order for $259

CloudMedia, previously known a Syabas, has announced the available of Popcorn Hour A410, a networked media jukebox (NMJ) powered by Sigma Designs SMP8911 dual core processor with 1GB RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, support for 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA drives, USB 3.0, and numerous audio / video ports. It can be used as a media player, as well as a NAS (Networked Access Storage). Popcorn Hour A410 specifications: SoC – Sigma Designs SMP8911 Dual-Core 800Mhz processor (MIPS) with 512KB L2 Cache and VXP Video Processor System Memory – 1024MB DDR2 Storage – 256MB SLC NAND Flash, SD Card reader, 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA HDD bay, and eSATA connector. Audio/Video I/Os – HDMI, Component, CVBS, Stereo Audio, optical and coaxial S/PDIF. Audio DAC – ESS Sabre Audiophile class DAC (24-bit, 192 Khz sampling rate) Video containers – MPEG1/2/4 Elementary (M1V, M2V, M4V),MPEG1/2 PS (M2P, MPG, DAT, VOB),MPEG2 Transport Stream (TS, TP, TRP, M2T, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Ampeq SoundPad 2 is an Android TV Box with a 7″ Tablet and Stereo Speakers

Ampeq SoundPad 2 is an Android TV Box with a 7″ Tablet and Stereo Speakers

SoundPad 2, also known under the model name NA-307, is a tablet with a stand featuring two large (for a tablet) stereo speakers manufactured by Ampeq / Pan-Ocean Technology. The device can be used as a Bluetooth speaker, an Internet radio, and a standard Android TV box connected to your TV. It’s the first time I’ve come across this type of product, but Archos released a very similar item last year via its Arnova brand called, oh surprise!, SoundPad. Let’s have a look at SoundPad 2 specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK2928 cortex A9 processor with ARM Mali-400 GPU. System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 4GB flash + micro SD card slot Display – 7″ capacitive touch screen, 1024 x 600 resolution Video Output – HDMI Audio I/O – HDMI, 2x 3W 2″ HiFi speakers, microphone, 3.5mm audio Line IN. Connectivity – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR USB […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 30 Comments on Beelink A9 Android TV Box Features Rockchip RK3188 SoC

Beelink A9 Android TV Box Features Rockchip RK3188 SoC

Beelink A9, soon to be sold as Tronsmart A928 or Zero Devices Z6C, is a yet another RK3188 box with 2GB RAM, and 8GB Flash running Android 4.2, upgradeable to Android 4.4.2, and if it was not one of the four devices with Android 4.4.2 SDK I may not have decided to write about it. But since it should be more easily hackable with the SDK release, although with caveats, it becomes much more interesting. A9 Specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3188 quad core Cortex A9 @ 1.6Ghz with Mali-400MP4 GPU @ 533MHz System Memory – 2GB DDR3 Storage – 8 to 16 GB eMMC flash + microSD slot (up to 32GB) Video Output – HDMI Audio I/O – HDMI, S/PDIF, 3.5mm audio out jack, built-in MIC. Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 3x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB OTG port […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments on Jynxbox M6 Android TV Box Review

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 […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments on Marvell Unveils ARMADA 1500 Plus (88DE3108) SoC for Android and Linux Smart Video Platforms

Marvell Unveils ARMADA 1500 Plus (88DE3108) SoC for Android and Linux Smart Video Platforms

Building on top of it ARMADA 1500 SoC for Google TV, Marvell has recently announced the ARMADA 1500 Plus (88DE3108) HD secure media processor SoCdesigned for smart video products based on Android 4.2.2, and Linux, such as media players, OTT boxes, hybrid set-top boxes and smart TVs. ARMADA 1500 Plus features two ARM Cortex A9 cores, Vivante GC1000 and GC300 GPUs, respectively for 3D and 2D graphics,  and integrates an HDMI receiver and Gigabit Ethernet. Hisense will be among the first to use the platform with the upcoming H6 Smart TV and Pulse Pro set-top-box, but details have yet to be released for these two products. Here are the key features of 88DE3108 SoC: Processor – Dual core Cortex A9 with over 6000 Dhrystone MIPS Dedicated 3D and 2D graphics acceleration – dual threaded unified shader (Vivante GC1000 and GC300) with support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 and DirectFB. Video vMeta […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 24 Comments on XBMC MX Linux v1.00 RC1 for AMLogic AML8726-MX Devices

XBMC MX Linux v1.00 RC1 for AMLogic AML8726-MX Devices

Developer “croniccorey” has recently announced the release of MX Linux v1.00 RC1, an XBMC Linux image for media players based on AMLogic AML8726-MX, on XDA Developers’ Forums. This release supports G18REF and MX2REF devices (See build.prop in Android) such as Matricom G-Box Midnight MX2, and a test image has also been released for g02refDongle devices such as Droid Stick A2. Checking the MTD layout Before starting the installation, you may want to check your flash partitions in order to avoid bricking your device: Install and run Terminal Emulator Run the command below to make sure your partition table is compatible with the image:

If your partition table is different, do not install the default image for MX2REF / G18REF. However, If you’ve got Matricom Android firmware version 1.1.6 or greater or WJB’s Linux builds from November 21 2013 onwards, the MTD layout will be different, and you’ll need to […]

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