Unboxing of HD18T Android Media Player with DVB-T2 Tuner

Shenzhen Tomato has sent me a sample of HD18T, an Android TV box powered by Amlogic AML8726-MX dual core processor that features a DVB-T2 tuner with In and Out antenna connectors. This is quite timely as Digital TV in Thailand has just started on April 1st of this year. Today, I’ll go through the specs, unbox the device, and show some pictures of the box, the board and DVB-T2 tuner. HD18T Specifications The device enclosure and specifications are very similar to EM6-S2 DVB-S2 Android TV box I covered previously, expect the DVB-S2 tuner is replaced by a DVB-T2 tuner: SoC – AMLogic AML8726-MX dual cortex A9 @ 1.5 GHz + Mali-400MP2 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 RAM Storage – 8GB NAND FLASH + SD card reader Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4, AV Audio Output – HDMI, AV, and optical S/PDIF.  Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD pass-through. USB […]

$58 QT900 “AirplayCast” Android Mini PC Features AllWinner A31s Processor

There are few AllWinner A31 powered HDMI TV sticks on the market such as CS868 and Measy U4K, but Q900 is the first I come across with AllWinner A31s, the low cost version of AllWinner A31, with a lower LCD screen resolution capability, which is not used in this type of device… The dongle appears to be also called AirplayCast to boast Airplay and Miracast support, which is now available on most Android TV dongles… QT900 specifications: SoC – Allwinner A31s quad core ARM CortexA7 @ 1.0GHz with PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 8GB + micro SD slot up to 32GB Video Output – HDMI 1.4 (up to 1080p) Connectivity – Dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/n, Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 1x USB 2.0 host, 1x micro USB OTG, 1x micro USB for power Misc – Recovery Key ? Power Supply – 5V/2A The device runs […]

$15 Open Source Hardware VoCore Wi-Fi Module Runs OpenWRT (Crowdfunding)

There are already low cost Wi-Fi modules that can be used for the Internet of Things such as AsiaRF AWM002 and Hi-Link HLK-RM04. However, AsiaRF mainly caters to companies, and the Hi-Link module has a limited memory (16MB), which may or may not be an issue depending on your application. VoCore Wi-Fi module could prove to be an interesting option as it is the same $15 to $20 price range, runs OpenWRT with 32 MB RAM, will be open source hardware, and provides up to 20 GPIOs in a tiny (25x25mm) form factor. VoCore Wi-Fi module specifications: SoC – Ralink/Mediatek RT5350 MIPS processor @ 360MHz with dual band 802.11n Wi-Fi with data Rate up to 150Mbps System Memory – 32 MB RAM Storage – 8MB SPI Flash (for firmware) / 16 MB on limited edition Available Signals (Via through holes): 10/100M Ethernet USB UART, I2C, SPI I2S, PCM JTAG Over 20 […]

ARM Cortex A15/A17 SoCs Comparison – Nvidia Tegra K1 vs Samsung Exynos 5422 vs Rockchip RK3288 vs AllWinner A80

We’re now starting to get quite a few players with ARM Cortex A15 cores on the market, as well as some with ARM Cortex A17. So a comparison table of different quad and octa SoCs might be a useful thing to do. I’ve put aside SoCs such as HiSilicon K3V3, and OMAP5, and focused on the four latest processors: Nvidia Tegra K1 (32-bit), Samsung Exynos 5422, Rockchip RK3288 and AllWinner A80. I haven’t included Mediatek MT6595 and Qualcomm SnapDragon 805, because the two companies mainly focus on smartphones and tablets (although it appears to be slowly changing for Qualcomm), documentation is usually difficult or impossible to find, and in the case of Qualcomm they use their own ARMv7 Krait cores. I’ve highlighted some features in green, in case a particular SoC appears to have an edge. Rockchip RK3288 AllWinner A80 Nvidia Tegra K1 Samsung Exynos 5422 CPU 4x ARM Cortex-A17 […]

