Latest Ubuntu 14.10 Image for Tronsmart Draco AW80 Supports Hardware Video Decoding

Tronsmart Draco AW80 is one of the most powerful ARM mini PC on the market thanks to Allwinner A80 octa core processor, and the company also released an early Linux (Ubuntu) image at the end of last year. However, this firmware could not support hardware video decoding nor 2D/3D graphics acceleration. Since then progress has been made, and Tronsmart has just released an image with hardware video decoding. There’s still some work to be done as 4K and H.265 are not supported, and support for Kodi also needs to be implemented. At least for now you should be able to play 1080p video with VLC without issues, and the company also claims online video will play without lags. If you’d like to give it a try, download and extract Draco_AW80_Ubuntu_20150204.zip. Then follow Allwinner A80 firmware upgrade instructions with PhoenixSuit (Windows) or LiveSuit (Linux) firmware tool to complete the process. You […]

Beelink Introduces TV Sticks and Mini PCs powered by Intel Atom Z3735F Processor

Beelink has announced three new devices based on Intel Atom Z3735F processor: Pocket P1 slim PC, Pocket P2 HDMI stick, and a mini PC simply called “Mini PC” with an internal slot for 2.5″ hard drives. All three mini computers come with 2GB RAM, 16 to 32GB eMMC, and run Windows 8.1 like most other Z3735F devices, but they’re also providing dual band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0,  USB 3.0 ports, and for the mini PC a Gigabit Ethernet port. Preliminary specifications for the three models: SoC – Intel Atom Z3735F  “Bay Trail” quad core processor @ 1.33 GHz (Bust freq: 1.83 GHz) with Intel HD graphics Gen 7 (2W TDP) System Memory – 2 GB RAM Storage Mini PC – 16 GB eMMC + 2.5″ SATA bay (under the device) + SD card slot up P1 and P2 – 32 GB eMMC + micro SD card slot Video & Audio […]

Vidonn X6 Activity Tracker Promises Up to 15 days Battery Life

I reviewed Vidonn X5 fitness tracker last yet, and I found many issues or letdowns: battery life is too short (2 days), the digits are much smaller than advertized, the screen cannot be read under direct sunlight, a button must be pressed to check the time, the smartband is not as waterproof as advertized, and the Android app is a disaster. Despite all these issues, I still wear it everyday, as it helps me walk or run a bit more if I have not reached my daily target. The company has now release a new model Vidoon X6 that I discovered today on DealExtreme for $33.90. Vidonn X6 specifications: MCU/Memory – Unknown Display – 0.88″ OLED display (vs 0.49″ for X5) Connectivity –  Bluetooth 4.0 LE and micro USB Battery – 45 mAh Li-battery (vs 40 mAh) good for 15 days in standby mode. IP Rating – IP65 (Dust-proof and […]

Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK for Amlogic Processors and Image for MK808B Plus

Amlogic has just released Android 5.0 SDK for Amlogic S805, S802, and S812 processors on their OpenLinux website, but before you get too excited, this is only available people who have signed an SLA with the company, or somehow got a username/password to their git server. Although most people can’t access the SDK, it still means that popular Amlogic S8xx devices are likely to be upgraded to Android 5.0 in the weeks or months ahead. The company has not released any Android 5.0 SDK for older AML-8726M? processors however, so apart from WeTek Play, I would not expect any other Amlogic single or dual core devices to get a Lollipop treat. If you own a MK808B Plus TV dongle, you don’t even need to wait, as WeTek ported Android 5.0, more exactly CyanogenMod 12, to the cheap HDMI TV Stick for evaluation, and since finally they don’t intend to design […]

