Android

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on Console OS Aims to Run Android Alongside Windows on Intel based PCs, Laptops and Tablets (Crowdfunding)

Console OS Aims to Run Android Alongside Windows on Intel based PCs, Laptops and Tablets (Crowdfunding)

There are already various solutions to run Android on Windows PC powered by Intel processors either going the emulator route, for example with BlueStacks or AndroVM (now Genimotion), or the native route with solutions such as Android-x86. So when I read Console OS, a port of Android capable of running along side of Windows, was looking for funds on Kickstarter to complete the project, I was perplex. But looking into details, it seems Console OS may indeed bring improvements to existing solutions, and Mobile Media Ventures, the company behind the project, released the following table comparing Console OS to other Android ports. If like me you had never heard of Andy Android, here’s the link to the project. Android IA is Intel ports of Android, which currently targets developers. So according to the developers, Console OS makes installing and dual-booting Android on a Windows PC easy, brings full Android Kitkat […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment on Qiyang Technology ARM Development Boards Based on Atmel SAMA5D3, TI Sitara AM335x and Freescale i.MX6 SoCs

Qiyang Technology ARM Development Boards Based on Atmel SAMA5D3, TI Sitara AM335x and Freescale i.MX6 SoCs

Hangzhou Qiyang Technology (杭州启扬智能科技有限公司) is a company based in Hangzhou, China, that provides embedded hardware solutions such as low power development boards and computer-on-modules. I’ve recently come across the company, and they have boards for various ARM based SoCs, but I’ve received details about three of their latest industrial development boards powered by Atmel SAMA5D3 Cortex A5 processor, Texas Instruments Sitara AM335x Cortex A8 SoC, and Freescale i.MX6 single and multi-core ARM Cortex A9 SoCs. Let’s have a look. Qiyang QY-A5D3XEK – Atmel SAMA5D3 Development Board The development kit is comprised of a base board (IAC-A5D3X-MB) and a computer-on-module (ICA-A5D3X_CM) with the following hardware specifications: Processor – Atmel SAMA5D3 ARM Cortex A5 @ 536 MHz (Either SAMA5D31, SAMA5D33, SAMA5D34 or SAMA5D35) System Memory – 256 MB DDR2 @ 333 MHz Storage – 256MB NAND flash + 2MB dataflash on CoM, 2x SD card slot on baseboard Video Output – VGA, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Soap is a Touchscreen Enabled Router Supporting Gigabit Ethernet and Lots of Wireless Standards (Crowdfunding)

Soap is a Touchscreen Enabled Router Supporting Gigabit Ethernet and Lots of Wireless Standards (Crowdfunding)

Soap is a strange creature, and I’m not convinced there are that many use cases for such hardware, but I find it interesting that the developers decided to pack a Freescale i.MX6 Solo/Dual or Quad SoC powered Android 4.4 tablet and a router supporting five Gigabit Etherner ports, as well as WiFI 802.11ac, Wi-0Fi 802.11 b/g/n,  Zigbee, Z-wave, Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE), Insteon RF, X10, 433Mhz, NFC, and infrared into one and only device which they call an “Intelligent Home Management Hub”.  It’s also complete with an HDMI output port so that you can use it as a media player. Let’s go through the specifications for the four version this little monster (Soap Solo, Soap Dual, Soap Quad, and Soap 8.4): SoC Soap Solo – Freescale i.MX6 Solo single ARM Cortex A9 @ 1 GHz with Vivante GC880 3D GPU Soap Dual – Freescale i.MX6 Dual dual ARM Cortex A9 @ […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on MyGica ATV582 Enjoy TV Box Powered by Amlogic S802 Is Now Available for $139

MyGica ATV582 Enjoy TV Box Powered by Amlogic S802 Is Now Available for $139

Geniatech has historically been the company which first delivered set-top box and media player solutions based on Amlogic processors. I’m not sure it’s still the case with Amlogic S802 and other S80x SoCs, as other companies appear to have released their products first such as Tronsmart Vega S89 and M8 Android TV boxes, but Geniatech ATV582 based on Amlogic S802 quad core processor has been available since April under the company’s retail brand Mygica. Mygica ATV582 specifications: SoC – AMLogic S802 quad core Cortex A9r4 processor @ 2GHz with Mali‐450MP6 GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 8GB NAND flash + micro SD card slot Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi‐Fi 802.11 b/g/n Video & Audio Output – HDMI, AV. HDMI supports 1080p, 4K2K 30fps Video Codecs and Containers – MPEG1/2/4, H.264, AVC, VC‐1, RM/RMVB, Xvid, DivX3/4/5/6, RealVideo8/9/10… Audio – MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, OGG, AC3, DDP, TrueHD, DTS, DTS […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments on Vidonn X5 USB & Bluetooth LE Activity Tracker Sells for $27.61