Ruach A20 Android TV Box Powered by AllWinner A20 Sells for $43

Android TV Boxes based on dual core processors usually sells for north of $50. But you can now get an AllWinner A20 based Android media player for just $43.39 including shipping thanks to Ruach A20 also featuring 1GB RAM, 8 GB Flash, Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, two USB ports, and more. Ruach A20 specifications: SoC – AllWinner A20 dual core Cortex A7 @ 1GHz with Mali-400MP2 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3, Storage – 8GB NAND Flash Video Output – HDMI, Composite Audio Output – HDMI, Stereo RCA, Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n USB – 2x USB host ports Misc – IR receiver, power button Power Supply – 5V Dimensions – 11.8 x 7.8 x 3.0 cm This Android 4.2.2 TV Box comes with an IR remote control, an AV cable, a power adapter, and a user’s manual. The manufacturer has a website in Chinese only, but I could […]

PQ Labs iStick A350-SSD is a Quad Core HDMI TV Stick with an mSATA Connector and a Battery

Since there are now so many quad core HDMI TV Sticks and TV Boxes, it would be easy to discount PQ Labs iStick A350-SSD as yet another Android TV devices powered by Rockchip RK3188 SoC, were it not for its mSATA connector and included battery. The company has also managed to add 3 USB ports, and a micro USB port, in a form factor only slightly bigger than a standard HDMI TV dongle. iStick A350-SSD specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3188  quad-core Cortex A9 @ 1.6GHz with Mali-400MP4 GPU System Memory – 2GB DDR3 Storage – 4 GB NAND Flash, mSATA connector, micro SD slot Video & Audio Output – HDMI, audio jack Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 (AP6330 module) USB – 3x USB Host, 1x micro USB Misc – Recovery switch, power button, active cooling system Battery – 270 mAh (3.7V) Power Supply […]

Acme Systems Acqua A5 is a System-on-Module Powered by Atmel SAMA5D3 Processor

Acme Systems has announced availability of their Acqua A5 SoM with Atmel SAMA5D31 Cortex A5 micro-processor, up to 512 MB RAM, up to 256 MB Flash, a serial EEPROM, a micro SD card slot, and an Ethernet PHY. The module targets headless or LCD based system such as automation or control panels, and is available in commercial and extended temperature range. Specifications: Processor – Atmel SAMA5D31 ARM Cortex-A5 MPU @ 536MHz System Memory – 256MByte DDR2 RAM @ 32 bit (optionally 512MB) Storage Embedded micro SD hinge type holder for OS and data Optional 256 MB NAND flash Atmel AT24MAC402 – 2Kbit serial EEPROM Connectivity –  10/100 Mbit Ethernet I/F (can be turned off for power saving) Three USB Host ports (one configurable as USB device) Connectors – 3x 50-pin connectors pitch 1.27 mm (50 mils) Signal accessible via connectors: (Check pinout for details) 10/100 Mbit Ethernet phy RGB I/F […]

Shenzhen DigiCasting LX-N10 Is an AllWinner A31s Powered Board for Digital Signage Applications

Shenzhen DigiCasting, a Shenzhen based company specialized in digital signage solution, has recently introduced LX-N10 board specifically designed to connect to LVDS display for applications such as digital signage players. The board is powered by AllWinner A31s, comes with up to 2GB RAM, and optional 4GB eMMC, and various ports and headers. LX-N10 board (aka DS-108) specifications: SoC – AllWinner A31s quad core ARM Cortex A7 processor @ 1.2 GHz with PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU System Memory – 1 GB DDR2 (2GB optional) Storage – micro SD slot up to 32GB, and optional 4GB eMMC Video Output – HDMI, LVDS + backlight + touchscreen header Audio – HDMI, 3.5mm stereo jack. Built-in 4R/20W, 8R/10W amplifier Connectivity – Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,  10/100M Ethernet USB – 2x external USB 2.0 host ports, 2x internal USB headers Other Headers – GPIO (3 GPIO, 1 ADC), 3x RS-232 (2x Tx/Rx, 1x Tx/Rx/CTS/RTS), Audio 1 & 2 […]

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