Raspberry Pi 2 / ODROID C1+ Development Boards Comparison

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B board has just been released, and although it’s not a direct answer to ODROID-C1, as Broadcom started the design for BCM2836 SoC for RPI2 a long time ago, both low cost development boards have similar specifications, with a quad core processor, 1GB RAM, Ethernet, and four USB ports, as well as the exact same price: $35. So I’ve decided to compare both in details to find out the actual differences, and which one may be more suitable to a particular application. Let’s get straight to the comparison table. [Updated on November 24 to use ODROID C1+ instead of ODROID C1] Hardkernel ODROID C1+ Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Comment Processor Amlogic S805 quad core Cortex A5 @ 1.5 GHz (Overclockable to 1.7 GHz or more) Broadcom BCM2836 quad core Cortex A7 @ 900 MHz (Overclockable to 1.1GHz or more) Despite the architecture advantage for Cortex […]

H88 HummingBird Development Board Powered by Allwinner A80 Comes with 4GB RAM, Built-in GPS, 4G LTE Support

Merrii Technology is having some fun churning out Allwinner A80 development boards, and after A80 OptimusBoard, H8 Hummingbird, here comes H88 HummingBird. The new board is somewhat similar to H8, but is quite larger, and features 4GB RAM, built-in GPS, and a few other goodies. H88 HummingBird specifications: SoC – AllWinner A80 octa-core processor with 4x Cortex 15, 4x Cortex A7 cores in big.LITTLE configuration with Imagination Technologies PowerVR GC6230 GPU compliant with OpenGL ES 3.0/2.0/11, OpenCL 1.1, and DirectX 9.3 System Memory – 4GB DDR3 Storage – 8GB internal storage (Hynix H27UCG8T2BTRBC), micro SD slot up to 32 GB Video Output/ Display Interfaces HDMI 1.4 up to 4K UHD resolution RGB/LVDS interface EDP LCD + TP interface MIPI LCD interface VGA output Audio – HDMI, headphone jack,LINE-IN, Camera I/F – Parallel and MIPI CSI interface. Integrated 16MP camera Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet (Realtek RTL8211D/E), dual band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n […]

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Features Broadcom BCM2836 Quad Core Processor

The Raspberry Pi foundation has finally released an upgraded version of the Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi 2 model B features much of the same ports and form factor as Raspberry Pi Model B+, by replaces Broadcom BCM2835 ARM11 processor  @ 700 MHz with a much faster Broadcom BCM2836 quad core ARMv7 processor @ 900 MHz, and with an upgrade to 1GB RAM. Raspberry Pi 2 Model B specifications: SoC – Broadcom BCM2836 quad core Cortex A7 processor @ 900MHz with VideoCore IV GPU System Memory – 1GB LPDDR2 (PoP) Storage – micro SD card slot (push release type) Video & Audio Output – HDMI and AV via 3.5mm jack. Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet USB – 4x USB 2.0 ports, 1x micro USB for power Expansion 2×20 pin header for GPIOs Camera header Display header Power – 5V via micro USB port. Dimensions – 85 x 56 mm I could not […]

OneBoard PRO+ is an Android Mechanical Keyboard Powered by Rockchip RK3288 SoC

When Coolship keyboard computer was announced in 2013, it caught the attention of some people, but unfortunately the crowdfunding campaign was a disaster despite reaching their funding target,  and few people, if any, ever received the device. But if you are a nostalgic and still would like a Commodore C64-like computer in a keyboard, a company call Acooo has designed OneBoard PRO+ based on Rockchip RK3288 processor and with a backlit mechanical keyboard housed in an aluminum case. OneBoard PRO+ specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3288 Quad Core Cortex A17 up to 1.8GHz with ARM Mali-T764 GPU supporting OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.0, Open VG1.1, OpenCL, DirectX11 System Memory – 2GB DDR3 Storage – 16 GB eMMC flash + SD card slot up to 32GB Keyboard – 83-keys QWERTY keyboard with backlit keys made of ABS plastic Video Output / Input – HDMI output, DVI input Audio Output / Input – HDMI, 3.5 mm […]

EDATEC Raspberry Pi 5 fanless case