Vidonn X5 USB & Bluetooth LE Activity Tracker Sells for $27.61

Many companies have launched activity trackers, some small watch-like device that you wear around your wrist, and that monitor fitness related data such as the number steps and the distance you’ve walked during the, the calories you’ve burnt, and even your sleep quality. However, I’ve never understood why you would pay more than $30-$40 for such devices, let alone around $100. Vidonn X5 is one of the low cost devices that still looks decent, and can be found on many Chinese online stores for about $40 to $50. But DealExtreme currently has a promotion selling the device for just $27.61 which makes it even better value. Vidonn X5 specifications: MCU/Memory – Unknown Display – 0.49″ OLED display Connectivity –  Bluetooth 4.0 LE and micro USB Battery – 40mAh Li-battery good for 4 days on a charge IP Rating – IP65 (Dust-proof and waterproof to water jets) Operating Temperature – -20’C~45’C Maximum Operating Altitude […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments on Teclast P98 3G Tablet is Powered by Mediatek MT8135 big.LITTLE SoC

Teclast P98 3G Tablet is Powered by Mediatek MT8135 big.LITTLE SoC

Several companies have announced processors with big.LITTLE processing technology, but until recently only some Samsung Exynos 5 processors (Exynos 5420, 5422, and 5260) are found in products available for purchase. Available a few weeks ago, Teclast P98 3G tablet changes that as it is powered by Mediatek MT8135 quad core processor featuring big.LITTLE processing. Teclast P98 3G specifications: SoC – Mediatek MT8135 (aka MTK8135) with two ARM Cortex A15 cores @ 1.5 GHz (1MB L2 cache), two ARM Cortex A7 cores @ 1.2 GHz (256KB L2 cache) in big.LITTLE configuration, and Imagination PowerVR GC6200 GPU System Memory –  2GB DDR3 Storage – 32GB eMMC (UP to 120 MB/s) + micro SD slot Display – 9.7″ 2048×1536 IPS screen Video Output – HDMI Audio – Earphone jack, and AAC stereo speakers Connectivity – WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, FM Cellular – Built-in 3G WCDMA modem and one SIM card slot (Not for Wi-Fi only version) USB – 1x […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on 1TB Seagate Expansion Portable Drive USB 3.0 Benchmark

1TB Seagate Expansion Portable Drive USB 3.0 Benchmark

Many upcoming ARM based board and device will support better connectivity with Gigagit Ethernet and USB 3.0 port, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac support. Since my media files are stored in a USB 2.0 hard drive, and my network is still using fast Ethernet and 802.11n, I had to go shopping. I’ve already purchased a 5-port Gigabit switch (D-Link DGS-1005A), and an an external USB 3.0 hard drive (Seagate Expansion 1TB Portable External Hard Drive), but I’m still looking for a decent and reasonably priced 802.11ac router (Suggestions welcomed). I’ll plan to use the USB 3.0 drive both to test file transfers over Gigabit, USB 3.0 performance, and file systems compatibility. So I’ve partitioned the drive using four common filesystems: NTFS, EXT-4, FAT32, and BTRFS, and both to make sure the drive is suitable for Gigabit transfer, and as a reference point, I’ve also performed some benchmarks. There are several tools to test […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on $37 Shenzhen Visson V5 Android TV Box Features AllWinner A20 SoC

$37 Shenzhen Visson V5 Android TV Box Features AllWinner A20 SoC

If you’re looking for a low cost dual core Android or Linux TV box or mini server, it won’t get much cheaper than Shenzhen Visson V5 powered by AllWinner A20 dual Cortex A7 SoC with 512 MB RAM, 4GB flash, as well as various port such as HDMI, Ethernet, and USB. Shenzhen Visson V5 specifications: SoC – AllWinner A20 dual core ARM Cortex A7 @ 1 GHz + Mali-400MP2 GPU System Memory – 512 MB Storage – 4GB flash. Video & Audio Output – HDMI and AV Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n USB –  2x USB host ports Misc – IR receiver, power button Power Supply – 5V/2A According to the specifications on Aliexpress, there’s also a (micro?) SD card, but I can’t find it on any of the pictures, so it’s safe to assume there isn’t any. This Android 4.2.2 box ships with a remote control, a 5V/2A […]