I’ve recently reviewed my first Rockchip RK3288 Android mini PC, UyeSee G1H, and while it’s not catastrophic, the box still have stability issues related to Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, AV video output, Wi-Fi performance and so on. Now Geekbuying has just announced availability of the beta versions of their Tronsmart Orion R28 Android TV box also powered by the quad core ARM Cortex A12/A17 processor. This first batch (180 pieces) is geared towards tinkerers and “ROM makers”, rather than people who just want something that works, and these first boxes will ship with an Android SDK (5.1GB) on a micro SD card. [Update: link to SDK]
There will be three models: Orion R28 Pro (8GB flash, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi), Orion R28 Meta (16GB flash, 802.11ac Wi-Fi), and Orion R28 Telos (4GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, 802.11ac Wi-Fi). They’ve just manufactured the first two models in the first batch, with 90 pieces each.
Tronsmart Orion R28 specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RK3288 quad core ARM Cortex A12 / A17 processor @ 1.8GHz with ARM Mali-T764 quad-core 3D GPU with support for OpenGL ES 3.0, OpenCL 1.1, and DirectX11
- System Memory
- Pro and Meta – 2GB DDR3
- Telos – 4GB DDR3
- Storage
- Pro – 8GB eMMC Flash + micro SD slot
- Meta – 16GB eMMC Flash + micro SD slot
- Telos – 32GB eMMC Flash + micro SD slot
- Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 60fps, 3.5mm AV jack
- Audio Output – HMDI, AV, and optical S/PDIF
- Video Codecs – MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4,H.263, H.264, H.265,AVS, VC-1,RV, VP6/VP8, Sorenson Spark, MVC 3800 x 2160P 60FPS
- Video Containers – H.264, H.265, AVI, TS, TP, TRP, VOB, MKV, MP4, MOV, ISO, ASF, FLV, DAT, MPG, MPEG, SWF, OGM, WMV, ASF, RM/RMV
- Audio Codecs – MPEG1, MPEG2(Layer I/II), MP3, AC-3, E-AC-3, AAC-LC, WMA, HE-AAC
- Connectivity
- Pro – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 (AP6210 module)
- Meta and Telos – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 (AP6335 module)
- USB – 3x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB port
- Misc – Power LED, power button, update button for recovery, and IR receiver.
- Power – 5V/3A
- Dimensions – 15.87 x 8.23 x 2.84 cm
- Weight – 176 grams
These media players will run Android 4.4., come pre-loaded with XBMC, and support OTA updates (yes!). The package will also include a Wi-Fi antenna, an HDMI cable, a USB cable, a simple IR remote control, a 5V/3A power adapter, and a user’s guide.
The first beta devices comes at a discounted price. Tronsmart Orion R28 Pro sells for $79.99 instead of $99.99, and R28 Meta for $99.99 instead of $119.99. If you happen to be the first to release a custom ROM you’ll get a full refund, same thing if you are the first to post a review (video or article). Anybody that posts a review will also get a $10 coupon for future purchases. But again, if you’re really looking for something that works, wait before purchasing a Rockchip RK3288 box. Software bugs can be fixed with firmware upgrades, but if there’s an hardware defect in the beta samples, albeit unlikely, you’ll be out of luck.
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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Wondering if Geekbuying or other hardware manufacturers and retailers will be sponsoring XBMC.org Android developers on team Kodi?
These will become much more popular with working HEVC / H.264 hardware decoding in XBMC
@Harley They don’t need to, Somebody is already developing a Linux kernel for the RK3288 by the looks of it…
Source: https://github.com/rkchrome
and
https://lkml.org/lkml/2014/8/26/102
@dogoo The kernel itself have nothing do with hardware video decode
@dogoo The kernel usually have nothing to do with hardware video decode.
Both on Android and Linux the VPU have its own drivers and libraries for OpenMAX IL.
And on Android they also need a codec interface for Android MediaCodec API too.
The freaktab developers also started developing about 3 month ago. 20-25 (beelink) R28 were given for free for beta testing to users and developers. They should go for their second manufacturing run soon
When will the Telos be listed to the market?
@cnxsoft, will you be getting any Tronsmart Orion R28 models for review?
Tronsmart Orion R28 Telos = RK3288 4GB RAM / 32GB Storage / Quad-Core CPU @ 2.0GHz
Tronsmart Orion R28 Meta = RK3288 2GB RAM / 16GB Storage / Quad-Core CPU 1.8GHz
Tronsmart Orion R28 Pro = RK3288 2GB RAM / 8GB Storage / Quad-Core CPU 1.6GHz
I doubt about Tronsmart Orion R28 Telos … without generous heatsink + fan and right chassis holes will be lots of problems.
@Harley
I’ve been told, I’d have one model shipped on Friday. Probably the “Pro” version.
I noticed on one of the sites selling the Tronsmart Orion R28 Pro and the Tronsmart Orion R28 Meta that the Pro did not cover 802.11ac. Is it possible that one box uses an AP6330 and the other using an AP6335. Or is the seller just missing something.
The Pro uses AP6210 if I remember correctly.
@mike
It’s explained in the article. Pro – N, Meta & Telos – AC.
You mention to wait with the order if we want to _use_ the box because of maybe occuring hardware defects.
When do you think should all these childhood bugs be fixed?
According to the “get one for free if you make a custom rom” there should be one soon…. that makes me happy as i am a fan of custom roms xD (thats why i canceled my order of the german amazon fire tv, after stumbling into the china android tv community)
@Stimmenhotel
Oh yes, do you know when the telos model is released? at geekbying there are only the pro and meta versiona
@Stimmenhotel
RK3288 products have been in development for a while, so hardware defects are unlikely.
In case of firmware bugs, if you have bought a good selling box, or from reputable company, many issues should be fix with 2 or 3 months after the first official release. If you take a bit more risk, and buy a product which does not sell so well, many company will simply drop support, and you’ll have a poor product without firmware upgrade.
But products from companies like Tronsmart, MINIX, Rikomagic… should be fine. There are also some bugs that linger for a while (e.g. RK3188 skipped frame during video playback) on all products.
No idea about Tronsmart schedule.
Link to SDK: http://www.mediafire.com/download/udydxicfbtvqpwy/Orion_R28_SDK_doc.tar.gz